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About the Role

As a Category Manager, you will lead all procurement activity for the Chief Operating Officer (COO) directorate, with a predominant focus on the Technology department. You will drive high-impact sourcing, contract management, and supplier performance, shaping category strategy, delivering end-to-end procurement projects, and partnering with stakeholders to unlock value, drive innovation, and champion ethical and sustainable buying. This role offers an opportunity to raise the profile of Procurement and influence key decisions to enable Cancer Research UK's mission to beat cancer.

Responsibilities

Lead and manage procurement activities within the Technology department and Chief Operating Office (COO), ensuring value for money, compliance, and alignment with Cancer Research UK’s mission.
Develop and implement category strategies aligned with organizational goals and procurement best practices.
Lead end-to-end sourcing activities, including tenders, supplier evaluations, and contract negotiations.
Collaborate with business stakeholders to become a trusted and valued business partner, leading to early engagement and raising the profile of the Procurement function.
Maintain status updates and reports for key procurement activities and contracts within the category of spend.
Engage with stakeholders to identify opportunities for cost optimisation, innovation, and process improvements within the Technology and COO category.
Deliver business objectives by providing competent, professional, and expert leadership across the contract management lifecycle, including tendering, renewals, performance reviews, and risk mitigation.
Contribute to procurement transformation initiatives and cross-functional projects.
Build high-functioning, trusting relationships with stakeholders to develop the organisation’s understanding of procurement and contract compliance.
Promote ethical sourcing, sustainability, and value for money in all procurement activities.

Requirements

Experienced Technology Category, Strategic Procurement, or Supplier Relationship Manager with a track record of operating in large, complex organisations.
Experience supporting and/or managing the end-to-end IT procurement process and projects.
Commercially minded with a successful track record of managing supplier relationships.
Experience in drafting, negotiating, and managing high-value supplier contracts and RFx (Request for X).
Builds strong, collaborative relationships across technology and professional services functions, with a clear focus on understanding and delivering for internal customers.
A track record of managing multiple procurement projects simultaneously, balancing pace, quality, governance, and stakeholder expectations in a fast-paced environment.
Acts as a role model for procurement, promoting consistency and best practice across the organisation.
A proactive, pragmatic, and solution-focused approach to resolving challenges, continually improving how things are done, and ensuring best practices and good governance are upheld.
Demonstrates curiosity and a proactive approach to learning, taking ownership of personal development and continuously seeking opportunities to build knowledge and capability.
Must be eligible to work in the UK; Cancer Research UK is not able to offer visa sponsorship.
Internal candidates should ideally have completed their 6-month ‘getting started’ period.
Internal candidates must have discussed their intention to apply and gained approval to apply with their line manager.
Internal candidates must have been in their substantive (home) role for at least 6 months (if previously on secondment).

Skills

Technology Category Management
Strategic Procurement
Supplier Relationship Management
IT Procurement Process Management
Contract Management
RFx Management
Stakeholder Collaboration
Project Management
Ethical Sourcing
Sustainability
Value for Money
CIPS qualification (advantageous)
Procurement within COO professional services functions (advantageous)
Procurement strategy development (advantageous)
Category plan development (advantageous)

Location

Stratford, London

Work Type

Permanent
Full time
Office-based with high flexibility (1-2 days per week in the office)

Experience Level

Experienced

Education Level

Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS) qualification (advantageous)

Salary/Compensations

£48,000 - £53,000

Benefits

Generous benefits package
Wide range of career and personal development opportunities
High-quality tools
Policies and processes enable work-life balance, career progression, and personal wellbeing goals

About the Company

Cancer Research UK exists to beat cancer.
We are professionals with purpose, beating cancer every day.
Cancer Research UK’s Procurement team plays a critical role in ensuring the charity has the resources it needs to operate and deliver on our mission.
We are driving an ambitious transformation to create a strategic, data-driven procurement function that delivers value, mitigates risk, and fosters innovation.
By embedding procurement best practice across the organisation, we aim to maximise value for money, enhance quality, improve efficiency, and uphold our promise to direct 80p of every £1 donated towards beating cancer.
Our organisation values are: Bold, Credible, Human, Together.
As the world’s largest independent cancer research charity, we conduct research into the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of the disease.
Our aim is to see 3 in 4 people survive cancer by 2034.
Cancer Research UK offers excellent prospects to expand your career as well as the ability to make a real difference to the lives of others.
We're always looking for sharp, brave, and collaborative people to join Cancer Research UK and continue to make it a great place to work.

Equal Opportunity

We operate an anonymised shortlisting process in our commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion.
There’s a place for everyone at Cancer Research UK.
Our vision is to create a charity where everyone feels like they belong, benefits from and participates in, the work we do.
We're committed to creating an inclusive culture where everyone can be themselves and reach their full potential.
We actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and cultures, in particular those from ethnic minority backgrounds who are currently under-represented, and believe that a diverse workforce will help us to beat cancer sooner.
We don’t expect everyone to meet all of the criteria listed.
We want to see every candidate performing at their best throughout the job application process, interview process and whilst at work.
Unfortunately, we are unable to recruit anyone below the age of 18, so that we can protect young people from health & safety and safeguarding risks.