[Hiring] Indirect Category Manager @OCS Group

Role Description

Reporting to the Head of Indirect Procurement, the Indirect Category Manager is responsible for Group & UK procurement activity across Marketing, Professional Services and Recruitment, managing approximately £25m annual spend. The role leads category strategy, strategic sourcing, supplier management, contract governance and commercial negotiations. Working closely with stakeholders, it supports business development, acquisitions, mobilisations, integrations and transformation programmes, ensuring Procurement influences commercial decisions, supplier solutions and cost models from the outset.

The position provides commercial leadership focused on cost optimisation, value creation, innovation, supplier performance and risk management. Success in the role requires strong market knowledge, commercial judgement, stakeholder influence and a hands-on approach to procurement delivery in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• Experience in strategic procurement or category management, ideally across marketing, professional services and/or recruitment.
• Experience managing significant indirect spend and complex stakeholder environments.
• Proven success developing and delivering category strategies.
• Experience leading sourcing activities, supplier evaluation, negotiation and contract award.
• Strong commercial and contractual negotiation skills.
• Ability to develop category strategies using spend analysis, market intelligence and business requirements.
• Experience managing supplier performance, governance, contract renewals and commercial risk.
• Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills, including engagement with senior leaders.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to translate data into actionable insight.
• Commercially focused, results-driven and able to manage multiple priorities.
• Experience working in a dynamic, growth-focused environment.

Requirements

• Experience supporting acquisitions, integrations, bids, mobilisations or business development activities.
• Experience using Coupa, Microsoft Dynamics or similar procurement systems.
• Experience across marketing services, agency models, recruitment frameworks, contingent labour, media, print, events or professional services categories.
• Knowledge of consultancy, legal and advisory commercial models.
• Experience implementing alternative pricing structures.
• Experience within large, multi-site or international organisations.
• CIPS qualification or equivalent commercial experience.

Benefits

• Award-Winning Employer: Ranked 36th on Glassdoor’s Best Companies to Work For 2025 — we value and motivate our people.
• Digital Learning: The OCS Academy offers digital courses and resources to help you build skills and grow your career.
• Retail Perks: With our Hapi app, you can gain access to exclusive discounts, rewards and wellbeing resources.
• Professional Growth: 600+ live learners across UK&I — Empowering colleagues with further development and qualifications!
• Flexible Pay: Access a portion of earned wages before payday with our Wagestream App! (Contract Specific)

Company Description

OCS UK & Ireland is a leading facilities management company with 50,000+ colleagues and a turnover in excess of £2bn. We deliver innovative, award-winning services within facilities management, hard services, cleaning, security and catering. Our mission is to make people and places the best they can be for our colleagues, customers and the communities we serve. Our commitment to doing business the right way is rooted in our TRUE values - Trust, Respect, Unity, and Empowerment.