Visa Europe Sourcing has an opportunity for a highly motivated, experienced, and results-driven Product & Benefits Category Senior Category Manager, to join our team and help us to lead the change, further elevate the procurement function and cement strategic business partnerships. Are you interested in driving efficiencies? Do you like to challenge the status quo? Can you bring leading practice thinking and solutions? Do you pride yourself on close, strategic stakeholder and supplier relationship? Are you experienced and ambitious Product & Benefits Category expert? Do you enjoy working in cross-functional and cross-border teams? If this inspires and sounds familiar, please contact us because we would like to talk to you!
This role is to lead category sourcing focused on Card Embedded Benefits within Product & Benefits Category - reporting to Europe Head of Product and Services Category and the successful candidate will have experience of above categories at both strategic and tactical level.
Geographical scope is Europe and where requested provide support to the Global Sourcing teams and regional teams.
GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES
BUSINESS – “Shape & Deliver Value”
- Contribute to the development of the functional agenda by monitoring market trends, competitive dynamics, and stakeholder needs to support strategic planning and execution.
- Partner with business stakeholders and teams in support of revenue enabling procurement
- Identify and explore opportunities for value creation, recommending enhancements to current practices and supporting innovation initiatives aligned with strategic goals.
- Translate business and market insights into actionable plans, engaging stakeholders through clear communication and well-structured proposals.
- Support alignment of regional and functional priorities with broader organisational objectives, collaborating across teams to ensure effective deployment of resources and capabilities.
- Drive change initiatives within the function, contributing to vision-setting, gaining team buy-in, and tracking progress against defined outcomes.
TECHNICAL – “Drive Functional Excellence & Innovation”
- Implement consistent demand planning and forecasting processes across relevant areas of the organisation.
- Design and deliver fast – paced Card embedded and Insurance benefits procurement strategies
- Assess sourcing initiatives and projects, providing analysis and recommendations to support decision-making.
- Prepare sourcing reports and insights for review by senior management, ensuring clarity and relevance.
- Champion continuous improvement through adoption of best practices and innovative solutions, contributing to functional excellence.
- Develop and refine tools and templates, supports AI adoption, and maintains high standards for team and business deliverables.
LEADERSHIP – “Set Direction & Orchestrate Change”
- Act with urgency to resolve issues and deliver results, maintaining momentum across initiatives.
- Engage team members in decision-making processes to build ownership and alignment.
- Clearly frame issues and options when escalating decisions to senior leadership.
- Foster a high-performance culture, positioning the function as a reliable business partner.
- Lead collaborative efforts to identify opportunities and implement change, advocating for improvements across the function.
- Create an inclusive and safe team environment that encourages open dialogue and diverse perspectives, supporting enterprise-wide change.
Role Accountabilities:
Visa is a dynamic environment thus there are likely to be some changes in responsibilities and priorities over time and so we are looking for someone who has a flexible approach, embracing Visa Europe’s agility.
Category Management & Operating Model
- Develop and execute (sub) Category/Sub-category strategies, plans, and projects.
- Responsible for the delivery of a compelling strategy and plan that mobilises the cross-functional teams and partners.
- Execute strategic and tactical sourcing activities.
- Incorporate responsible sourcing objectives into category activities.
- Manage Category spend, supplier relationships, and opportunities, developing and maintaining Preferred Supplier Lists (PSL) and manage Tail spend.
Categories in scope:
- Role focused on Product and Benefits category requiring in- depth SME experience in buying insurances, broker services, travel/lounges access benefits, concierge benefits, card embedded benefit procurement.
Functional Planning & Performance
- Lead defined sections of the sourcing planning and forecasting by aligning category plans to support the Sourcing strategy.
- Act as a Sourcing Business Partner to the Product Card Benefits and Center of Excellence teams in the UK and Europe, ensuring end-to-end responsibilities for Sourcing activities.
- Through strong relationships with business stakeholders, understand subcategory strategies, plans, and priorities to be able to better support business objectives.
- Responsible to support, as required, cross Product Category transactions in support of the broader Product team goals.
Performance Management & Reporting
- Report on Category progress and performance using key metrics.
- Undertake supplier management activities for key strategic suppliers.
Governance & Best Practice
- Incorporate digital tools, analytics, and emerging technologies (including AI/Agentic AI) to streamline operations and accelerate innovation.
- Deliver financial and other business values through leading practices.
- Operate data-driven, risk-aware culture that integrates sustainability, inclusion, and ethical decision-making.
- Identify efficiency opportunities in the sourcing process and deliver using Lean Six Sigma and other process optimisation tools.
- Ensure robust risk management, control frameworks, and audit readiness to maintain functional resilience across European markets.
- Support an inclusive, psychologically safe environment that encourages curiosity, accountability, and collaboration.
Capability Development & Communications
- Incorporate digital tools, analytics, and emerging technologies (including AI/Agentic AI) to streamline operations and accelerate innovation.
- Drive continuous improvements and support digitalization.
- Support the delivery of a compelling strategy and plan that mobilises the cross-functional teams and partners.
- Lead medium complex change initiatives with disciplined execution, strong governance, and effective communication. Reporting delivery and achievement against plan and objectives.
- Represent Europe Sourcing internally and externally, enhancing the function’s reputation and strategic value.
This is a hybrid position. Expectation of days in office will be confirmed by your hiring manager.
Must Have:
- 7+ years experience of category management in procurement
- 4+ years hands-on, technical experience of procuring card embedded benefits and insurance from Banking or FinTech Industry
- 4+ years of broader Indirect Procurement experience in buying employee HR/benefit services (such as insurance, broker services
- Experience in Financial services, FinTech or Technology organisations
- Strong acumen and ability to design and deliver innovative commercial models
- Strategic and analytical skills and knowledge of how good looks like.
- Strong Experience in above sub-categories, relevant suppliers and market dynamics, business models, contract negotiations, implementation, and supplier relationship management.
- Project Management skills with experience in delivering large and complex Sourcing projects.
- Background in working within large, complex, matrix organizational structures
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills and ability to build collaborative relationships.
- Energy, pace, and an impeccable track record of delivery.
Nice to have:
- Postgraduate procurement accreditation (MCIPS or MIIAPS).
- Lean Six Sigma, white or yellow belt.
- Operating in a large, multi-country region with complex stakeholder matrix.
Visa is an EEO Employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or protected veteran status. Visa will also consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with EEOC guidelines and applicable local law.
