Procurement Manager

Category Sourcing Manager – MARKETING

London, UK (Hybrid - 3 DAYS ONSITE)

Our client is a world leader in digital payments, facilitating more than 250 billion transactions annually across more than 200 countries and territories. As a trusted engine of global commerce, they connect consumers, businesses, financial institutions, and governments through one of the most advanced and secure payment networks in the world.

They are driven by a mission to connect the world through the most innovative, reliable, and secure digital payment network—enabling individuals, businesses, and economies to thrive. They are shaping the future of commerce by advancing financial inclusion, fostering innovation, and leading in digital transformation.

With a strong commitment to ethical sourcing, operational excellence, and supplier diversity, their procurement and sourcing teams play a critical role in delivering value, ensuring compliance, and enabling sustainable growth.

Job Overview

We are seeking a strategic and commercially savvy Category Sourcing Manager – Marketing to join our Global Sourcing function. This role is responsible for sourcing, negotiating, and managing supplier relationships across a broad range of marketing services categories, including creative agencies, media buying, sponsorships, production, digital marketing, and brand strategy.

You’ll work closely with the global and regional marketing teams to support campaign execution, optimize agency partnerships, and ensure that all third-party engagements deliver value, compliance, and brand impact.

Key Responsibilities

Category Strategy & Planning

• Develop and execute sourcing strategies across the marketing category, aligned to global and regional business needs.
• Drive strategic planning initiatives for agency roster management, marketing spend optimization, and supplier performance.
• Analyze category spend data to identify sourcing opportunities, savings levers, and process efficiencies.

Sourcing & Contracting

• Lead RFPs, RFIs, and other sourcing events for creative, media, digital, and marketing services.
• Negotiate commercial terms and master services agreements (MSAs), ensuring risk, compliance, and value alignment.
• Collaborate with legal, compliance, and marketing stakeholders to ensure agreements meet internal standards and objectives.

Supplier & Stakeholder Management

• Manage supplier performance through KPIs, scorecards, and regular business reviews.
• Foster strategic partnerships with key agencies and vendors to drive innovation, quality, and cost-effectiveness.
• Act as a trusted advisor to our Marketing, Sponsorship, and Brand teams on vendor strategy and engagement.

Governance, Risk & Compliance

• Ensure supplier engagements align with our third-party risk management (TPRM), privacy, and compliance frameworks.
• Maintain accurate procurement documentation and support audits or regulatory reviews as needed.
• Champion diversity, equity, and inclusion through supplier diversity efforts and inclusive sourcing practices.

Skills & Qualifications

• 5+ years in strategic sourcing, procurement, or vendor management with a focus on marketing or advertising categories.
• Proven experience negotiating with and managing creative agencies, media firms, and marketing service providers.
• Strong understanding of marketing category dynamics, agency models, production workflows, and pricing structures.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to influence cross-functional teams and senior stakeholders.
• Strong commercial acumen, contract negotiation, and supplier performance management skills.
• Proficiency in procurement platforms (e.g., Coupa, Ariba) and Excel/PowerPoint

Preferred Experience

• Degree in Business, Finance, Law, or a related field; MBA or JD is a plus.
• Familiarity with regulatory and risk considerations in financial services procurement.
• Experience working in or sourcing from Big Four, top-tier consulting, or legal firms.
• Experience in a global or matrixed enterprise environment.