At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead innovative sourcing strategies for HR and Travel services while collaborating with business leaders.
- Company: Join a values-driven organisation that prioritises collaboration and professional growth.
- Benefits: Exceptional career opportunities, competitive salary, and a supportive team environment.
- Why this job: Make a tangible impact in a globally connected procurement function.
- Qualifications: Experience in HR or Travel categories and strong stakeholder management skills.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities for innovation and process improvement.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
The Category Manager - HR & Travel plays a pivotal role in delivering and implementing global category strategies across HR and Travel services. Working in close partnership with business leaders and suppliers, this role ensures sourcing solutions are innovative, cost-effective, compliant and aligned to organisational objectives. Success in this role relies on strong stakeholder engagement, strategic thinking, and the ability to manage complex sourcing initiatives end to end.
The organization fosters a culture built on collaboration, trust, accountability and continuous improvement. Team members are encouraged to challenge thinking, share ideas, and build long-term partnerships that create sustainable value. This role brings exceptional career opportunities.
Key Responsibilities- Develop and execute category strategies across HR and Travel, including Talent Acquisition, Employee Health and Wellbeing, Benefits, Training, Travel and Fleet.
- Ensure alignment with business objectives, regulatory requirements and internal policies.
- Lead end-to-end sourcing initiatives, including RFXs, negotiations and contract implementation.
- Build strong, credible relationships with HR and Travel leaders.
- Translate business needs into tailored sourcing solutions.
- Influence decision-making through insight, data and commercial expertise.
- Manage strategic and operational supplier relationships.
- Negotiate commercial terms that balance cost, quality and risk.
- Foster partnerships that encourage innovation, performance improvement and long-term value.
- Leverage market intelligence and technology to drive efficiencies.
- Identify and introduce innovative products, services and sourcing approaches.
- Model costs, test new ideas and measure performance outcomes.
- Ensure appropriate contractual terms and compliance frameworks are in place.
- Prepare category performance reports for senior procurement leadership.
- Support optimisation of a large, multi-country indirect spend portfolio.
- Deliver annual savings through structured sourcing initiatives.
- Represent the organisation professionally within the supplier community.
- Bachelor's degree (preferred).
- Experience managing HR and/or Travel categories (preferred).
- Strong background in global strategic sourcing and category management.
- Experience with multi-country negotiations and complex contracts.
- Proven ability to manage multiple stakeholders and priorities.
- Experience with e-sourcing and P2P tools (e.g. SAP, Oracle, Ariba or similar).
- Strong analytical, commercial and interpersonal skills.
- Advanced Excel and PowerPoint capabilities.
This is an opportunity to make a tangible impact within a globally connected, values-driven procurement function that prioritises collaboration, professional growth and shared success.
HR and Travel Procurement Category Manager - great team employer: 1st Executive Ltd
Contact Detail:
1st Executive Ltd Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land HR and Travel Procurement Category Manager - great team
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in your industry, especially those who work in HR and Travel procurement. Attend events, join online forums, and don’t be shy about asking for informational interviews. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings!
✨Tip Number 2
Showcase your skills! Create a portfolio or a presentation that highlights your achievements in strategic sourcing and category management. Use real examples to demonstrate how you’ve driven efficiencies and saved costs in previous roles. This will set you apart from the competition.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by researching the company’s values and recent projects. Be ready to discuss how your experience aligns with their goals, especially in terms of collaboration and innovation. Tailor your responses to show you’re not just a fit for the role, but for the team culture too!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! We love seeing candidates who are genuinely interested in joining our team. Plus, it gives you a chance to showcase your enthusiasm and understanding of our organisational objectives right from the start.
We think you need these skills to ace HR and Travel Procurement Category Manager - great team
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV speaks directly to the HR and Travel Procurement role. Highlight your experience in strategic sourcing and category management, especially if you've worked with multi-country negotiations. We want to see how your skills align with our needs!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to tell us why you're passionate about procurement and how you can contribute to our team. Don't forget to mention any innovative solutions you've implemented in past roles that could benefit us.
Showcase Your Stakeholder Engagement Skills: In this role, building relationships is key. Use your application to demonstrate how you've successfully partnered with business leaders and suppliers in the past. We love seeing examples of how you've influenced decision-making through data and insights!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website for a smoother process. It helps us keep track of applications and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates. Plus, it shows you're keen on joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at 1st Executive Ltd
✨Know Your Stuff
Before the interview, dive deep into the specifics of HR and Travel procurement. Familiarise yourself with current trends, challenges, and innovations in these areas. This will not only show your passion but also help you engage in meaningful conversations with the interviewers.
✨Showcase Your Stakeholder Skills
Prepare examples that highlight your experience in building strong relationships with stakeholders. Think about times when you influenced decision-making or translated business needs into effective sourcing solutions. This is crucial for the role, so make sure to have these stories ready!
✨Be Data-Driven
Since the role requires strong analytical skills, come prepared to discuss how you've used data to drive decisions in past roles. Whether it's modelling costs or measuring performance outcomes, having concrete examples will demonstrate your commercial expertise and strategic thinking.
✨Embrace Innovation
The organisation values continuous improvement and innovation, so be ready to share your ideas on how to leverage technology and market intelligence in procurement. Discuss any innovative products or services you've introduced in previous roles to showcase your forward-thinking mindset.