Position Overview
Following a period of rapid growth, Hiscox has around 3,000 employees across multiple business units and countries. Procurement plays a key role in supporting the business strategy, driving value through effective supplier management, commercial excellence and strategic sourcing.
The Global Category Manager (People Services) will be responsible for leading the end-to-end category strategy, sourcing and supplier management activities across People Services spend categories. This includes working closely with HR and business stakeholders to develop sourcing strategies, optimise supplier performance and ensure procurement delivers measurable value and innovation.
The successful candidate will bring significant procurement experience together with exposure to People Services categories and will act as a strategic procurement partner to HR leadership teams globally.
People Services categories may include:
- Talent Acquisition Services
- Learning & Development
- Benefits & Wellbeing
- HR Operations
The role will be supported by Category Analysts based in Lisbon and will partner closely with stakeholders across the UK, Europe and the US.
Responsibilities
Category Strategy
- Develop and maintain category strategies aligned to business priorities and workforce objectives.
- Identify opportunities for cost optimisation, supplier consolidation, risk mitigation and service improvement.
- Provide market insight and recommendations to stakeholders across People Services categories.
Business Partnership
- Build strong relationships with Business leaders across the organisation.
- Support the development of sourcing strategies that align with business and workforce needs.
- Act as a trusted advisor on procurement, supplier management and commercial matters.
Sourcing & Procurement
- Lead end-to-end sourcing activities including RFI, RFP, RFQ and supplier selection processes.
- Develop negotiation strategies and lead commercial discussions with suppliers.
- Ensure procurement activity is executed in line with governance and risk requirements.
Supplier Management
- Manage strategic supplier relationships and performance reviews.
- Establish KPIs, governance frameworks and continuous improvement plans.
- Lead issue resolution and supplier escalation activities where required.
Contracting & Governance
- Partner with Legal, Risk and Compliance teams to ensure appropriate contractual protections are in place.
- Ensure compliance with internal procurement policies and external regulations.
- Drive best-practice procurement and supplier governance across the category.
Leadership & Collaboration
- Support and coach junior procurement colleagues.
- Share best practices and contribute to the continuous development of procurement capabilities.
- Collaborate effectively across Procurement, HR, Finance, Legal and operational teams.
Skills & Experience
Essential
- Minimum of 10 years' experience in Procurement, Strategic Sourcing or Category Management.
- Proven track record of developing and executing category strategies across complex spend categories.
- Experience working with or managing procurement activities within People Services categories, such as Recruitment Services, Learning & Development, Benefits, HR Operations or similar areas.
- Experience partnering with HR / People functions and supporting People-related procurement initiatives.
- Strong commercial acumen and negotiation skills.
- Excellent supplier relationship management capabilities.
- Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills, including experience working with senior leaders.
- Proven ability to lead complex sourcing and contract negotiations.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Experience operating in large and complex organisations.
Desirable
- Experience across multiple People Services categories.
- Experience supporting HR transformation programmes, organisational change initiatives or workforce strategies.
- Experience within Financial Services or another regulated environment.
- Professional procurement qualification (CIPS Level 5/6 or equivalent).
Qualifications
- Degree (or equivalent experience) in Procurement, Business, Finance, Law or a related discipline.
- CIPS qualification preferred.
- Additional qualifications in contract management, supplier management or procurement best practice would be advantageous.
