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
Senior Category Manager (Internal Promotion)
3-5 years as a Senior Category ManagerSkills to master
- Mastering end-to-end category strategy, leading complex multi-million-pound RFPs, managing critical supplier relationships, and demonstrating informal leadership by mentoring junior staff.
You're ready to move on when
- Consistently exceeding savings targets and delivering strategic value for your categories.
- Successfully managing highly complex and politically sensitive stakeholder relationships.
- Proactively identifying and mitigating significant supply chain risks.
- Demonstrating a clear aptitude for coaching and developing other team members.
- Taking initiative on cross-functional projects beyond your immediate category scope.
- 2
Head of Sourcing (from another large organisation)
Coming from a similar leadership role in a comparable industry (e.g., tech, finance, manufacturing).Skills to master
- Bringing in proven methodologies for team leadership, portfolio management, and driving large-scale procurement transformations. Adapting quickly to our specific industry and culture.
You're ready to move on when
- A demonstrable track record of leading teams and significant spend portfolios in previous roles.
- Strong references highlighting your leadership, commercial acumen, and ability to drive change.
- A clear understanding of the challenges and opportunities within our industry sector.
- The ability to quickly build rapport and credibility with our senior leadership team.