This job is with St. James's Place, an inclusive employer and a member of myGwork – the largest global platform for the LGBTQ+ business community. Please do not contact the recruiter directly.
About the Role
We're looking for a Procurement Category Specialist to support sourcing and category management activities across our Services category. Working alongside the Category Manager, you'll lead sourcing projects, negotiate with suppliers, manage contracts, and identify opportunities to reduce costs across all areas of indirect spend (e.g. HR, Marketing, Facilities, Professional Services, Travel and Events).
This role works closely with stakeholders across the business to understand requirements, ensure procurement activity meets regulatory and governance requirements, and deliver effective sourcing outcomes. You'll have responsibility for your own areas of spend while contributing to wider category plans and supplier management activities.
What You'll Be Doing
- Developing and delivering sourcing and negotiation strategies within your assigned spend areas.
- Supporting the development of category plans and owning delivery of agreed procurement activities.
- Identifying opportunities to reduce costs and improve supplier arrangements through spend analysis and market research.
- Leading RFx activities, including eAuctions, supplier evaluations and commercial negotiations.
- Managing contract negotiations, renewals and sourcing projects in partnership with stakeholders and Legal teams.
- Working with business stakeholders to understand current and future requirements.
- Monitoring supplier performance against agreed service levels and key performance indicators.
- Applying supplier risk management processes and ensuring compliance with internal procurement policies.
- Maintaining accurate procurement records, including contracts, sourcing activity and savings tracking.
- Ensuring procurement activity complies with relevant regulatory, legal, data privacy and security requirements.
About You
You have experience in procurement, strategic sourcing or category management and are comfortable managing sourcing activities from planning through to contract award. You can build productive working relationships with stakeholders and suppliers, and you're confident leading negotiations and managing competing priorities. You'll be able to analyse information, assess options and make recommendations that balance cost, risk and business requirements.
Essential Criteria
- Experience in procurement, strategic sourcing, category management or vendor management within a services-related category.
- Proven experience leading supplier negotiations and managing contracts.
- Understanding of pricing models for people-based services such as Marketing, HR, Legal or Professional Services.
- Strong stakeholder management and communication skills, with the ability to influence decisions and build effective working relationships.
Desirable Skills
- Experience using procurement systems and sourcing platforms, such as MarketDojo.
- CIPS qualified, working towards a CIPS qualification, or qualified through relevant experience.
Procurement Category Specialist employer: St. James's Place
At SJP, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic hybrid work environment in Cirencester or Bristol that fosters collaboration and professional growth. Our commitment to employee development is evident through continuous training opportunities and a supportive culture that values integrity and excellence, ensuring you thrive while delivering expert technical support in the fast-paced financial services sector. With competitive benefits, including a generous parental leave policy and a discretionary bonus scheme, we empower our team to achieve both personal and professional success.
