Senior IT Category Manager

Howden is a collective – a group of talented and passionate people all around the world. Together, we have pushed the boundaries of insurance. We are united by a shared passion and no-limits mindset, and our strength lies in our ability to collaborate as a powerful international team comprised of 18,000 employees spanning over 100 countries. People join Howden for many different reasons, but they stay for the same one: our culture. It’s what sets us apart, and the reason our employees have been turning down headhunters for years. Whatever your priorities – work / life balance, career progression, sustainability, volunteering – you’ll find like-minded people driving change at Howden.

Role Definition

The Senior IT Category Manager shall be responsible for managing and optimising sourcing processes within the IT category. This includes strategic sourcing, contract negotiation, cost optimisation and ensuring alignment with organisational goals and IT requirements. The role will include collaborating with internal stakeholders including IT budget holders, Legal and Third Party Risk Management.

Key Responsibilities / Accountabilities

• Category Strategy
  • Support the development and execution of the sourcing strategy for the IT category.
  • Ensure alignment with business objectives and the IT roadmap.
  • Analyse market trends and supplier capabilities.
  • Drive innovation and identify cost-saving opportunities.
• Sourcing & Procurement
  • Support sourcing activities including defining business needs, developing requirements, creation of business case.
  • Develop IT category strategy and plan using analysis of market of vendors and solutions.
  • Support contract owners with RFX activities.
  • Negotiate contracts.
• Risk Management
  • Identify potential risks related to vendors.
  • Develop and implement mitigation strategies to reduce exposure to business interruption.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration
  • Work closely with colleagues across IT functions and the IT Vendor Manager.
  • Collaborate with departments such as Legal and Third Party Risk Management.
  • Collaborate with IT leadership to assess and forecast procurement requirements and implement the necessary resources.
  • Work with budget owners to ensure transparency and visibility of group Procurement spend.

Skills and abilities needed to perform role

• A collaborative mentality and the ability to share success across other spend categories.
• Excellent influencing and negotiation skills.
• Strong strategic thinking and decision-making.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced dynamic environment managing competing priorities and deadlines.
• Strong commercial acumen.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.

Knowledge and Experience

• Excellent knowledge and experience of IT category management including both IT infrastructure and software.
• Proven track record of developing IT sourcing strategies.
• Demonstrable ability of negotiating high value IT contracts.

Professional Qualifications

• Educated to degree level or equivalent through relevant experience.
• CIPS (Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply) level 6 professional diploma or equivalent in experience.

Compliance & Regulatory Responsibilities

• Meet all competency requirements by undertaking training and following agreed principles, policies, processes and procedures.
• Identify and refer any actual or potential conflicts of interest.
• Identify and refer any breaches, potential risks or non-compliance to line management.
• Evidence that in all aspects of the business process priority is placed on treating customers fairly.

A career that you define. At Howden, we value diversity – there is no one Howden type. Instead, we’re looking for individuals who share the same values as us:

• Our successes have all come from someone brave enough to try something new.
• We support each other in the small everyday moments and the bigger challenges.
• We are determined to make a positive difference at work and beyond.

Reasonable adjustments

We’re committed to providing reasonable accommodations at Howden to ensure that our positions align well with your needs. Besides the usual adjustments such as software, IT, and office setups, we can also accommodate other changes such as flexible hours or hybrid working. If you’re excited by this role but have some doubts about whether it’s the right fit for you, send us your application – if your profile fits the role’s criteria, we will be in touch to assist in helping to get you set up with any reasonable adjustments you may require.