The pathway
How you actually get there, here
How you become one varies far more by country than what one does. This is the UK route. Most people take one of these ways in; the right one depends on where you're starting from.
- 1
From Lead IT Category Strategist (L4)
Typically 4-6 years as a Lead, demonstrating consistent high performance and readiness for broader functional ownership.Skills to master
- Moving from owning specific categories to overseeing an entire function requires mastering team leadership, strategic planning across multiple categories, and executive-level stakeholder management. You'll need to show you can build and develop a team, not just lead projects.
You're ready to move on when
- Successfully led multiple multi-million-pound sourcing programmes from end-to-end.
- Consistently delivered significant value (savings, risk reduction, innovation) across your categories.
- Demonstrated strong mentorship of junior team members and contributed to their development.
- Proactively identified and implemented process improvements or new strategies for your categories.
- Received consistent positive feedback from senior stakeholders on your strategic contributions.
- 2
From Manager, IT Sourcing (L5)
Around 2-4 years as a Manager, demonstrating the ability to manage a team and deliver on departmental goals.Skills to master
- This transition is about scaling your leadership from managing a smaller team to owning the entire functional strategy. You'll need to deepen your executive presence, influence at the C-suite level, and take on accountability for a much larger P&L impact.
You're ready to move on when
- Successfully managed a team of 3-5 Category Managers, meeting or exceeding team targets.
- Developed and implemented a clear strategy for your segment of IT procurement.
- Consistently reported on team performance and contributed to overall departmental goals.
- Demonstrated strong problem-solving skills for team-level challenges and conflicts.
- Actively participated in cross-functional leadership initiatives beyond your immediate team.
- 3
From Head of Procurement (Smaller Company/Startup)
Varies significantly, but typically 5-8 years in a Head of Procurement role at a smaller, fast-growing company.Skills to master
- The challenge here is scaling your experience to a larger, more complex organisation. You'll need to prove you can navigate established corporate structures, manage larger budgets, and influence a more diverse set of executive stakeholders. It's about demonstrating your ability to operate at a significantly larger scale.
You're ready to move on when
- Successfully built a procurement function from scratch or significantly scaled one at a smaller company.
- Managed all procurement categories (direct and indirect) at a previous company.
- Demonstrated strong commercial acumen and negotiation skills across various spend areas.
- Proven ability to influence founders/C-suite in a high-growth environment.
- Comfortable with greater specialisation and working within a larger, more structured procurement team.