Procurement Category Manager – Marketing in Reading

You will be responsible for developing and executing strategic category management to drive spend under management and value, specifically across Marketing & Communications (media, creative, digital, content, PR, production), supporting both business-as-usual activity and strategic brand and customer initiatives.

You will be accountable for developing and executing a comprehensive, multi-year category strategy and procurement plan aligned to business goals, marketing strategy, campaign cycles, market dynamics, and internal demand, ensuring optimal performance, cost efficiency, innovation, and brand integrity.

You will lead the creation and implementation of go-to-market, agency and sourcing strategies (including agency models, roster strategy, media buying approaches), with robust negotiation strategies embedded into the category plan.

You will identify, assess and manage supplier and category risk including agency dependency, media transparency, IP ownership, usage rights, and regulatory compliance (e.g. advertising standards), ensuring resiliency and governance.

You will monitor market trends across marketing, media, digital and technology (AdTech, MarTech, AI) to continuously evolve category strategies and unlock competitive advantage.

You will be responsible for leading a multi-year cost efficiency and value optimisation programme, balancing cost control with creative excellence, brand impact and marketing ROI.

Using insights, analytics and marketing performance metrics (ROI, ROAS, CPM, CPA, brand metrics), you will create data-driven sourcing strategies aligned to business and marketing goals.

You will ensure benefits tracking is robust, incorporating both financial savings and marketing effectiveness/value outcomes from category and sourcing activities.

Beyond price, you will drive continuous improvement, supplier innovation, and sustainability across marketing services, including responsible media buying and sustainable production practices.

You will lead the negotiation of high-value, complex marketing and agency contracts (e.g. retainers, SOWs, production, media commitments), ensuring alignment with broader strategy.

You are accountable for ensuring execution of sourcing strategies through Category Specialists and GBS, including agency engagements and marketing suppliers, to the required quality and timelines.

You will ensure appropriate negotiation strategies are applied to marketing sourcing, supporting teams in complex agency and media negotiations where required.

Working closely with marketing, brand and digital stakeholders, you will build strategic supplier partnerships with agencies and partners, driving both performance and innovation.

Strong leadership and influencing is required to partner with senior marketing stakeholders, aligning procurement approaches with brand vision, customer strategy and campaign priorities.

You will act as a subject matter expert for Marketing & Communications procurement, advising senior leaders on market trends, agency models and commercial strategies.

You will lead change across marketing procurement ways of working, embedding governance while enabling agility required in a fast-paced campaign environment.

You will nurture strong collaboration with GBS partners ensuring alignment to marketing category needs and integration into ways of working.

Promote and adopt digital tools and analytics to drive insights, transparency and performance across marketing spend.

This role is a hybrid opportunity, offering 1-2 days working from home. People are at the heart of what we do here, so it’s essential we provide you with the right environment to perform at your very best.

Let’s talk lifestyle: Healthcare, pension, and potential bonus. 27 days of leave, plus bank holidays and if you want, you can buy 5 more. Because Primark is all about tailoring to you, we offer Tax Saver Tickets, fitness centre, and a subsidised cafeteria.

You will bring 7+ years’ experience in category management, with strong exposure to Marketing & Communications procurement or close partnership with marketing teams. Proven ability to lead complex sourcing initiatives, including agency selection, media sourcing, and multi-market marketing engagements. Demonstrated success in developing and delivering multi-year category strategies aligned to marketing and business objectives. Strong commercial and negotiation expertise across agency contracts, media agreements, and intellectual property considerations. Excellent stakeholder management and influencing skills, with a track record of partnering with senior marketing and brand teams in fast-paced, creative environments. Highly analytical and strategic thinker with strong business acumen, able to drive innovation, manage risk, and deliver measurable value while aligning with company values and culture.