Market Category Lead HR & Professional Services

Location: UK/Europe (any)

This role is responsible for providing regional category management leadership for the category of HR and Professional Services (Finance, Legal and Marketing). This person collaborates closely with Global, Regional and Market Unit (MU) colleagues to meet the objectives of Procurement and its stakeholders. Some expectations of the role include supporting the creation of category strategy and plans that align with internal stakeholder goals, reflect current marketplace conditions, and support Procurement initiatives. This role will also support the negotiations of agreements with key strategic suppliers while driving innovation with these partners.

Purpose & Overall Relevance for the Organization:

• Lead the EMEA HR & Professional Services category strategy in alignment with Global Category Leads.
• Identify opportunities through market analysis, spend insights, and contract reviews.
• Drive Procurement value, innovation, compliance, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Support regional target setting, planning, and execution of category programs.
• Engage key stakeholders and ensure alignment between business objectives and category strategies.

Strategy & Sourcing Execution

• Lead regional sourcing initiatives and support global category activities.
• Ensure negotiations and supplier engagements align with global strategies.
• Promote adoption of preferred contracts and buying channels.
• Coordinate resources and oversee implementation of category initiatives across the region.

Stakeholder & Supplier Management

• Build strong relationships with internal stakeholders and strategic suppliers.
• Act as a trusted business partner across functions and subcategories.
• Manage supplier performance, stakeholder feedback, and category-related escalations.
• Maintain a robust pipeline of sourcing opportunities and value creation initiatives.

Category Delivery

• Drive supplier optimization, performance management, and fact-based negotiations.
• Support sourcing projects and ensure delivery of business outcomes.
• Leverage market intelligence to strengthen Procurement’s value proposition.

#LI-EU

Knowledge, Skills & Experience

• Strong expertise in category management, sourcing, procurement, and project management.
• Proven experience developing and executing category strategies.
• Deep understanding of HR and Professional Services categories and commercial models.
• Demonstrable working experience in similar or adequate roles in a Procurement environment, with international project and people management elements
• Demonstrable experience working with senior executives to implement and manage initiatives in a highly complex matrix organization
• Fluent in written and spoken English.
• Strong negotiation, analytics, stakeholder management, and supplier management skills.
• Ability to influence senior stakeholders and work across a complex global organization.
• Innovative, action-oriented, and results-driven mindset.
• Strong communication, presentation, and relationship-building skills.
• Comfortable managing multiple priorities in a multicultural environment.

Education

• A bachelor’s degree with emphasis on the areas of business, economics, Procurement, or comparable professional experience