UK Sourcing Category Manager / Third Party Risk Lead

Who are we?

We’re a specialist employee benefits provider, striving to create healthy, happy workplaces. As part of the international Unum Group, we’re on a collective mission to help the working world thrive.

The role

What will you be doing?

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The UK Category Manager / TPRM Lead develops and executes category, sourcing, supplier and/or third-party risk strategies that deliver sustainable commercial value, operational resilience, regulatory compliance and strong supplier performance.

Acting as a trusted adviser, the role manages strategic and critical suppliers across the supplier lifecycle and works with business, Legal, Risk and Compliance stakeholders to ensure supplier arrangements support Unum’s objectives and regulatory obligations. As part of a global organisation, the UK Category Manager looks to collaborate/leverage/adapt global category strategies and supplier relationships in order to drive best outcomes for the UK arm of the business.

This role provides the opportunity to bring your strengths and expand breadth of skills and experience across Sourcing, procurement excellence, sustainability and third-party risk management to shape strategic supplier relationships across critical business and technology services while driving commercial value, supplier performance, operational resilience and regulatory compliance. The successful candidate will be a natural collaborator and play a key role in supporting Unum's business objectives and strategy.

Category Strategy and Commercial Management

• Develop and execute category strategies and strategic roadmaps aligned with business priorities, market conditions and future requirements.
• Use market intelligence, benchmarking and commercial analysis to identify opportunities, shape decisions and optimise total value.
• Lead end-to-end sourcing activity, including requirements challenge, supplier evaluation, RFI/RFP processes, negotiation, contracting and supplier selection.

Business Partnership

• Build trusted relationships with business leaders and stakeholders, developing a strong understanding of their objectives, risks and priorities.
• Provide clear commercial and supplier advice, influence decision-making and constructively challenge requirements to achieve effective, sustainable and risk-based outcomes.

Supplier Management and Governance

• Manage strategic and critical supplier relationships across the supplier lifecycle, ensuring continued alignment with contractual commitments, service expectations and business needs.
• Establish and lead proportionate supplier governance, performance reviews and improvement plans to strengthen accountability, service quality, innovation and continuous improvement.

Third-Party Risk, Resilience and Compliance

• Ensure sourcing and supplier management activities comply with internal governance and applicable regulatory requirements, including FCA and PRA outsourcing expectations where relevant.
• Lead or coordinate supplier due diligence and risk assessments, incorporating operational, financial, contractual, concentration, information security and resilience considerations into decisions.
• Support the governance of material outsourcing and critical supplier arrangements, including ongoing assurance, transition and exit planning, whilst aligning with Operational teams on business continuity, operational resilience.
• Partner with Legal, Risk, Compliance and other control functions to maintain effective third-party oversight and timely resolution of risks and issues.

Performance and Improvement

• Measure and report category, supplier, risk and commercial outcomes against agreed objectives, using insight to drive corrective action and continuous improvement.
• Lead Procurement excellence and wider business initiatives to streamline processes, enhance ways of working, and the value Sourcing can bring to the business.

•Contribute to Strategic Sourcing priorities and undertake other responsibilities appropriate to the role.

What will you bring?

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Experience and Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree, relevant professional qualification or equivalent practical experience.

• Typically 5-8 years’ relevant experience across either procurement, category management, supplier relationship management and/or third-party risk management.

• Experience developing and delivering category, sourcing or supplier strategies in a complex organisation.

• Experience managing strategic or critical suppliers in a regulated environment is desirable.

• Experience in technology, professional services, marketing, business services or other indirect categories is desirable.

Commercial, Supplier and Risk Expertise

• Proven experience leading complex commercial, contractual and risk negotiations and gaining alignment with business stakeholders, Sourcing, Legal, Risk and Compliance stakeholders.

• Strong knowledge of third-party risk management, including due diligence, ongoing monitoring, supplier assurance, operational resilience, material outsourcing governance and exit planning.

• Ability to balance commercial value, service quality, supplier performance, regulatory compliance and third-party risk when developing and executing strategies.

• Experience establishing or operating supplier governance, performance management and executive review forums.

Capabilities and Behaviours

• Excellent communication, relationship management and influencing skills, with the confidence to engage, challenge and advise senior stakeholders and suppliers.

• Strong strategic, analytical, problem-solving and decision-making skills, with a track record of delivering measurable outcomes.

• Ability to manage a varied portfolio of sourcing, supplier and risk initiatives in a complex matrix environment.

• Ability to communicate complex commercial and risk matters clearly and concisely, verbally and in writing.

• High levels of initiative, judgement, accountability and commitment to continuous improvement.

• Proficiency in Microsoft 365 applications, particularly Excel and PowerPoint.

Location

Hybrid working. 3 days in office, 2 days from home. From office locations in Dorking, London or Basingstoke.

Benefits

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

Why join us?

At Unum, we’ve created a workplace where people feel supported to progress and grow, and can see their ambitions coming to life.

As a part of our commitment to creating an inclusive workplace, we actively encourage applications from those with disabilities and those with long-term health conditions.

If you meet the essential criteria for the role and choose to opt in to the scheme during your application, you will be offered an interview under the Disability Confident Scheme.

If you need assistance and/or reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or recruiting process, please send a request to[email protected].

We are proud to be a Disability Confident Employer.

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