Senior Strategic Category Lead

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Job Title:Senior Strategic Category Lead 

Location: The Acre, Covent Garden, London 

Reports to: Group Head of Procurement 

About the role 

We are looking for a Senior Strategic Category Lead to provide leadership across BSI's strategic indirect procurement portfolio, spanning Professional Services, Technology and Corporate Services. 

This is a senior procurement leadership role with responsibility for ensuring category strategies collectively deliver commercial value, reduce risk and support BSI's strategic priorities. You will lead and develop Category Leads, provide oversight across complex supplier portfolios and help shape how procurement engages with senior stakeholders before commercial commitments are made. 

Alongside portfolio leadership, you will retain direct strategic ownership of Professional Services categories, using market insight, demand management and commercial expertise to shape sourcing strategies and deliver sustainable value. 

Key Responsibilities 

• Provide strategic leadership and oversight across BSI's Professional Services, Technology and Corporate Services procurement portfolios. 

• Lead, coach and develop Category Leads, setting clear priorities, capability expectations and development plans across the strategic category team. 

• Review and challenge category strategies to ensure alignment with business priorities, commercial objectives, risk requirements and procurement standards. 

• Identify opportunities to aggregate demand, collaborate across categories and create greater commercial leverage across BSI. 

• Own multi-year category strategies and sourcing pipelines across Professional Services, supported by spend analysis, market insight and supplier benchmarking. 

• Act as a trusted senior commercial advisor to executive and functional leaders, influencing requirements, investment decisions and supplier choices before commitment. 

• Lead or oversee high-value and high-risk sourcing, negotiation and contracting activity, ensuring value and risk are managed throughout the commercial lifecycle. 

• Provide oversight of strategic supplier relationships, including performance management, governance, dispute resolution and renewal strategy. 

• Embed consistent, audit-ready procurement governance, due diligence and commercial controls across the portfolio. 

• Integrate sustainability and responsible procurement principles into category strategies, supplier selection and ongoing supplier performance management. 

• Act as an escalation point for complex sourcing, supplier and commercial matters while driving continuous improvement in procurement practice. 

What we're looking for 

• Significant category management and complex sourcing experience, particularly within Professional Services such as consulting, marketing, legal, insurance or benefits. 

• A proven track record of leading high-value, high-risk sourcing and negotiations with senior stakeholders. 

• Significant experience leading, coaching and developing procurement professionals. 

• Demonstrable experience overseeing multiple category strategies and complex supplier portfolios. 

• Strong commercial and contracting expertise across statements of work, rate models, performance frameworks, change controls and exit provisions. 

• Experience operating strategically within a global or multinational organisation and in governance-led, audit-ready environments. 

• Strong stakeholder influencing skills, with the confidence to challenge senior leaders and shape decisions before supplier engagement begins. 

• Strong analytical capability with the ability to interpret spend data, build business cases and translate insight into action. 

• Understanding of sustainable procurement principles and ESG frameworks such as ISO 20400, EcoVadis or equivalent. 

• Relevant degree or equivalent professional experience. 

BSI offers a competitive total reward package in an independent and varied Global environment, flexible working hours, ongoing training and development with the inclusion of 27-days annual leave, paid sick leave, bank holidays, health insurance, life insurance, pension plan with company contribution, car allowance (dependent on role), income protection, paid maternity leave, paid paternity leave, paid parental leave, adoption leave, compassionate leave, paid bereavement leave, learning and development opportunities, and a wide range of flexible benefits that you can tailor to suit your lifestyle.  

Do you believe the world deserves excellence?

Headquartered in London, BSI is the world's first national standards organization with more than 100 years of experience. We are a global partner for 86,000 companies and organizations in over 193 countries, offering development, auditing, certification, and training services, including innovative software solutions and cyber security expertise for all industries: from aerospace and automotive to food, construction, energy, healthcare, IT and trade sectors. Incorporated by Royal Charter, we’re truly impartial, and home to the ultimate mark of trust, the Kitemark.

Through our unique combination of consulting, training, assurance and regulatory services we bring solid and broad knowledge to every company.

If you want to contribute to this inspiring challenge, bring your open and enthusiastic mindset to our dynamic team, apply now and become part of the BSI family!

D&I Policy

BSI is committed to ensuring the diversity of our workforce reflects that of our clients and the communities in which we operate. Our goal is to create a sense of belonging for all employees by providing opportunities to develop, grow, and engage with our global organization all while having fun doing great work. BSI is a community where everyone can thrive.

If you require any adjustments or accommodations to support your participation, please inform us upon applying.

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About Us

BSI is a business improvement and standards company and for over a century BSI has been recognized for having a positive impact on organizations and society, building trust and enhancing lives.
 
Today BSI partners with more than 77,500 clients in 195 countries and engages with a 15,000 strong global community of experts, industry and consumer groups, organizations and governments.
Utilizing its extensive expertise in key industry sectors - including automotive, aerospace, built environment, food and retail, and healthcare - BSI delivers on its purpose by helping its clients fulfil theirs.
Living by our core values of Client-Centricity, Agility, and Collaboration, BSI provides organizations with the confidence to grow by partnering with them to tackle society’s critical issues – from climate change to building trust in digital transformation and everything in between - to accelerate progress towards a better society and a sustainable world.

BSI is an Equal Opportunity Employer dedicated to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace.