Procurement Category Manager

Procurement Category Manager – IT & Systems

Location: CrossCountry
Reports to: Head of Procurement & Property

Are you ready to take a key leadership role in shaping the future of procurement at CrossCountry?

We're looking for a proactive and commercially-driven Procurement Category Manager – IT & Systems to lead a talented team and champion our procurement strategy across a broad and dynamic portfolio.

In this pivotal role, you'll guide the full end-to-end procurement process—from market engagement and tender management through to contract award and robust supplier relationship management. You'll play a central part in ensuring our procurement policy, governance standards, and the Procurement Act 2023 regulations are embedded across the business.

What You'll Be Doing

• Lead a small team and report directly to the Head of Procurement & Property.

• Drive continuous improvement by implementing and maintaining best-practice procurement procedures across CrossCountry.

• Develop and execute category strategies that deliver value for money, including opportunities such as supplier consolidation.

• Build and maintain a forward-looking procurement activity plan aligned with business priorities.

• Manage major procurement projects—both regulated and non-regulated—creating high-quality ITT documents, evaluation frameworks, and reports.

• Partner with key stakeholders to understand business needs and identify solutions that deliver the best outcomes.

• Strengthen supplier relationships through strategic supplier management and effective commercial engagement.

• Work closely with legal and procurement colleagues to ensure contract compliance and strong commercial governance.

• Proactively monitor, challenge, and support suppliers to improve performance and resolve issues promptly.

• Champion process improvement to help create a seamless, efficient, and resilient supply chain.

• Identify and deliver cost savings, value-added opportunities, and commercial benefits across CrossCountry.

• Benchmark suppliers to ensure ongoing value, and negotiate contract changes where needed.

• Prepare clear, compelling presentations and reports for senior audiences.

• Use data analysis, demand profiling, and market insights to shape pricing and supplier strategies.

• Be an effective user and advocate of Purchase-to-Pay systems.

• Keep abreast of relevant supply markets, including key players and innovation trends.

• Collaborate with Group Procurement, AUKT Central Procurement, and leverage Crown Commercial Service frameworks.

• Undertake any other relevant duties as required by the Head of Procurement & Property.

Sustainable Procurement

Support CrossCountry's commitment to delivering a greener, fairer and more responsible supply chain by:

• Helping shape and communicate a Sustainable Procurement Policy that delivers value for money while reducing environmental impact and conserving resources.

• Championing local procurement, including opportunities for SMEs.

• Ensuring ethical, human rights, and labour standards are upheld in line with Arriva's Responsible Procurement Policy and Code of Conduct.

About You

You'll thrive in this role if you bring:

• Strong experience in running tenders and leading complex procurement projects.

• Demonstrable skill in developing robust tender documentation and managing commercial negotiations.

• Experience procuring direct and indirect goods/services—ideally within IT, rail, or transport-related industries.

• A solid understanding of technical services supply markets.

• Excellent stakeholder engagement and relationship-building abilities.

• Strong analytical skills with advanced Excel capability for spend analysis.

• Membership of CIPS (or working towards it).

Closing date for applications: 19th December 2025.

We acknowledge the importance of our people's diverse experiences, talents and cultures. Embracing diversity and creating inclusion is a key component of our talent strategy. The creation of a diverse, inclusive workforce is central to our ability to unlock potential and enhance our success.

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