Senior Category Manager - IT Services
// Role Summary
Join QinetiQ as a Senior Category Manager IT Services and play a pivotal role in shaping the future of defence technology through strategic sourcing and supplier relationship management.
// Key Responsibilities
- Lead complex sourcing initiatives to deliver strategic value and cost optimisation.
- Develop and execute sourcing strategies aligned with organisational objectives.
- Manage end-to-end procurement processes, including tendering and negotiation.
- Nurture strong supplier relationships and lead industry engagement.
- Ensure compliance with defence environment regulations and ethical standards.
- Collaborate with stakeholders to improve supplier performance and drive continuous improvement.
// Role Specification
About QinetiQ
At QinetiQ, we are dedicated to creating the future of defence technology and protecting lives through groundbreaking innovations. Join us and contribute to cutting-edge projects alongside brilliant minds.
The Role: Senior Category Manager IT Services
As a Senior Category Manager, you will lead complex sourcing initiatives to deliver strategic value, optimise costs, and mitigate risks across various categories. You will develop and execute sourcing strategies based on market intelligence and supplier insights, managing the full procurement lifecycle from tendering to contract execution while upholding compliance and ethical standards.
A key aspect of this role involves identifying, developing, and nurturing positive supplier relationships to support QinetiQ's future aspirations, which may include leading industry engagement events.
Your Responsibilities:
- Develop strong relationships with key decision-makers to influence behaviours and ensure appropriate Procurement involvement in all sourcing activities.
- Maintain awareness of supplier restrictions, controls, and accreditations within the Defence environment, ensuring sourcing strategies and supplier bases do not jeopardise internal compliance.
- Collaborate with the Business Partnering team to identify opportunities for utilising existing supplier relationships and frameworks to leverage Group scale.
- Work collaboratively with key stakeholders to develop sourcing strategies, align targets, improve supplier performance, and implement continuous improvement plans across spend.
Essential Experience:
- Proven contract negotiation skills.
- Adept at business relationship management, both internally and externally.
- Knowledge of different types of sourcing strategies.
- Highly proficient in identifying and mitigating supply chain, organisational, regulatory, legal, and commercial risks.
Desirable Qualifications:
- CIPS Qualified or equivalent experience.
- Degree in a Business or Engineering discipline, or equivalent experience.
We value diversity and encourage applications from candidates with varied backgrounds, provided you demonstrate the required experience and a willingness to learn.
Location and Working Hours:
This role is based at our Farnborough head office facility, working 37 hours per week, with an expected average attendance of 3 days per week onsite.
About Farnborough Site:
Our Farnborough site is a hub of creativity, research, and innovation, featuring a state-of-the-art facility with advanced technologies such as high-energy lasers and a unique UK-leading 5m pressurised wind tunnel. Join our talented teams of Engineers, IT & Cyber Specialists, Project Managers, and Group Functions to contribute to future defence capabilities in the UK.