Category Manager

If you're looking to step up your career, JLL Workplace Management is the perfect professional home. At JLL, you'll have a chance to innovate with the world's leading businesses, put that expertise into action on landmark projects, and work on game-changing workplace and facilities management initiatives. You'll also make long-lasting professional connections through sharing different perspectives, and you'll be inspired by the best. We're focused on opportunity and want to help you make the most of yours. Achieve your ambitions – join us at JLL Workplace Management!
Role Summary:
The Category Manager role sits within our UK and Ireland (UK&I) Sourcing and Procurement Team, with direct reporting to the Category Management Lead and a matrix reporting line to the EMEA Regional Category Management Lead. Operating within this dual reporting structure, the role holder will align closely with EMEA regional strategy while delivering UK and Ireland business objectives.
The successful candidate will possess a proven track record of building deep market knowledge across all service lines and sectors where we currently operate, and the ability to develop Category strategies which support and facilitate the business in delivering optimal Client solutions and benefits. Additionally, this position involves developing and managing preferred suppliers while identifying opportunities to balance self-performance versus delivery through preferred supplier partners. Experience operating effectively within matrix reporting structures and balancing regional and local priorities will be essential.
Key Responsibilities and Deliverables:
Strategic Category Management: Serve as hard services category specialist and subject matter expert for allocated categories. Soft services experience also desirable. Develop and execute category strategies aligned with UK&I business needs and EMEA regional direction. Drive preferred supplier list consolidation, leverage economies of scale, and deliver measurable value.
Procurement and Solution Development: Create strategic solutions for commodity and service requirements. Manage end-to-end procurement events including RFP management, bid analysis and stakeholder liaison. Lead category strategy execution and proactively identify improvement opportunities. Support new business pursuits, transitions and client renewals by defining optimal supply chain solutions.
Financial Performance: Deliver financial targets while identifying additional value opportunities. Lead the Alliance Programme to drive supplier partnerships and achieve revenue targets. Provide monthly tracking and collaborate with finance partners. Mitigate external impacts including inflation and material shortages.
Market Intelligence: Maintain strong facilities management market knowledge and develop category insights. Apply market intelligence to identify and qualify new suppliers. Develop comprehensive understanding of WPM UK&I self-delivery versus subcontracting strategy and create make-versus-buy scenarios.
Supply Chain Management: Utilize supply chain analytics to assess category needs. Rationalize supply base and implement strategic supplier frameworks. Develop Supplier Relationship Management and Performance Management programmes with key partners to maximize PSL value through insights into supplier capabilities, new business pipelines, responsible procurement initiatives, innovations, and HSSE compliance. Engage stakeholders as relationship sponsors and promote PSL capabilities through targeted events and communications to drive business adoption.Business Partnership & Stakeholder Engagement: Build strong relationships with Sourcing and Procurement, EMEA Category Management and key stakeholders across JLL. Establish a network of SMEs and integrate them into supply chain activities.
Governance, Compliance & Reporting: Manage supplier onboarding and challenge new supplier requests where PSL coverage exists. Ensure compliance with Responsible Procurement and HSSE standards. Partner with specialist teams to deliver social value opportunities and maintain contractor compliance. Maintain current Buyers Guides and Category Dashboards. Serve as primary escalation point for Category Management enquiries. Apply ethical company standards consistently across all activities.
WPM UK&I Self-Delivery: Partner with WPM UK&I self-delivery business to ensure the PSL effectively supports operational requirements across all business sectors (National Engineering, Hall and Kay, Integral Cooling Technologies, WPM Soft Services, etc.), working closely with sector leads to drive supplier performance, enable efficient self-delivery operations, and deliver continuous improvement aligned to business objectives.
Key Expectations:
Serve as hard services category subject matter expert and primary point of contact
Lead end-to-end procurement: RFPs, supplier due diligence, contract negotiation, and implementation
Deliver SRM and SPM programs across allocated categories to maximize PSL value
Achieve financial targets and Alliance Programme revenue goals through strategic supplier partnerships
Develop and execute category strategies with supplier summaries, market insights, and stakeholder engagement plans
Maintain facilities management market intelligence and identify/qualify new suppliers
Rationalise supply base and drive PSL consolidation to leverage economies of scale
Partner with WPM UK&I self-delivery operations to support business requirements
Drive PSL Compliance across the organization
Ensure compliance with Responsible Procurement and HSSE standards
Manage supplier onboarding and challenge unnecessary new supplier requests
Maintain Buyers Guides, Category Dashboards, and provide data-driven insights
Build strong relationships with stakeholders, functional leads, SMEs, and EMEA Category Management teams
Provide strategic thought leadership to identify cost and operational efficiencies
Support new business pursuits, transitions, and client renewals with optimal supply chain solutions
Operate within matrix reporting structure, balancing EMEA regional and UK&I local priorities
Proven ability to deliver results in challenging environments
Requirements & Qualifications:
Education:
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Bachelor's degree required; MBA or relevant Master's degree preferred.
Certifications:
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Professional procurement certifications highly valued: CIPS (Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply), MCIPS, or equivalent.
Previous Experience:
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5+ years progressive FM procurement / category management experience
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UK&I FM category management experience – Hard Services is the preference, but some Soft Services experience will also be relevant to this role.
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Ideally experience of working within a Hard Services or an Engineering discipline.
Targeted Competencies:
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Proven supplier management capabilities encompassing commercial performance, risk mitigation, and relationship development
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Demonstrated proficiency in procurement leadership, negotiation, stakeholder influence, and change management governance
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Strong written and verbal communication skills across all organizational levels
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Excellent interpersonal and organisational abilities
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Strategic supplier relationship management experience with C-suite executives and procurement leadership, including initiative presentation and buy-in
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Track record of delivering measurable value, insight, and innovation
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Demonstrated success delivering results in complex, fast-paced environments with competing priorities
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Ability to work autonomously and collaboratively under tight deadlines
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Advanced MS Office proficiency (Excel, Word, PowerPoint)
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Experience with CAFM systems and e-sourcing platforms preferred
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Strong analytical capabilities with expertise in data analysis, reporting, and category strategy development
We can’t wait to see where your ambitions take you at JLL. Apply today