UK Sourcing Category Manager / Third Party Risk Lead

Overview

In this role, you will lead category strategy, sourcing and third-party risk management for strategic suppliers, aligning with Legal, Risk and Compliance. You’ll collaborate with business leaders to adapt global category strategies for the UK, driving commercial value, resilience and regulatory compliance. You will govern supplier relationships, oversee due diligence and governance, and influence decision-making across cross-functional teams. This opportunity lets you shape strategic supplier partnerships within a regulated financial services context, contributing to Unum’s UK objectives.

Pay / Benefits

• Bonus scheme
• Pension scheme
• Protection benefits
• Wellbeing support
• Holiday allowance
• Electric vehicle scheme

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute category strategies and roadmaps aligned with business priorities
• Lead end-to-end sourcing activities (RFI/RFP, evaluation, negotiation, contracting)
• Manage strategic/critical supplier relationships and governance throughout the supplier lifecycle
• Coordinate third-party risk management, due diligence and risk assessments
• Ensure regulatory compliance (FCA and PRA outsourcing where relevant) and align with risk controls
• Measure, report and drive continuous improvement in category, supplier, risk and commercial outcomes
• Drive procurement excellence and streamline processes across the function
• Collaborate with Legal, Risk, Compliance and operations teams to resolve issues and ensure resilience

Key requirements

• 5–8 years’ experience in procurement, category management, supplier relationship management or third-party risk management
• Experience delivering category or supplier strategies in complex environments
• Experience managing strategic/critical suppliers in regulated settings (desirable)
• Experience in technology, professional services, or indirect categories (desirable)
• Proven negotiation and stakeholder alignment across Sourcing, Legal, Risk and Compliance
• Strong knowledge of third-party risk management and supplier governance
• Ability to balance commercial value, service quality, regulatory compliance and risk

• excellent communication and relationship management
• influencing and stakeholder engagement
• strong analytical and problem-solving abilities
• Microsoft 365 applications (Excel, PowerPoint)
• market intelligence and benchmarking
• commercial analysis and negotiation

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