Procurement Category Manager in London

DMG Media is one of the UK’s most influential media companies, home to some of the nation’s best‑known and most‑read brands – including the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday, MailOnline, i, New Scientist, metro.co.uk and Metro. We reach millions of readers every day across print and digital, and our ambition is to keep growing. To do that, we need sharp, commercially minded people who can help us work smarter, spend better, and build supplier partnerships that genuinely move the business forward.

About the Role

This is a high-impact, hands‑on procurement role at the heart of a fast-moving media business. As Procurement Category Manager for IT and Distribution, you will own two of DMG Media’s most strategically significant spend categories – shaping how we buy technology and how our print titles reach readers across the country. You will develop and execute category strategies, lead complex sourcing projects, negotiate major contracts, and build strong supplier relationships – all while working closely with senior stakeholders across Technology, Operations, Editorial, and Finance. The role carries real autonomy and visible impact, with multiple workstreams running in parallel and the opportunity to shape procurement practice across the organisation.

Main Responsibilities

• Category Strategy & Planning: Develop and own multi-year category strategies for IT and Distribution spend, ensuring alignment with DMG Media’s wider business objectives and digital transformation agenda. Responsible for the successful delivery and use of ‘Ironclad’, the group’s Contract Life Management system (CLM). Conduct thorough spend analysis, market intelligence, and supply chain mapping to identify and prioritise value opportunities across both categories. Build compelling business cases for cost reduction and service improvement initiatives, and present recommendations to senior leadership and key budget holders.
• Sourcing & Commercial Negotiation: Lead end-to-end sourcing processes – from requirements gathering through to evaluation, negotiation, and contract award – ensuring best value and fit-for-purpose outcomes. Lead high-value commercial and contractual negotiations, securing advantageous terms on pricing, SLAs, risk allocation, and flexibility. Utilise e-sourcing platforms to run efficient, competitive, and auditable tender processes. Manage strategic supplier relationships across both categories, driving performance against agreed KPIs, managing risk, and ensuring continuity of supply. Identify and embed continuous improvement opportunities, challenging suppliers to bring innovation and efficiency gains that support DMG Media’s operational and commercial goals.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Act as a trusted procurement partner to senior stakeholders across Technology, Circulation, Finance, and Operations, embedding procurement thinking early in business planning cycles. Contribute to the broader development of the procurement function, sharing knowledge, supporting governance frameworks, and helping to raise the profile of procurement across the business. Working effectively with other Procurement and Business support colleagues.

Person Specification

• Proven experience in end-to-end category management, ideally with direct exposure to IT and/or Distribution (Circulation or logistics) spend categories.
• A strong track record of delivering measurable savings and value through structured sourcing and negotiation on complex, high-value contracts.
• Commercially astute, with the ability to assess risk and opportunity and translate procurement activity into tangible business outcomes.
• Strong interpersonal and influencing skills, with confidence operating at senior stakeholder level and the ability to challenge constructively and build lasting relationships.
• Experience using e-sourcing and P2P platforms, and comfortable working within structured procurement governance frameworks.
• A self-starter who thrives in a fast-paced environment, manages multiple priorities with ease, and brings both strategic thinking and a willingness to roll up their sleeves.
• CIPS qualified (or working towards qualification).
• Experience in the media, publishing, or information services sector.
• Familiarity with IT procurement sub-categories such as software licensing, SaaS, managed services, or infrastructure.

Why work for DMG Media?

• Join one of the UK’s most influential and widely read media groups, with genuine scale and reach across print and digital.
• Take on a role with real autonomy, visible impact, and the opportunity to shape procurement across two strategically important categories.
• Work in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment alongside talented colleagues who are passionate about what they do.
• Be part of a business with a strong heritage and an exciting future – investing in digital, data, and the next chapter of quality journalism.

Package Description

Our benefits package increases the longer you’ve been with us. Here’s what to expect:

• 25 days’ holiday (increasing by 1 per year up to a total of 30)
• Upon joining, you will automatically be enrolled onto the Pension Plan at the minimum level of 5% employee contribution, 3% company contribution.
• Life cover under the Pension Plan of up to 3x your basic salary.
• DMGT discounts (for discounts on online shopping, vouchers and reloadable cards)
• Subsidised canteen
• On-site gym (Northcliffe House only)
• On-site nurse and GP clinics (Northcliffe House only)
• Our Employee Assistance Programme
• Discounted dining cards
• Plus many other benefits.

Our Commitment

We are committed to increasing diversity and maintaining an inclusive workplace culture. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates regardless of their ethnicity, race, gender, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, age, marital status, or disability. We are Disability Confident Committed. Please let us know if you require any recruitment documentation in other formats or if you require reasonable adjustments to be made during the recruitment process. Please be assured that any such information will be held separately to your recruitment application and will not be considered as part of the selection process.