Find a job 
Featured Companies 
Featured Universities 
For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead strategic sourcing for HR and Travel services, driving innovation and cost-effectiveness.
- Company: Join a values-driven organisation that champions collaboration and continuous improvement.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, career growth opportunities, and a supportive team environment.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a global role while building strong partnerships.
- Qualifications: Experience in HR or Travel procurement and strong stakeholder management skills.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities to innovate and improve processes.
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 organisation 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
- Strategic Procurement: 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.
- Business Partnering: 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.
- Supplier Relationship Management: 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.
- Process Improvement and Innovation: 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.
- Governance and Compliance: Ensure appropriate contractual terms and compliance frameworks are in place. Prepare category performance reports for senior procurement leadership.
- Leadership and Impact: 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.
Skills, Knowledge and Experience
- 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
Contact Detail:
1st Executive 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 on LinkedIn or at events. A friendly chat can lead to opportunities that aren’t even advertised yet.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its culture. Understand their values and think about how you can contribute to their goals. This will help you stand out as a candidate who truly gets them.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to explain how your skills align with the role of HR and Travel Procurement Category Manager. Highlight your experience in strategic sourcing and stakeholder engagement to show you’re the perfect fit.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about joining our team.
We think you need these skills to ace HR and Travel Procurement Category Manager - great team!
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience in HR and Travel procurement. We want to see how your skills align with our needs, so don’t hold back on showcasing your strategic thinking and stakeholder engagement abilities!
Showcase Your Achievements: When detailing your past roles, focus on specific achievements that demonstrate your impact in previous positions. Use numbers and examples to illustrate how you’ve driven savings or improved processes – we love a good success story!
Be Authentic: Let your personality shine through in your application. We value collaboration and trust, so showing us who you are and how you fit into our culture can make a big difference. Don’t be afraid to share your ideas and how you approach challenges!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to submit your application directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity. Plus, it’s super easy – just follow the prompts!
How to prepare for a job interview at 1st Executive
✨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!
✨Demonstrate Strategic Thinking
Be ready to discuss how you've developed and executed category strategies in the past. Use specific examples to illustrate your strategic approach, especially in managing complex sourcing initiatives. This will help the interviewers see your potential impact on their organisation.
✨Emphasise Continuous Improvement
Talk about your experience with process improvement and innovation. Share instances where you've leveraged market intelligence or technology to drive efficiencies. This aligns perfectly with the company's culture of continuous improvement and will resonate well with the interviewers.
