Category Manager

The Role:

The Procurement Category Manager – IT & Data is responsible for the end‑to‑end category management, sourcing, and supplier oversight of all IT and Data-related spend across the organisation. This includes software, cloud, infrastructure, managed services, telecoms, cyber security, professional services, and data platforms/services.

The role partners closely with Technology and Data leadership to deliver commercial value, risk management, and supplier performance, while ensuring procurement activity aligns with governance, regulatory, and policy requirements.

This is a hybrid role, working 2-3 days a week from our Manchester city centre office.

Responsibilities will include:

Category Strategy & Leadership

• Own and deliver a comprehensive IT & Data category strategy, covering:  
  • Software (on prem, SaaS, subscriptions)
  • Cloud services (IaaS, PaaS, SaaS)
  • Infrastructure and end-user compute
  • Managed services and systems integration
  • Telecoms and networking
  • Cyber and information security services
  • Data platforms, analytics, and external data services
• Conduct market analysis, demand planning, and spend analysis to identify savings, efficiency, and risk reduction opportunities.
• Align sourcing strategies with IT and Data roadmaps, architectural standards, and transformation initiatives.

Sourcing & Commercial Execution

• Lead end to end sourcing activities using Workday Strategic Sourcing, including RFI/RFP/RFQ processes, bid evaluation, negotiation, and award.
• Deliver robust commercial outcomes across new contracts, renewals, and extensions.
• Develop and negotiate fit-for-purpose commercial models, including outcome-based pricing, consumption models, and licensing optimisation.
• Ensure sourcing decisions balance cost, service quality, resilience, security, and scalability.

Contracting & Contract Intelligence

• Work closely with Legal and stakeholders to ensure contracts reflect agreed commercial, service, risk, and compliance requirements.
• Leverage Evisort Contract Intelligence to:  
  • Improve visibility of IT & Data contracts, terms, and obligations
  • Manage renewal and termination timelines
  • Identify commercial and risk insights (e.g. auto-renewals, pricing clauses, audit rights)
  • Reduce value leakage through proactive contract and renewal management.

Supplier & Performance Management

• Segment and manage strategic and critical IT & Data suppliers.
• Establish KPIs, SLAs, and governance forums (e.g. QBRs, service reviews).
• Drive continuous improvement, innovation, and performance remediation where required.
• Coordinate closely with IT service management, cyber, and data teams on supplier performance and issue resolution.

Risk, Governance & Compliance

• Ensure all IT & Data procurement activity complies with internal policies and governance frameworks.
• Embed third-party risk and security considerations into sourcing and contract management.
• Support material outsourcing / critical supplier assessments where applicable.
• Partner with Risk, Compliance, InfoSec, and Data Protection functions to ensure suppliers meet regulatory, security, and data requirements.

Stakeholder Engagement & Business Partnering

• Act as the primary procurement partner for IT and Data stakeholders (e.g. CIO, CDO, CISO, infrastructure, architecture).
• Provide clear, pragmatic procurement advice on sourcing routes, commercial options, and supplier strategy.
• Influence senior stakeholders while maintaining challenge and independence as a professional procurement advisor.

MI, Benefits Tracking & Continuous Improvement

• Track and report category performance, including savings, cost avoidance, pipeline delivery, and supplier performance.
• Maintain accurate procurement MI through Workday and other procurement systems.
• Continuously improve IT & Data procurement processes, templates, and playbooks.
• Support capability uplift across procurement through knowledge sharing and mentoring.

Key Interfaces

Internal: IT Leadership, Data & Analytics Teams, Cyber & InfoSec, Finance, Legal, Risk, Compliance, Architecture, PMO.

External: Technology vendors, cloud providers, software publishers and resellers, system integrators, managed service providers, data providers, consultants. 

 Skills and Experience

• Proven experience as a Procurement Category Manager or IT Procurement Manager, managing complex technology categories.
• Strong practical understanding of:
• Software licensing and SaaS models
• Cloud and managed services
• Infrastructure, telecoms, and cyber services
• Data platforms and third-party data services
• Demonstrable commercial and negotiation capability with complex contracts.
• Hands-on experience using Workday Strategic Sourcing for sourcing and pipeline management.
• Experience using Evisort (or similar contract intelligence tools) for contract visibility and insight.
• Excellent stakeholder management skills, with experience influencing senior technology stakeholders.
• Strong analytical skills (spend analysis, TCO, benchmarking, benefits tracking).

Desirable

• Experience in regulated industries (financial services, insurance, London Market).
• Knowledge of third-party risk, operational resilience, and outsourcing governance.
• Experience embedding procurement governance without slowing delivery.
• CIPS qualification (Level 4+).

About UsOur benefits

We offer all employees a comprehensive benefits package that focuses on their whole wellbeing. This includes hybrid working, a competitive base salary, non-contributory pension, discretionary bonus, insurances including health (family) and dental cover, and many other benefits to enhance financial, physical, social and psychological health.

About Canopius

Canopius is a global specialty lines (re)insurer. We are one of the leading insurers in the Lloyd’s of London insurance market with offices in the UK, US, Singapore, Australia and Bermuda.

At Canopius we foster a distinctive, positive culture which enables us to bring our whole selves to work to flourish as people, and build a business which delivers profitable, sustainable results.

Based in incredible new offices in Manchester, Canopius operates a flexible, hybrid working model and is committed to providing an environment that challenges employees to be their best and where everyone's unique contributions are recognised, valued and respected.  

We are fully committed to equal employment opportunities for all applicants and providing employees with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. All employment decisions are made regardless of age, sex, gender identity, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, socio-economic background, religion or beliefs, marital or caring status, or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate.  We encourage and welcome applicants from all diverse backgrounds.

We make reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process and during employment. Please let us know if you require any information in an alternate format or any other reasonable adjustments.