Senior Category Manager – IT Services

Overview

Senior Category Manager IT Services at QinetiQ leads complex IT services sourcing to deliver cost optimisation, risk mitigation, and value across the business. You will shape sourcing strategies, manage end-to-end procurement, and foster strong supplier relationships within a defence context. Based at Farnborough, you’ll collaborate with cross-functional teams and ensure compliance and ethical standards. This role offers involvement in high-technology defence initiatives and industry engagement.

Responsibilities

• Build influential relationships with decision-makers to secure Procurement involvement in sourcing
• Maintain awareness of defence-specific supplier restrictions and accreditation requirements to protect compliance
• Collaborate with Business Partnering to leverage existing supplier frameworks and Group scale
• Co-develop sourcing strategies with stakeholders to align targets and drive performance improvements
• Lead end-to-end procurement processes including tendering, negotiation, and contract execution
• Ensure sourcing activities comply with regulatory, legal, and commercial risk controls

Key requirements

• Proven contract negotiation skills
• Adept at business relationship management (internal & external)
• Knowledge of different types of sourcing strategies
• Strong ability to identify and mitigate supply chain, regulatory, legal & commercial risk
• SC clearance eligibility (minimum requirement)

• Stakeholder management
• Communication
• Collaborative mindset
• Contract negotiation
• Sourcing strategy development
• Risk identification and mitigation in procurement

…