At a Glance
- Tasks: Shape global procurement strategies and build strong partnerships across Professional Services.
- Company: Join the LEGO Group, a leader in innovation and creativity.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, competitive pay, and a generous colleague discount.
- Other info: Embrace a culture of play and inclusivity while advancing your career.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by driving value creation and innovation in a dynamic environment.
- Qualifications: 7+ years in procurement with strong analytical and communication skills.
The predicted salary is between 54000 - 66000 £ per year.
Job Description
Ready to shape global procurement strategies and create value across Professional Services?
Are you commercially minded, strategic, and confident in building strong partnerships across a global organization?
Global Category Manager, Professional Services and take ownership of global procurement strategies across Payroll, Legal, and Risk & Insurance.
You will partner with senior stakeholders and suppliers to shape demand, lead complex sourcing and negotiations, strengthen supplier performance, and deliver sustainable commercial value and innovation.
The role is based in Billund, Denmark, or London, UK.
- Core Responsibilities
- Own and deliver global procurement category plans for Payroll, Legal, and Risk & Insurance, aligning priorities with business needs and measurable value, service, and resilience outcomes.
- Build trusted stakeholder partnerships, engaging early to shape demand, challenge requirements, and translate business priorities into a coordinated procurement pipeline.
- Develop a global payroll vendor strategy with functional stakeholders, strengthening supplier management, digital capabilities, and business continuity.
- Partner with Legal and BSO to evolve third-party legal partnerships, embedding supplier performance management and improving commercial arrangements.
- Lead complex global sourcing, contracting, and negotiations, improving pricing models and delivering savings, productivity, and service value beyond rate reductions.
- Drive supplier segmentation, performance reviews, and compliance monitoring, working with functional experts to manage supplier risks, escalations, and business continuity.
- Use market intelligence to identify supplier, platform, and AI opportunities, partnering with Digital Procurement and functional experts to capture productivity gains and embed appropriate contractual safeguards.
- Track spend, value delivery, and category performance, providing clear stakeholder updates and coordinating delivery across regional, site, and sourcing teams.
- Play Your Part in Our Team Succeeding
Indirect Materials and Services Sourcing is a global organisation focused on sourcing excellence, strong business partnerships, and effective supplier relationship management across multiple categories, including Professional Services.
As a Global Category Manager, you will support the Professional Services category within the CFO business unit, developing category strategies, delivering commercial value, strengthening supplier and stakeholder relationships, and identifying opportunities for innovation.
Do You Have What It Takes?
- Must-Have Qualifications
- 7+ years of procurement experience, including strategic sourcing and category management within Professional Services.
- Ability to translate business priorities into global category plans, balancing commercial value, service quality, compliance, and business continuity.
- Strong commercial judgement and experience negotiating global service agreements, challenging pricing models, and delivering measurable value.
- Strong communication skills, with the ability to translate complex commercial topics into clear recommendations for stakeholders and decision-makers.
- Ability to build trusted senior stakeholder relationships, engage early in business planning, and constructively challenge demand and buying practices.
- Strong analytical skills, using spend, market, and supplier performance insights to identify opportunities, inform decisions, and track outcomes.
- Experience managing multiple sourcing and supplier initiatives, including segmentation, performance reviews, supplier risk, and resilience.
- Digital fluency and an understanding of AI, automation, and service platforms within Professional Services.
- Advanced English skills.
- Preferred Qualifications
- A degree in Business, Engineering, Supply Chain, Legal, Finance, or a related field.
- Experience in Payroll, Legal, or Risk & Insurance procurement.
- Previous experience working with Danish companies.
- Flexibility to travel globally.
- Personal Competencies
- Commercially minded and analytical.
- Confident in building relationships with senior stakeholders.
- Collaborative and relationship-focused.
- Comfortable challenging requirements and established ways of working.
- Curious and proactive, with a continuous improvement mindset.
- Comfortable taking ownership and navigating ambiguity.
What's In It For You?
By joining the LEGO Group, you will become part of a global procurement organisation focused on sourcing excellence, strong business partnerships, and effective supplier relationship management.
You will have the opportunity to shape global Professional Services categories, lead complex sourcing and commercial negotiations, strengthen strategic supplier partnerships, and drive new approaches to value creation, digitalization, and innovation.
- Family Care Leave
- We offer enhanced paid leave options for those important times.
- Insurances
- All colleagues are covered by our life and disability insurance which provides protection and peace of mind.
- Wellbeing
- We want our people to feel well and thrive.
We offer resources and benefits to nurture physical and mental wellbeing along with opportunities to build community and inspire creativity.
- Colleague Discount
- We know you'll love to build, so from day 1 you will qualify for our generous colleague discount.
- Bonus
- We do our best work to succeed together. When goals are reached and if eligible, you'll be rewarded through our bonus scheme.
- Your workplace
Your workplace will be the office, store or factory specified in this advert.
Hybrid Working
Our hybrid work model, Best of Both offers you the option of flexibility to work from home up to two days per week.
Your People Leader will discuss the principles of the model, including how this option applies to your role and team.
Learn more about our benefits, culture and workplace experience here
Children are our role models.
Their curiosity, creativity and imagination inspire everything we do.
We strive to create a diverse, dynamic and inclusive culture of play at the LEGO Group, where everyone feels safe, valued and they belong.
The LEGO Group is highly committed to equal employment opportunity and equal pay and seeks to encourage applicants from all backgrounds (eg. sex, gender identity or expression, race/ethnicity, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, age and religion) to apply for roles in our team.
The LEGO Group is fully committed to Children’s Rights and Child Wellbeing across the globe.
Candidates offered positions with high engagement with children are required to take part in Child Safeguarding Background Screening, as a condition of the offer.
Thank you for sharing our global commitment to Children’s Rights.
Just imagine building your dream career.
Then make it real.
Category Manager employer: Lego Group
At the LEGO Group, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a vibrant work culture that fosters creativity and collaboration. As the Global Director of Sustainable Logistics & Distribution, you'll not only lead impactful sustainability initiatives but also benefit from our comprehensive employee support, including enhanced family care leave, wellbeing resources, and a generous colleague discount. Join us in a dynamic environment where your contributions will help shape a sustainable future while enjoying opportunities for personal and professional growth.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Category Manager
✨Get Savvy with Industry Perks
Join procurement and purchasing forums or groups where pros hang out, like CIPS (Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply). They'll share the inside scoop on job openings that might not show up on traditional job boards!
✨Show Off Your Skills
Consider creating a portfolio that outlines your achievements in procurement, like cost-saving initiatives or supplier management strategies. Having tangible evidence of your skills can really set you apart when applying to companies like Lego Group.
✨Tap into Your Network
Leverage LinkedIn to connect with professionals in procurement—follow relevant hashtags, join groups, and engage in discussions. This is a great way to get noticed by potential employers before they even post a job!
✨Keep Your Eyes on Job Boards
With full-time positions, timing can be everything. Set alerts on job boards specifically for procurement roles. Don't wait for a job posting to close; apply through our website as soon as you see a fit—being proactive can give you the edge!
We think you need these skills to ace Category Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Procurement Know-How:When you're crafting your CV, make sure to highlight any procurement-specific skills you've got. Talk about your experience with supplier negotiations, cost analysis, or inventory management. If you’ve used software like SAP or Oracle, don’t forget to mention that too – it shows you know your way around the tech side of things!
Quantify Your Achievements:In procurement, numbers matter. Use your CV and cover letter to showcase any quantifiable achievements you've made in reducing costs or improving efficiencies. For example, mentioning that you helped save 20% on purchasing costs last year is way more impressive than just saying you managed the budget!
Tailor Your Cover Letter to Lego Group:Your cover letter should read like you’re chatting directly to Lego Group. Research the company’s procurement strategy, mention how your skills align with their goals, and share your enthusiasm for contributing to their success. This personal touch can really set you apart from the crowd!
Professional Certs Can Go a Long Way:If you've got any procurement-related certifications, such as CIPS or APICS, make sure they're front and centre on your CV. These qualifications show you're serious about your career in procurement and are committed to continuous learning. It’s a great way to signal your expertise and dedication to potential employers like Lego Group.
How to prepare for a job interview at Lego Group
✨Show Off Your Negotiation Skills
In procurement, strong negotiation skills are key. Be ready to share examples of past negotiations where you've successfully saved costs or improved supplier terms. We want to hear how you approached those situations and the strategies you used to achieve positive outcomes!
✨Know Your Tools
Make sure you’re familiar with procurement software and tools commonly used in the industry, such as SAP Ariba or Coupa. Come prepared to discuss any experiences you've had with these tools or similar platforms, as we need someone who can hit the ground running at Lego Group!
✨Understand Market Trends
As a procurement professional, being aware of market trends can set you apart. Brush up on recent developments in supply chain management or procurement best practices and think about how they could impact your role at Lego Group. Bringing a current perspective will show your enthusiasm for the industry.
✨Demonstrate Your Team Player Attitude
A full-time position means you'll be working closely with various teams. Be prepared to discuss how you collaborate with others, manage conflicts, and build relationships with stakeholders. Sharing anecdotes about past teamwork experiences will highlight your ability to fit into Lego Group's culture.
