IT Category ManagerRate: £450 per day (inside IR35)Location: Midlands (hybrid working)Duration: Initial 6-month contractAbout the roleWe are seeking an experienced IT Category Manager to lead the strategic management of ICT spend, suppliers, and contracts across a large public sector organisation.This is a high‑impactmercial role supporting a broad digital and transformation portfolio. You will take ownership of defined ICT categories, running end‑to‑end procurement and tendering exercises, shaping category strategies, and ensuring suppliers deliver strong performance, value for money, andmercial assurance.Working closely with ICT, finance, legal, and operational stakeholders, you will act as a trustedmercial partner and subject‑matter expert on IT category management, embedding best practice procurement and contracternance in line with the Procurement Act 2023.Key responsibilitiesAs IT Category Manager, you will:
1. Lead end‑to‑end ICT tendering and procurement activity, from market engagement and sourcing strategy through to evaluation, award, and mobilisation
2. Own and manage the full lifecycle of ICT contracts, including negotiation, performance management, renewals, variations, and exit planning.
3. Provide strategic leadership for vendor, supplier, and contract management across ICT Services
4. Ensurepliance with procurement legislation, internalernance, and standing orders, including use of e‑procurement systems
5. Monitor and report on supplier performance, KPIs, SLAs, risks, andmercial oues
6. Support Contract Owners in managing supplier relationships and driving continuous improvement.
7. Contribute to and, where appropriate, chair ICT procurement and vendorernance boards and forums
8. Identify opportunities for cost optimisation, risk mitigation, and improvedmercial oues across IT categories
9. Maintain accurate contract and supplier records and promote strongmercial awareness across ICT
About youYou will be amercially focused IT category, procurement, or contract management professional with a strong track record of deliveringplex ICT procurements and managing strategic supplier relationships in a regulated environment.You will bring:
10. Significant experience in IT category management, ICT procurement, or vendor and contract management
11. Proven experience delivering full lifecycle tenders, including market engagement, evaluation, negotiation, and award
12. Strong knowledge of public sector procurement legislation, including the Procurement Act 2023
13. Experience managing ICT contracts across a range ofmercial models ( SaaS, cloud, managed services)
14. Excellent stakeholder management,munication, and negotiation skills
15. Strong analytical capability and confidence interpretingmercial and performance data