Category Specialist

Overview

Category Specialist role within M&G India's Procurement function, supporting the Technology category as part of the shift to a category-led, strategically capable operation. Works with colleagues in the UK and India Procurement capability centre.

What you'll do

• Deliver assigned elements of the category plan for the Technology category, applying market insight and commercial analysis within the strategy set by the Category Manager.
• Independently plan and run assigned RFI, RFP and competitive tender processes within agreed scope, governance and delegated authority, using the group's eSourcing tooling.
• Interpret spend analysis, supplier proposals, rate-card comparisons and total-cost-of-ownership models to develop clear commercial recommendations.
• Lead delegated renewals and negotiations and support the Category Manager on complex, high-value or strategically significant negotiations.
• Contribute to preferred supplier frameworks, normalised rate cards and commercial standards within the category.
• Identify opportunities to challenge specifications, consumption, scope and demand and develop evidence-based recommendations for stakeholder consideration.
• Identify, quantify and deliver savings and broader value opportunities across assigned Technology category activity.
• Develop robust benefit calculations in line with the agreed Finance methodology and maintain accurate pipeline records.
• Track and evidence realised benefits, working with the Category Manager and Finance to support validation and recognition.
• Escalate risks to delivery and recommend corrective commercial action.
• Build effective working relationships with business stakeholders and act as the day-to-day commercial lead for assigned sourcing activity.
• Present evidence-based sourcing and commercial recommendations, escalating material decisions or exceptions to the Category Manager.
• Manage supplier engagement through sourcing exercises, including briefings, clarifications, presentations and commercial discussions.
• Partner with vendor management and performance teams on commercial interventions, while ongoing supplier performance ownership remains with the relevant business or vendor-management owner.
• Apply procurement standards, sourcing methodology, delegated authority and governance consistently across assigned activity.
• Ensure sourcing, renewal and supplier activity is recorded accurately in procurement systems and eSourcing tools.
• Support compliance with third-party risk management, contract management and regulatory requirements, working with TPRM, Legal and business owners while specialist functions retain their respective decisions.
• Work effectively across the UK and India teams, sharing knowledge and applying consistent category and sourcing methods.
• Use analytics, automation, eSourcing and approved AI capabilities to improve analysis, sourcing productivity and quality, validating outputs before use.
• Guide Category Analysts on assigned analysis and sourcing-support activities, reviewing outputs and providing developmental feedback where required.

What you'll need

• Relevant experience in procurement, sourcing or category delivery, ideally within indirect spend.
• Working knowledge relevant to the Technology category, or transferable knowledge of a comparable spend area.
• Experience independently delivering sourcing activity, preparing tender documentation, evaluating supplier responses and developing recommendations.
• Experience supporting or leading negotiations within delegated authority.
• Strong analytical capability, able to interpret spend and commercial information and convert it into actionable recommendations.
• Able to bring structure, pace and discipline to assigned workstreams in a changing environment.
• Confidence and excellent communication.
• Graduate in any discipline.

Nice to have

• Experience in a regulated environment, such as financial services or insurance.
• Familiarity with eSourcing platforms, procurement analytics, automation and digital sourcing methodology.
• Experience working across UK and India or within a global delivery model.
• Masters in any discipline.

Details

• Location: Mumbai.