Procurement Category Lead - Consulting and Outsourcing
Procurement Category Lead - Consulting and Outsourcing

Procurement Category Lead - Consulting and Outsourcing

Full-Time 60000 - 75000 £ / year (est.) Home office (partial)
WTW

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead procurement activities and drive value delivery in Consulting and Outsourcing.
  • Company: Join WTW, a global leader in procurement with a collaborative culture.
  • Benefits: Enjoy 25 days annual leave, private healthcare, and hybrid working options.
  • Other info: Be part of a dynamic team with excellent career growth opportunities.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact by managing supplier relationships and driving operational excellence.
  • Qualifications: Proven procurement experience, strong negotiation skills, and strategic mindset required.

The predicted salary is between 60000 - 75000 £ per year.

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

  • Develop strategies for your Category, understanding the latest market trends and insights.
  • Manage supplier relationships, identify and mitigate risks, and ensure full compliance with WTW policies and relevant regulatory requirements.
  • Partner with business leaders to understand future demand, upcoming initiatives, and project pipelines.
  • Facilitate cross‑functional alignment to ensure sourcing strategies reflect business needs.
  • Translate business requirements into clear sourcing plans and category opportunities.
  • Lead RFPs, RFIs and negotiations.
  • Conduct internal and external benchmarking to identify value opportunities and commercial gaps.

Supplier Management

  • Build and maintain strong relationships with key suppliers to ensure delivery, innovation, and performance.
  • Lead Supplier Performance Management activities, including QBRs, scorecards, corrective actions, and risk mitigation (as required).
  • Drive supplier consolidation, rationalisation, and continuous improvement initiatives.

Contracting & Compliance

  • Work closely with Legal, Finance and Compliance on contract drafting, renewals, and commercial risk mitigation.
  • Negotiate and manage contracts in accordance with WTW Procurement policy and regulatory requirements.
  • Ensure all procurement activities comply with ESG, risk management, and governance standards.

Stakeholder Engagement

  • Act as the trusted advisor and procurement partner, providing commercial insights and strategic guidance.
  • Build strong cross‑functional relationships with Operations, Finance, HR, IT, and Legal teams.
  • Present sourcing plans, savings updates, and supplier performance insights to senior management.
  • Represent Procurement in regional governance forums or audits.

Financial & Operational Performance

  • Own savings pipeline management for your Category.
  • Deliver measurable savings, cost avoidance, and value improvements.

Qualifications

Essentials

  • 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 candidate.helpdesk@wtwco.com

Procurement Category Lead - Consulting and Outsourcing employer: WTW

WTW is an exceptional employer that prioritises employee wellbeing and professional growth, offering a comprehensive benefits package that includes generous annual leave, private healthcare, and a defined contribution pension scheme with matched contributions. The collaborative work culture fosters strong relationships across teams and encourages innovative approaches to procurement challenges, making it an ideal environment for those looking to make a meaningful impact in the Consulting and Outsourcing sector.
WTW

Contact Detail:

WTW Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫

We think this is how you could land Procurement Category Lead - Consulting and Outsourcing

✨Tip Number 1

Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the procurement field, especially those who work at WTW or similar companies. A friendly chat can lead to insider info about job openings and even referrals.

✨Tip Number 2

Prepare for interviews by researching WTW's procurement strategies and recent projects. Show us you know your stuff and can bring value to the team right from the get-go!

✨Tip Number 3

Practice your negotiation skills! As a Procurement Category Lead, you'll need to demonstrate your ability to negotiate effectively. Role-play with a friend or use online resources to sharpen those skills.

✨Tip Number 4

Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows us you're serious about joining the WTW team.

We think you need these skills to ace Procurement Category Lead - Consulting and Outsourcing

Procurement Experience
Category Management
Supplier Relationship Management
Negotiation Skills
Contract Management
Stakeholder Management
Sourcing Strategies
Market Trend Analysis
Risk Mitigation
Financial Acumen
Compliance Knowledge
Cross-Functional Collaboration
Reporting and Pipeline Management
Change Management
Creativity in Problem Solving

Some tips for your application 🫡

Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience in procurement, especially in consulting and outsourcing. We want to see how your skills align with the role, so don’t hold back on showcasing your achievements!

Showcase Your Skills: Emphasise your negotiation and contract management skills, as well as your ability to build strong supplier relationships. We’re looking for someone who can drive value delivery, so make sure to include relevant examples from your past experiences.

Be Clear and Concise: When writing your application, keep it straightforward and to the point. Use bullet points where possible to make it easy for us to read through your qualifications and experiences. Clarity is key!

Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it’s super easy to do!

How to prepare for a job interview at WTW

✨Know Your Category Inside Out

Before the interview, dive deep into the Consulting and Outsourcing category. Understand the latest market trends, key suppliers, and potential risks. This knowledge will help you demonstrate your expertise and show that you're ready to hit the ground running.

✨Showcase Your Negotiation Skills

Prepare examples of successful negotiations you've led in the past. Be ready to discuss your approach to RFPs and RFIs, and how you’ve managed supplier relationships. Highlighting these experiences will illustrate your capability to drive value delivery.

✨Build Cross-Functional Relationships

Think about how you can foster collaboration with various teams like Finance, HR, and IT. Prepare to discuss how you've successfully engaged stakeholders in previous roles, as this will be crucial for the position and will show your ability to act as a trusted advisor.

✨Demonstrate Your Strategic Mindset

Be prepared to talk about how you've developed sourcing strategies that align with business needs. Share specific examples of how you've translated business requirements into actionable plans, showcasing your analytical skills and commercial understanding.

Procurement Category Lead - Consulting and Outsourcing
WTW

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