Procurement Category Manager

Overview

In this role, you will help shape a connected, commercially effective supplier ecosystem for WPP’s Production & Talent portfolio. You’ll work across markets to drive value through sourcing, category planning, and supplier partnerships, collaborating with production, agency, and finance stakeholders. The position supports global transformation and continuous improvement within a leading creative, data-informed organization. You will influence how we procure complex services at scale, contributing to WPP’s operating model evolution.

Pay / Benefits

• Hybrid work model (#LI-Hybrid)
• Scale and opportunity to influence large projects
• Challenging and stimulating work environment
• Culture of creativity, belonging and learning
• Diversity and inclusive workplace
• Opportunities for career growth

Responsibilities

• Develop regional and country-level category plans using market insight and stakeholder requirements to support business objectives
• Lead sourcing, RFP, and negotiation initiatives acrossProduction services and related sub-categories
• Partner with stakeholders across Production, agency and finance to provide commercial guidance and support
• Support development of supplier relationship management programmes
• Identify opportunities to enhance supplier partnerships and address capability or capacity requirements
• Collaborate with the wider WPP Procurement team to support transformation initiatives and continuous improvement

Key requirements

• Experience in procurement, sourcing, category management or supplier management
• Strong commercial, sourcing and negotiation skills within production, advertising, marketing services or other complex services
• Experience developing category plans, supplier strategies or supplier partnership programmes
• Understanding of contracts, SOWs, pricing models and commercial agreements
• Experience in Production and/or Talent would be advantageous
• Ability to build strong relationships, influence stakeholders and collaborate across teams
• Experience managing multiple priorities, projects and supplier relationships
• Strong analytical skills, using data and insights to support decision-making
• Comfortable working in cross-functional, matrixed or global environments

• Relationship building
• Stakeholder management
• Influence and collaboration
• Contract and SOW knowledge
• Pricing models and commercial agreements
• Data-driven decision making

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