At AQA, we’re committed to advancing education and we’re committed to our people. As the largest provider of academic qualifications in the UK, we mark over 10 million exam papers each year and it’s our people who make this happen.

IT Category Manager

12 Month Fixed Term Contract (Maternity Cover)

Guildford | Hybrid Working

£52,000 - £58,500 per annum

Looking for your next IT / Technology Category Manager opportunity?

Do you enjoy owning complex technology supplier relationships, managing strategic contracts and partnering with senior stakeholders to deliver commercial outcomes?

You'll take ownership of a technology portfolio worth approximately £15 million across 155 contracts and 70 suppliers, working with senior stakeholders across Enterprise Technology and managing several of AQA's critical suppliers.

Technology / IT procurement experience is essential for this role.

To help you succeed, you'll benefit from a comprehensive and well-planned handover with the current postholder, alongside ongoing support from the Head of Procurement and wider category management team. You'll have the opportunity to build relationships with key stakeholders and suppliers before taking full ownership of the portfolio.

This is an opportunity to join a well-established procurement team and make an immediate impact across a key area of the business.

You'll inherit a well-established portfolio but won't be expected to simply maintain the status quo. Fresh thinking, innovation and new ideas are actively encouraged.

What's in it for you?

Alongside a competitive salary, you'll work on a hybrid basis with a minimum of two days per week in our Guildford office, including Thursdays.

You'll also benefit from:

• Up to 25 days annual leave, plus Christmas closure and bank holidays
• Combined Pension contributions of up to 18.5%
• Private Medical Insurance
• Parking onsite
• Life Assurance
• A wide range of wellbeing benefits and support

Most importantly, you'll gain ownership of a significant technology portfolio while working with senior technology stakeholders and a highly experienced procurement team.

What will you be doing?

• Managing a portfolio of technology contracts and suppliers
• Working closely with senior Stakeholders and Contract Owners
• Supporting contract renewals, negotiations and commercial discussions
• Assisting Stakeholders in managing supplier performance and commercial outcomes
• Coordinating procurement projects and sourcing activities
• Supporting category planning and technology procurement strategy
• Identifying opportunities for continuous improvement and supplier consolidation
• Providing pragmatic procurement advice and guidance
• Ensuring procurement activity remains compliant with governance requirements

You'll thrive in this role if you have:

• Technology or IT procurement category management experience
• Demonstrable contract and supplier management expertise
• Experience influencing and partnering with stakeholders at all levels
• Experience leading or supporting RFx, tender or sourcing activities
• Commercial negotiation capability
• CIPS Level 4 qualification or equivalent experience

Experience using Source-to-Contract platforms such as Bravo, Jaggaer or similar systems would be advantageous but isn't essential.

The type of person who succeeds here

You'll enjoy taking ownership rather than waiting for direction.

You'll be comfortable managing competing priorities and working autonomously.

You'll be trusted to operate independently, but you won't be left to do it alone.

You'll bring ideas, challenge constructively and look for opportunities to improve processes, supplier relationships and commercial outcomes.

Most importantly, you'll be a collaborative team player who balances strategic thinking with practical delivery.

What next?

If you're looking for a Technology Procurement role with genuine ownership, a complex supplier portfolio and the opportunity to make a visible impact, we'd love to hear from you.

Applications close Wednesday 15th July at 23:59

• ​As part of the screening process there are 4 short questions at application stage which are related to the role. All response are reviewed by a person.
• First-stage interviews will take place via Microsoft Teams during the week commencing 27 July, with final interviews taking place in Guildford during early to mid-August

Every application will receive a written response.

At AQA, we are committed to fostering a workplace that celebrates diversity and promotes equity and inclusion. We believe that a diverse team brings richer perspectives and drives better outcomes. Our ED&I strategy ensures that everyone - regardless of religion, ethnicity, gender identity or expression, age, disability, sexual orientation, or background - is valued, respected, and empowered to thrive. We actively promote inclusive language, avoid stereotypes, and strive for representation across all dimensions of diversity. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds and lived experiences.  

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Recruitment Agencies

We have a preferred supplier list (PSL) in place.

Unsolicited CVs will be treated as a gift. We will not be subject to or liable under your terms and conditions for agency fees.

Full Job Description

Summary

The Category Manager is a newly created role within the Procurement Team. The key responsibilities include working directly with the Team’s Senior Category Managers to provide proactive support with projects, contract management, stakeholder liaison and supplier management. The role will focus on providing the support to the Category Managers who have responsibility for the Technology and Indirects business areas. The role will have full ownership responsibility for a portfolio of contracts which will involve direct involvement with Stakeholders and suppliers. The role will enable the Senior Category Managers to enhance their focus on Business Partnering, supplier management, sourcing events, Category Planning and high-level Group projects. The Category Manager role will be key in contributing to enhancing the Team’s delivery timescales for contract processing and sourcing events (including RFx’s) along achieving the aims of the AQA Finance Strategy.The role sits in the twelve-person Procurement team, primarily based at Guildford, which is part of the Finance and Corporate Services division. The role will report directly to the Head of Procurement. On a day-to-day basis, the Category Manager will be responsible for working with the two Senior Category Managers, as well interacting with the Procurement Support and Procurement Administration Teams. The role will also have daily contact with stakeholders, other AQA teams, AQA Group companies and suppliers.  

Report directly to the Head of Procurement and will be fully accountable for achieving a series of agreed performance goals and objectives Have sole responsibility for the management of a designated contract portfolio. The effective and proactive management of contracts, stakeholders and suppliers will be required. The role will require the on-going prioritisation of workloads with colleagues within Procurement to ensure contract builds and contract reviews are delivered within prescriptive timescales. The role will face-out to both stakeholders and to suppliers on an on-going basis and effective communication will be a key requirement    Be solely accountable for the successful delivery of designated benchmarking projects through either desktop research or through the use of detailed RFx processes. This will involve the effective coordination between the Senior Category Managers, the Procurement Support and Procurement Services Teams plus stakeholders and suppliers, to ensure that deadlines are met. Provide key and proactive assistance in the on-going delivery of the supplier management project. The role will provide assistance to the Senior Category Managers in the build and delivery of supplier management training. Demonstrating and delivering effective supplier management in the contract portfolio will need be evidenced Collaboration with the Senior Category Managers in the development of individual Category Strategy Plans through the timely delivery of spend analysis, supplier performance reviews, sector research and the interrogation of the contract pipelines. Take responsibility for the Senior Category Managers contracts and workloads when they are absent and where agreed with the Head of Procurement. The role will also represent the Senior Category Managers where agreed, in supplier, stakeholder, Heads of Department and other teams meetings within AQA. Be responsible for helping to ensure that the Procurement Team remain fully compliant with all relevant AQA Policies, Procurement processes and regulatory requirements. Monitoring of compliance is a key on-going requirement and will be subject to both internal and external audits. Be accountable for performance and personal development. Agreed performance and personal development objectives will be set and managed on an on-going basis with the Head of Procurement Develop a very good understanding of the Team P2P contract management software (Jaggear/Bravo) and Workday The Category Manager will be tasked with proactively obtaining category knowledge from the two Senior Category Managers as well bringing experience-based suggestions and challenges to processes and strategies The role will be held jointly accountable in Procurement achieving its prime objective of being trusted partners to AQA colleagues, providing procurement expertise in support of business objectives and requirements.


Have a strong procurement background and qualified to at least CIPS4. MCIPS would be preferred.

Confidence in dealing with a cross-section of sectors and suppliers including Technology/IT, Facilities, HR, Marketing, Events and Operations

Ability to effectively engage with internal stakeholders and external stakeholders influencing at all levels

Strong planning, management and leadership skills demonstrating a positive attitude to change

Strong verbal and written communication skills

Highly organised and an excellent planner

Ability to see ways to capitalise on procurement opportunities and deliver quick but sound business benefits

Have experience in providing advice and guidance to senior managers on procurement related matters, acting as an expert point of reference

Confident in balancing strategic and operational demands

Results focused and able to make pragmatic decisions whilst delivering at pace

Self-motivated with the proven ability to achieve performance objectives and exceed expectations

Maintain an on-going focus on AQA values

Good interpersonal skills and willing to make a positive contribution to the Team, Department and AQA’s culture

Able to delegate, motivate and support colleagues to help achieve targets as well as being a good role model