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We are seeking two category managers with experience of any combination of the following sectors: HR, Finance (banking, payment solutions), Consultancy, Marketing and Advertising. Interested candidates can apply for one or both roles. We reserve the right to assign specific sector / category responsibility based on candidates experience.

Role Purpose

Step into the role of Global Category Manager and become a vital part of our Procurement Leadership Team. Our procurement function operates through clusters, serving three core stakeholder groups: English and Exams, Cultural Engagement, and Business Operations. Together, we champion commercial best practices, delivering outstanding procurement efficiency and substantial value year on year.

As Global Category Manager, you will lead the development of multi-year category plans, spanning diverse stakeholder groups and countries within your designated category. You'll play a strategic role in devising, designing, and executing global and organisation-wide category strategies, unlocking value for our operations.

Role Accountabilities

Take on the exciting role of Global Category Manager and bring your expertise to our dynamic Procurement Leadership Team. As part of the management team, you will spearhead short- and long-term strategies across a designated category, ensuring alignment with procurement’s overarching objectives. Your role will involve designing and implementing innovative solutions for category needs, supporting Cluster Heads and stakeholders with both immediate remedies and future planning.

You will have the opportunity to shape and execute departmental learning and development initiatives, driving continuous improvement in procurement capabilities. With your strategic mindset, you’ll balance operational and long-term objectives, ensuring the commercial agenda remains impactful and relevant.

Drawing on your deep functional expertise, you’ll provide professional advice, guidance, and challenge to stakeholders, refining procurement governance and risk management practices. Your commitment to ongoing professional development and contribution to the training of peers will enhance procurement proficiency across the board.

As a relationship-builder, you’ll establish credible and effective partnerships within the network, fostering trust, inspiring collaboration, and championing knowledge sharing. Your role will influence strategic direction and encourage adherence to aligned practices, even across cross-functional and international teams.

In this leadership role, you’ll manage priorities, develop talent, and cultivate a team culture that thrives on enthusiasm, success, and ethical action. You’ll model change leadership, inspiring others to embrace new approaches and driving transformation in alignment with organisational values.

Your analytical and problem-solving skills will play a critical role in understanding complex procurement challenges and opportunities. You’ll create compelling business cases to influence decision-makers and introduce significant improvements to policies and practices.

You’ll contribute to service improvement and corporate projects, ensuring compliance with corporate policies and championing better ways of working. Collaborating with key suppliers, you’ll ensure category plans and procurement practices align with best practices, delivering tangible benefits to the organisation.

This is your chance to lead with impact, combining commercial judgment and expertise to elevate procurement practices and deliver meaningful change.

Qualifications & Experience:

• Extensive experience of working in a similar role at a similar level managing a category management team or procurement teams at a strategic level.
• In-depth understanding of the Category Management process
• In-depth understanding of own category and suppliers in each category; able to rank effectively suppliers according to category priorities
• Significant understanding of legal and operational risks
• Good understanding of Category Management provisions
• Good business understanding across industry

Location: UK (London, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Belfast, Manchester and anyone on pre-existing homeworking contracts in the UK)

Contract type: Indefinite

Closing Date: 24 August 2025 (10:59 PM UK Time)

You must have the legal right to work in the UK at the time of application.

There is no relocation or sponsorship support.

British Council supports working in new ways such as hybrid working, subject to full approval by line management and conditional upon our ability to provide the appropriate level of service. This may not be appropriate for all roles but can be explored at interview.

Seniority level

• Seniority level

  Mid-Senior level

Employment type

• Employment type

  Full-time

Job function

• Job function

  General Business

• Industries

  Non-profit Organizations

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