Category Manager - IT

We're looking for a Category Manager to join our dynamic procurement function here at Co-op and drive the procurement strategy across our IT function. You'll be working with colleagues across procurement as well as others across the wider business, establishing needs and finding the most cost-effective solutions. By finding the best value for money, we can re-invest savings into local communities and make them great places to live.

In this role, we'll also look to you to build relationships with our current and future external partners and use commercial tools to help us deliver big projects. Our growing procurement team has a £1.3 billion annual spend - so it's a big job. But if you can bring us the skills we're looking for, we can offer you the change to make a make a huge impact on our entire business.

What you'll do

• Help to deliver a number of transformation programmes by getting involved in sourcing projects (including analysis and supplier selection), negotiating statements of work, supporting business cases for budget provision, and participating in project governance


• Run supplier governance processes with the key suppliers supporting the programme


• Develop a strong understanding of the associated software licencing models


• Offer advice and challenging on costs and budgets


• Drive innovation through leveraging your knowledge of the IT and digital markets


• Build positive relationships with colleagues at all levels, acting as a procurement business partner


• Monitor and minimise risk through proactive contract management, working closely with our legal teams to make sure our contracts are effective
  
  Category management experience with IT systems implementations and in software negotiations


• Attention to detail and the ability to analyse and interpret data


• Good interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to build relationships with suppliers and partners, able to challenge in a positive way


• Experience of complex negotiation and sound commercial thinking ability
  
  At Co-op, we're proud to do things a different way. As one of the world's largest co-operatives, owned by millions of members, community is at the heart of what we do. Since our Co-op was founded in 1844, we've had a clear social purpose, and everything we do as a business helps to build a fairer world for our members, customers, colleagues, and communities.


Building a diverse environment

We're actively building diverse teams and we welcome applications from everyone. If you have a disability, we can make reasonable adjustments to our recruitment process according to your needs. We're also part of the Disability Confident scheme, meaning we'll always offer an interview to disabled candidates who apply through the scheme if they meet the minimum criteria for a job.

We'll ask whether you'd like to be considered under the Disability Confident scheme when you apply.

If we invite you to take part in the recruitment process for any of our jobs, we'll ask you if you need any reasonable adjustments to enable you to participate.

If you have the skills that we need, we can offer you a competitive salary and great benefits package which includes 30% off Co-op branded products in our food stores (as well as other discounts on Co-op products and services).


• An annual bonus (based on personal and business performance)


• 28 days holiday (rising to 32 with service) plus bank holidays


• A pension with up to 10% employer contributions


• Private healthcare


• Access to a subsidised onsite gym (at our Manchester HQ)


• Coaching and training to support your career development


• Wagestream app - giving you access to a percentage of your pay as you earn


• YuLife app - rewarding you for exercising with discounts and vouchers for your favourite brands