Procurement Category Director - Technology

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Job reference 324640
Procurement Category Director - Technology
Competitive salary plus car allowance, healthcare, 35% annual bonus potential, 30 days annual leave plus bank holidays rising with serve and a company pension scheme with highly competitive contribution rates
Permanent, Full time
185 Farringdon Road, London

About the role

At Royal Mail we’ve served our communities for over 500 years, helping to lead and transform the postal delivery market on a global scale. We’re currently innovating and transforming our business for the future, and to get there, we need exceptionally talented, resilient, and driven people.

The Category Director - Technology has overall responsibility for management, leadership and strategic direction across technology, ensuring that Royal Mail Group (RMG) stakeholders obtain excellent customer service, best value for money and compliance with RMG governance. The Category Director Technology shall be the professional lead within their pillar, whilst aligning closely with other Procurement Leadership Team (PLT) members and peers spanning the entire portfolio of Categories e.g., IT, Property, Assets, Automation, Corporate Services and SRM disciplines, providing professional leadership for the team in a collaborative environment. Category Directors may also deputise for the Chief Procurement Officer (CPO) as required and assist other Category Directors in realising Category Plans where there is a cross over in service requirements, namely across IT architecture and operating models.

As a strategic advisor to our IT leadership, and executive stakeholders, you’ll be at the forefront of digital transformation, responsible for unlocking innovation, agility, and competitive advantage through world class supplier partnerships. In this transformational leadership role, you will on the end-to-end sourcing strategy for all IT categories fuelling innovation, operational agility, and business growth.

The Category Director will be a trusted advisor to C-level executives (CIO, CISC, CFO, CPO) and play a critical role in shaping the digital agenda through innovative sourcing models, strategic vendor partnerships, and enterprise- scale transformation initiatives.

This is a high-impact, highly visible role requiring bold leadership, deep technical and market expertise, and the ability to drive results across a complex organisation.

Reporting into the Chief Procurement Officer - This is a hybrid working role and to attend our Head Office in Farringdon, London.

Key Accountabilities

1. Business Partner to senior internal customers and leaders in the business areas serviced by the category – understanding their business drivers and needs in the context of the company strategy, agreeing how they can be most effectively met and advocating effective use of procurement resources
2. Lead the category pillar in the development and implementation of a procurement Category Strategies for goods and services in order to meet internal customers’ needs, deliver first class value for the business and protect it from risk
3. Lead exec level supplier relationships with key suppliers to deliver value, innovation, drive performance and ESG targets
4. Ensure sourcing activity in the category is carried out in an efficient and timely way that is compliant with Royal Mail policy, process and guidelines
5. Work collaboratively with other Category Directors to make most effective use of the resources available across the procurement functions through a ‘pooled resource’ way of working
6. Ensure the maintenance of accurate and complete electronic records for all contracts and projects in the category and provide other category data and insights where required in order to drive value or mitigate business risk
7. Provide expert negotiation guidance and support to maximise value delivery or mitigate risk across the category and be a commercial and contractual escalation point for business area customers and contract managers

About You

• Experience of leading significant technology estate transformations
• Track record of developing, building buy-in to and implementing compelling Category Strategies across technology
• Experience in being accountable for a major area of activity with autonomy to act independently, interpret policy and strategy, and set goals and standards for others.
• Proficient use of Source to Pay solutions optimising procurement process and policy
• Working Capital Improvement tools and techniques to further maximise value from third party spend
• Track record of value delivery through the development of effective Category Strategy and the application of strategic sourcing methodology.
• Director level management experience, leading category teams at a strategic level
• Experience of complex change management
• Experience of leading and being accountable for development of business plans and strategies
• Experience of significant Technology transformational change
• Experience of SAP

Qualifications
• Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (MCIPS) Qualified.
• Degree level with relevant post graduate experience and/or qualifications.

Extra Benefits

• Family friendly support - enhanced maternity pay, paternity leave, adoption leave and shared parental leave
• Discounts and offers - there are more than 800 offers to help you save on things like groceries, days out, holidays and your household bills*.
• Supportive and generous company sick pay
• Your Wellbeing - you and your family have 24/7 access to services and tools to help you get the most out of life. From your physical and mental health to financial and social support and advice. It’s free, and it’s for everyone.
*Available only to perm employees

Next Steps

The next stage of the selection process will be a face to face/virtual interview consisting of competency based and role specific questions.

Royal Mail are proud of our diverse employee network groups and the active role they play to support belonging and encourage a positive work environment. We are firmly committed to inclusion and passionate about our people representing the communities we serve.

We are happy to support your need for any adjustments during the application and hiring process. Please share the details within your application if required.

We are Forces family friendly and a Gold signatory to the Armed Forces Covenant. We welcome applications from ex-Armed Forces personnel, reservists, veterans, cadet instructors and military spouses/partners.

For more information on Royal Mail Group and our values please click here:

Closing Date: 28th August 2025. Please note, this advert may close early if the appropriate number of applications has been reached.

#LI-POST #RMG #LIMRT #LI-Hybrid

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