Senior Category Manager - External Talent (Contingent Workforce)
Senior Category Manager - External Talent (Contingent Workforce)

Senior Category Manager - External Talent (Contingent Workforce)

Full-Time 48000 - 72000 £ / year (est.) Home office (partial)
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At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead strategic sourcing for external talent, driving innovation and efficiency.
  • Company: Join McKinsey & Company, a global leader in consulting.
  • Benefits: Exceptional benefits, continuous learning, and a voice that matters.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact while developing your expertise in a high-performance environment.
  • Qualifications: Bachelor's degree required; 7 years of relevant experience preferred.
  • Other info: Collaborative culture with opportunities for career growth and mentorship.

The predicted salary is between 48000 - 72000 £ per year.

Join to apply for the Senior Category Manager - External Talent role at McKinsey & Company.

You are someone who thrives in a high-performance environment, bringing a growth mindset and entrepreneurial spirit to tackle meaningful challenges that have a real impact. In return for your drive, determination, and curiosity, we’ll provide the resources, mentorship, and opportunities to help you quickly broaden your expertise, grow into a well-rounded professional, and contribute to work that truly makes a difference.

What You’ll Get:

  • Continuous learning
  • A voice that matters
  • Global community
  • Exceptional benefits

Your Impact:

As Senior Category Manager for External Talent Category (e.g. Non-Tech External Worker (EW) and Advisor) you will lead a high-impact, enterprise-wide portfolio encompassing hundreds of suppliers across a diverse external worker and advisor supplier domain. You will be accountable for shaping and executing a comprehensive category strategy that supports the firm’s broader business objectives, driving financial value, ensuring regulatory and policy compliance, advancing sustainable procurement practices, and enhancing the colleague’s experience.

In this strategic role, you will define the long-term direction of the Non-Tech EW and Advisor categories by developing forward-looking plans, building strong cross-functional partnerships, and fostering relationships with top-tier and niche external worker providers. You’ll drive innovation and efficiency in how the firm sources and manages external worker and advisor engagements, particularly in complex or high-risk areas—ensuring that supplier relationships deliver measurable business outcomes.

You will collaborate closely with global and local business leaders to identify and act on opportunities to rationalize the supplier landscape, expand strategic partnerships, and optimize costs without compromising quality, performance, or client satisfaction. A strong focus will be placed on risk mitigation, improving contract structures, and ensuring invoice accuracy and audit readiness.

Through disciplined supplier performance management and strategic sourcing initiatives, you will streamline procurement operations, reduce complexity, and unlock economies of scale. You will also serve as a key knowledge hub—building and leveraging relationships with industry experts, peer organizations, and suppliers to continuously enhance the firm’s category management capabilities and bring best-in-class thinking into procurement decisions.

Your work will drive the evolution to a scalable and sustainable strategy that continuously unlocks value through supplier relationship management, operational efficiencies and financial impact that empowers the Firm to scale and innovate effectively.

Your Qualifications and Skills:

  • Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree (e.g., MBA, PhD) or equivalent practical experience strongly preferred
  • 7 years of experience in sourcing, category management, procurement, or consulting, with a strong track record of delivering business value
  • Proven experience in managing a large global contingent workforce program is preferred
  • Proven ability to assess complex problems, synthesize insights, and drive data-backed decisions.
  • Skilled in creating and interpreting analytical outputs, including Excel models and category performance reports
  • Ability to produce high-quality deliverables, including PowerPoint presentations, sourcing documentation, contract summaries, and other written materials that support decision-making
  • Highly organized and self-motivated, with the ability to manage multiple priorities, balance long- and short-term goals, and see initiatives through from concept to execution
  • Strong time management and attention to detail in a dynamic, fast paced, and often autonomous work environment
  • Demonstrated ability to drive structured processes and deliver consistent, repeatable outcomes
  • Adept at building trusted relationships across functions, geographies, and levels of seniority
  • Ability to influence without authority and work effectively in cross-functional teams
  • Embraces a collaborative, non-hierarchical approach and fosters a culture of mutual respect and accountability
  • Outstanding written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to tailor messages to a variety of audiences and seniority levels. Comfortable presenting to, and influencing, senior stakeholders.

Senior Category Manager - External Talent (Contingent Workforce) employer: Mckinsey & Company

At McKinsey & Company, we pride ourselves on fostering a high-performance culture that empowers our employees to thrive and make a meaningful impact. As a Senior Category Manager for External Talent, you will benefit from exceptional resources, continuous learning opportunities, and a global community that values your voice and contributions. Our commitment to employee growth, coupled with a collaborative work environment and outstanding benefits, makes McKinsey an excellent employer for those seeking to advance their careers while driving innovation and efficiency in procurement.
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Contact Detail:

Mckinsey & Company Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫

We think this is how you could land Senior Category Manager - External Talent (Contingent Workforce)

✨Tip Number 1

Network like a pro! Reach out to people in your industry, especially those who work at McKinsey & Company. A friendly chat can open doors and give you insider info that could make all the difference.

✨Tip Number 2

Prepare for interviews by researching the company culture and values. McKinsey loves candidates who align with their mission, so show them how your growth mindset and entrepreneurial spirit fit right in!

✨Tip Number 3

Practice your pitch! Be ready to discuss your experience in managing contingent workforce programs and how you've driven financial value in past roles. Confidence is key, so rehearse until it feels natural.

✨Tip Number 4

Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we’re always on the lookout for talent that can help us innovate and scale effectively.

We think you need these skills to ace Senior Category Manager - External Talent (Contingent Workforce)

Category Management
Sourcing
Procurement
Consulting
Data Analysis
Excel Modelling
PowerPoint Presentation Skills
Contract Management
Supplier Relationship Management
Risk Mitigation
Time Management
Attention to Detail
Cross-Functional Collaboration
Influencing Skills
Communication Skills

Some tips for your application 🫡

Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Senior Category Manager role. Highlight your experience in sourcing and category management, and show how your skills align with the job description. We want to see how you can bring value to our team!

Showcase Your Achievements: Don’t just list your responsibilities; share specific examples of how you've delivered business value in previous roles. Use metrics where possible to demonstrate your impact. This will help us see the tangible results of your work!

Be Clear and Concise: When writing your application, keep it clear and to the point. Use straightforward language and avoid jargon unless it's relevant. We appreciate well-structured applications that are easy to read and understand.

Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets into the right hands. Plus, you’ll find all the details you need about the role and our company culture there!

How to prepare for a job interview at Mckinsey & Company

✨Know Your Numbers

As a Senior Category Manager, you'll need to demonstrate your ability to drive financial value. Brush up on key metrics related to procurement and category management. Be ready to discuss how you've used data to make decisions in the past, and prepare some examples of how you’ve improved cost efficiency or supplier performance.

✨Showcase Your Strategic Thinking

This role requires a strong strategic mindset. Prepare to discuss how you've developed and executed category strategies in previous roles. Think about specific challenges you've faced and how you approached them, especially in high-risk areas. Highlight your ability to align procurement strategies with broader business objectives.

✨Build Relationships

Since this position involves collaboration with various stakeholders, be prepared to talk about how you've built and maintained relationships in your past roles. Share examples of how you've influenced without authority and worked effectively in cross-functional teams. This will show that you can foster the collaborative culture they value.

✨Prepare for Scenario Questions

Expect scenario-based questions that assess your problem-solving skills. Think about complex problems you've encountered in sourcing or category management and how you resolved them. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers, ensuring you highlight your analytical skills and decision-making process.

Senior Category Manager - External Talent (Contingent Workforce)
Mckinsey & Company

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