Procurement Category Lead in London

WTW Procurement is expanding the Sourcing team to support Consulting and Outsourcing spend and is seeking an experienced Category Manager to lead and execute procurement activities. This role is responsible for driving value delivery, ensuring supplier performance, and supporting operational excellence across Outsourcing Category. You will work in close partnership with Material Outsourcing and Consulting Lead and collaborate with business stakeholders and Procurement colleagues in the UK, US, France and Mumbai. You will be a trusted advisor to partner on procurement related matters for the organisation.

Key responsibilities include:

• Developing strategies for your Category, understanding the latest market trends and insights, managing supplier relationships, identifying and mitigating risks, and ensuring full compliance with WTW policies and relevant regulatory requirements.
• Partnering with business leaders to understand future demand, upcoming initiatives, and project pipelines.
• Facilitating cross-functional alignment to ensure sourcing strategies reflect business needs.
• Translating business requirements into clear sourcing plans and category opportunities.
• Leading RFPs, RFIs and negotiations.
• Conducting internal and external benchmarking to identify value opportunities and commercial gaps.
• Building and maintaining strong relationships with key suppliers to ensure delivery, innovation, and performance.
• Leading Supplier Performance Management activities, including QBRs, scorecards, corrective actions, and risk mitigation (as required).
• Driving supplier consolidation, rationalisation, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Working closely with Legal, Finance and Compliance on contract drafting, renewals, and commercial risk mitigation.
• Negotiating and managing contracts in accordance with WTW Procurement policy and regulatory requirements.
• Ensuring all procurement activities comply with ESG, risk management, and governance standards.
• Acting as the trusted advisors and procurement partner, providing commercial insights and strategic guidance.
• Building strong cross-functional relationships with Operations, Finance, HR, IT, and Legal teams.
• Presenting sourcing plans, savings updates, and supplier performance insights to senior management.
• Representing Procurement in regional governance forums or audits.
• Owning savings pipeline management for your Category.
• Delivering measurable savings, cost avoidance, and value improvements.

What you'll bring:

Essential:

• Strong years of procurement experience, ideally within Financial and Insurance sectors within a multinational environment.
• Outsourcing and Professional Service category management experience.
• Good knowledge and proven application of sourcing and procurement principles and best practices.
• Ability to build reporting and pipeline management.
• Strong knowledge of commercial law and procurement regulations.
• Proven negotiation and contract management skills.
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills.
• Strategic and analytical mindset with strong financial and commercial understanding.

Preferred:

• Knowledge of procurement systems (Ariba, Oracle, Power BI, MS Office etc.).
• Professional certification (CIPS, CPSM, or equivalent).
• Experience working in a matrix organisation.
• Creativity to seek, encourage and find non-traditional approaches to procurement challenges.
• Change management and self-awareness skills to adopt targeted approaches to a dynamic set of stakeholders.
• Strong cost management and value improvement orientation.
• Familiarity with relevant legislative, regulatory requirements, and industry standards as well as understanding of standard contractual terms and conditions to mitigate legal risk and ensure compliance.

Personal Attributes:

• Proactive and solutions-oriented.
• Positive mindset.
• Strong sense of ownership and accountability.
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities.
• High ethical standards and integrity.
• Collaborative and team-focused mindset.

What we offer:

Enjoy a benefits package designed to help you thrive, both professionally and personally. You'll receive 25 days of annual leave plus an extra WTW day to relax and recharge. Our comprehensive health and wellbeing offering includes private healthcare, life insurance, group income protection, and regular health assessments, all giving you peace of mind. Secure your future with our defined contribution pension scheme, featuring matched contributions up to 10% from the company. We support your growth and balance with hybrid working options, access to an employee assistance programme, and a fully paid volunteer day to make a difference in your community. On top of these, you can opt into a variety of additional perks including an electric vehicle car scheme, share scheme, cycle-to-work programme, dental and optical cover, critical illness protection, and much more. Start making the most of your career and wellbeing with a range of benefits tailored for you.

Equal Opportunity Employer: We're committed to equal employment opportunity and provide application, interview and workplace adjustments and accommodations to all applicants. If you foresee any barriers, from the application process through to joining WTW, please email your recruiter.