Skills

Communication Leadership Negotiation Training benchmarking Recruitment

Job Specifications

Category Manager – HR Services

Location: City of London (2-3 days per week onsite)

Duration: 6 Months

Rate: £450 - £500

Are you an experienced Procurement professional with strong category knowledge across HR Services and wider Indirects? This is an exciting opportunity to join a centralised procurement function within a large, diverse, and nationally dispersed organisation. You’ll play a key role in driving value, optimising supplier relationships and shaping category strategy across multiple business areas.

The Role

As Category Manager, you will take ownership of the HR Services & Professional Services category, with particular focus on:

Recruitment
Contract audit exercises to recover overcharges (tender process started)
SOW / consultancy spend review, strategy formation, and execution of services procurement, delivering savings in this space under professional services
Expansion of the current MSP + manage the contract
Occupational Health Tender

You will work closely with stakeholders across the organisation to deliver best‑in‑class procurement strategies, enhance supply chain performance, and drive measurable value.

Key Responsibilities

Category Management

Lead strategic management of the HR Services category, including spend analysis, forecasting and supplier market assessment
Develop category strategies in partnership with operational and procurement stakeholders
Lead RFP/RFQ processes, supplier negotiations, contract renewals, and supplier performance reviews
Identify and deliver savings, efficiencies, and continuous improvement
Support major programmes such as system upgrades, mobile telephony renewals, and technology transformation projects
Provide commercial input to bids, mobilisation, and de‑mobilisation activities
Drive effective cost benchmarking and e‑procurement practices
Maintain accurate reporting on compliance, spend and savings

Risk, Governance & Sustainability

Support risk reviews and mitigation planning
Promote safe procurement practices and compliance with HSE requirements
Lead initiatives relating to sustainability, DE&I, and responsible procurement

Leadership & Collaboration

Build positive relationships with HR, Finance, Project Delivery, and senior leadership teams
Provide expert guidance to stakeholders across multiple business units
Promote the use of framework agreements and procurement best practice
Support development and training of team members

About You

You will bring:

5+ years’ experience in a senior procurement or category management role
Proven success managing complex Indirect categories (ideally including HR Services)
Strong commercial acumen and negotiation skills
Experience influencing senior stakeholders across a matrixed organisation
Ability to analyse complex data and translate insights into strategy
Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal
Proactive, collaborative approach with strong prioritisation and planning abilities
Familiarity with supplier performance management and standard forms of contract

About the Company

Lorien is a technology, transformation and telecom talent solutions specialist. We combine tech expertise with the scope, depth and breadth of large-scale talent solutions. Driven by both clients and candidates, covering Europe and the US, we work with all sectors, sizes and tech needs – from start-up to established, tech companies and those who use tech to propel them further - we work with them all. Our unique position in the market means we have the insight to create tailored solutions – keeping our clients ahead of t... Know more