Hardware Category Manager
The Opportunity
A global, technology-led financial services business is looking to add an experienced Hardware Category Manager to its strategic sourcing function.
The role will take commercial ownership across a significant hardware spend portfolio, covering areas such as compute, servers, networking and storage. You'll work closely with technology and infrastructure teams to shape sourcing decisions, manage key hardware suppliers and ensure the business has the right commercial agreements and supply strategies in place.
It's a strong fit for someone who understands both the commercial side of technology procurement and the realities of sourcing hardware in a complex, global environment.
Responsibilities
- Manage strategic sourcing initiatives across enterprise hardware, including servers, compute, networking and storage.
- Run competitive sourcing and negotiation processes from initial requirements through to contract award.
- Own commercial relationships with major technology manufacturers, distributors and other strategic suppliers.
- Negotiate pricing, contractual terms, warranties, support arrangements and service levels.
- Work directly with technical stakeholders to turn infrastructure requirements and technology roadmaps into effective sourcing strategies.
- Assess supplier performance and hardware supply risks, including availability, lead times and product lifecycle considerations.
- Support commercial analysis around hardware refreshes, standardisation and total cost of ownership.
- Track market conditions, component availability and pricing developments that could affect sourcing decisions.
- Coordinate with procurement stakeholders across different regions to maintain consistent supplier and category strategies.
Qualifications
- 5+ years of experience within technology procurement, sourcing or category management.
- Strong hands-on experience purchasing enterprise hardware, particularly servers, compute, networking and/or storage.
- Experience leading complex sourcing projects independently from requirements gathering through negotiation and contracting.
- Strong commercial negotiation experience with OEMs, distributors and technology suppliers.
- Good understanding of hardware supply chains, including availability, lead times, lifecycle planning, warranties and support.
- Comfortable working directly with engineering, infrastructure and other technical stakeholders.
- Strong analytical skills, ideally including TCO analysis, cost modelling and commercial bid evaluation.
- Experience working within an international or highly matrixed organisation.
- Exposure to financial services, trading or another technology-intensive environment would be advantageous.
- Knowledge of procurement platforms such as Coupa or SAP Ariba, relevant third-party risk frameworks, and/or a professional procurement qualification would also be beneficial.
Apply in if this sounds interesting!
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