Procurement Category Manager in London

Location: Birmingham, Glasgow or London

About the Business:

Here at Pinsent Masons we bring together the best people to get the job done. We’re naturally curious, constantly learning, listening, and growing. We’ll truly value your ideas. You’ll be joining an award-winning, hardworking and commercially minded team, where you’ll have the opportunity to work with leading experts and form meaningful relationships, while making a difference. You’ll get the opportunity to be involved in varied and challenging work. Working in an open and supportive environment, to deliver outstanding results.

Background

The Central Procurement and Contracts (CPC) team is at the heart of how we source, contract, and manage third-party suppliers. By combining specialist procurement and legal expertise, we provide strategic support that enables the firm to operate efficiently, responsibly, and with confidence. Operating through a centre led model, we collaborate with a diverse network of stakeholders, our ‘buying community’, across all business functions. Together, we apply robust policies, streamlined procedures, and best-in-class practices to ensure every sourcing decision delivers value, mitigates risk, and supports the firm’s long-term goals.

We are a small, agile team, which means there is a genuine opportunity to influence, shape, and evolve how we operate. Your voice will be heard, your ideas valued, and your impact visible. This is a fantastic environment for someone who thrives on collaboration, innovation, and making a difference.

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

• Develop and implement a long-term category strategy for Facilities and Property.
• Collaborate with the Facilities Leadership Team to align procurement initiatives with business goals.
• Lead high-value, high-risk procurement activities, including tenders, direct negotiations, and contract renewals.
• Embed ESG and supplier diversity considerations into sourcing strategies.
• Provide market intelligence and insights based on industry trends and category expertise.
• Analyse third-party spend to identify opportunities for cost savings and process improvements.
• Propose and implement efficiency solutions in collaboration with key stakeholders.
• Support and lead initiatives to enhance contract management and supplier relationship management (SRM).
• Support the Head of Procurement in embedding industry best practices across the team.
• Provide expert advice on procurement, supplier, and contract management matters.
• Assist in the rollout of procurement capabilities to new buying areas, including international offices.
• Participate in CPC working groups to support team objectives and drive procurement wide change.

Other Duties

Undertake additional projects or responsibilities across other procurement categories as needed.

Qualifications and Procurement Experience Requirements:

• Minimum of 5 years’ experience in procurement, ideally supported by MCIPS.
• Proven track record in strategic procurement within the Facilities categories (ideally 2-3 years’), preferably in a complex, international, and multi-functional environment.
• Demonstrated success in building strong, collaborative relationships across diverse professional groups and external partners.
• Experience in managing and coaching team members is desirable.

Skills and Knowledge Requirements:

• Exceptional negotiation skills with a strong commercial acumen and a history of delivering significant cost savings.
• Deep understanding of category management principles and their practical application to drive value and efficiency.
• Proven experience in implementing and managing supplier relationship management (SRM) frameworks.
• Solid grasp of contract terms and drafting processes, with the ability to navigate complex agreements.

Personal Requirements:

• Highly driven and resilient, with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong influencing and persuasion skills, with the confidence to engage stakeholders at all levels.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to convey complex ideas clearly and effectively.
• Strong project management capabilities, with a structured and results-oriented approach.
• Numerate and commercially minded, with sound financial analysis skills.