We are professionals with purpose, beating cancer every day. But we need to go much further and much faster. That's why we're looking for someone talented, someone who wants to develop their skills, someone like you. Cancer Research UK's Procurement team plays a critical role in ensuring the charity has the resources it needs to operate and deliver on our mission. Managing around £200m of annual spend, we are driving an ambitious transformation to create a strategic, data‑driven procurement function that delivers value, mitigates risk, and fosters innovation. By embedding procurement best practice across the organisation, we aim to maximise value for money, enhance quality, improve efficiency, and uphold our promise to direct 80p of every £1 donated towards beating cancer. As a Category Manager, you'll lead all procurement activity for the Chief Operating Office (COO) directorate with a predominant focus on the Technology department, driving high‑impact sourcing, contract management, and supplier performance. You'll shape category strategy, deliver end‑to‑end procurement projects, and partner with stakeholders to unlock value, drive innovation, and champion ethical and sustainable buying. This is an opportunity for you to raise the profile of Procurement and influence key decisions to enable our mission to beat cancer. If you're an experienced IT Category Manager with strong sourcing and contract management expertise, we would love for you to join our mission.
Responsibilities
* Leading and managing procurement activities within the Technology department and Chief Operating Office (COO), ensuring value for money, compliance, and alignment with Cancer Research UK's mission to beat cancer. This includes managed services, SaaS, cloud, and infrastructure technology.
* Developing and implementing category strategies aligned with organisational goals and procurement best practices.
* Leading end‑to‑end sourcing activities (including tenders, supplier evaluations, and contract negotiations).
* Collaborating with business stakeholders to become a trusted and valued business partner, leading to early engagement, and ultimately raising the profile of the Procurement function.
* Maintaining status updates and reports for key procurement activities and contracts within the category of spend.
* Engaging with stakeholders to identify opportunities for cost optimisation, innovation, and process improvements within the Technology and COO category.
* Delivering business objectives by providing competent, professional, and expert leadership across the contract management lifecycle. This includes contract tendering, renewals, performance reviews, and risk mitigation.
* Contributing to procurement transformation initiatives and cross‑functional projects.
* Building high‑functioning, trusting relationships with stakeholders to develop the organisation's understanding of procurement and contract compliance.
* Promoting ethical sourcing, sustainability, and value for money in all procurement activities.
If you're interested in applying and excited about working with us but are unsure if you have the right skills and experience we'd still love to hear from you.
Internal Eligibility Criteria
Internal candidates should ideally have completed their 6-month "getting started" period before applying for other roles. You should also advise your current line manager at the point you make an internal application, or at the latest, at the point of being invited for an interview. All internal candidates applying for a secondment must have:
* Completed their getting started period
* Discussed their intention to apply and gained approval to apply with their line manager
* Been in their substantive (home) role for at least 6 months (this is only applicable if you have previously been on secondment)
If you do not confirm that you meet these requirements, we will not be able to progress your application.
Benefits
We create a working environment that supports your wellbeing and provides a generous benefits package, a wide range of career and personal development opportunities, and high‑quality tools. Our policies and processes enable you to improve your work‑life balance, take positive steps in your career, and achieve your personal wellbeing goals.
* Experienced Technology Category, Strategic Procurement, or Supplier Relationship Manager with a track record of operating in large, complex organisations.
* Experience supporting and/or managing the end‑to‑end IT procurement process and projects.
* Commercially minded with a successful track record of managing supplier relationships with experience in drafting, negotiating, and managing high‑value supplier contracts and RFx (Request for X).
* Builds strong, collaborative relationships across technology and professional services functions, with a clear focus on understanding and delivering for internal customers.
* A track record of managing multiple procurement projects simultaneously, balancing pace, quality, governance, and stakeholder expectations in a fast‑paced environment.
* Acts as a role model for procurement, promoting consistency and best practice across the organisation.
* A proactive, pragmatic, and solution‑focused approach to:
o Resolving challenges
o Continually improving how things are done
o Ensuring best practices and good governance are upheld
* Demonstrates curiosity and a proactive approach to learning, taking ownership of personal development and continuously seeking opportunities to build knowledge and capability.
Additional Experience
* Ideally, working towards, or has, a Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS) qualification.
* Experience of procurement within other COO professional services functions (such as HR, Finance, or Legal).
* Experience in developing procurement strategy and category plans.
Organizational Values
* Bold: Act with ambition, courage and determination.
* Credible: Act with rigour and professionalism.
* Human: Act to have a positive impact on people.
#J-18808-Ljbffr