Global Category Manager – HR & Professional Services
Location: Gurgaon
Reporting to: Global Head – Procurement
Role Purpose
The Global Category Manager – HR & Professional Services will be responsible for end-to-end category strategy, sourcing, and governance across HR and professional services spend, including staAing, recruitment, legal, audit, and consulting. The role will drive vendor consolidation, commercial optimisation, stronger controls, and improved compliance across regions.
This is a strategic, hands-on role requiring close partnership with HR, Finance, Legal, and business leadership.
Key Responsibilities
Category Strategy & Planning
- Develop and implement category strategies for HR and Professional Services aligned to business and cost objectives
- Drive vendor consolidation and establish preferred supplier panels
- Define commercial models, rate cards, and fee structures across service categories Strategic Sourcing & Contracting
- Lead sourcing initiatives including RFIs, RFPs, negotiations, and contract closures
- Partner with stakeholders to align scope, demand, and service specifications
- Ensure contracts incorporate strong commercial, SLA, compliance, and risk terms Governance & Control
- Strengthen procurement oversight of SOW-based and professional services spend
- Improve PO-led buying and procurement policy compliance
- Support audit, risk management, and regulatory requirements Stakeholder & Supplier Management
- Act as the primary procurement interface for HR and professional services stakeholders
- Manage strategic supplier relationships and conduct periodic performance reviews
- Resolve commercial or contractual escalations Continuous Improvement
- Identify opportunities for demand management, process improvement, and value creation
- Support embedding of procurement controls within ERP / sourcing systems
Mandatory Criteria
- Graduate / Post-graduate qualification in Business, Supply Chain, Finance, or related discipline
- Minimum 8 years of experience in Procurement / Strategic Sourcing roles
- Proven experience managing HR services, staAing, recruitment, or professional services categories Strong hands-on experience leading RFPs, negotiations, and service contracts
- Ability to engage and influence senior stakeholders (HR, Finance, Legal, business leaders)
- Strong commercial and analytical capability Preferred Criteria
- Experience in global or multi-region sourcing environments
- Exposure to SOW-based contracting and professional services governance
- Experience implementing vendor consolidation or preferred supplier models
- Working knowledge of ERP / procurement systems (SAP preferred)
- Background in IT/ITES, consulting, or or services-oriented organisations
It is our policy to provide equal employment opportunities to all individuals based on job-related qualifications and ability to perform a job, without regard to age, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, colour, religion, creed, national origin, disability, genetic information, veteran status, citizenship or marital status, and to maintain a non-discriminatory environment free from intimidation, harassment or bias based upon these grounds.
