Global Category Lead ( IT and Digital Services) k/m

Our client is a leading global provider of advanced high-tech solutions.

• Strong experience in strategic procurement, category management or sourcing, ideally in a global or multi-site environment
• Solid experience in IT procurement across software, SaaS, cloud, hardware & infrastructure, telecoms, cybersecurity or IT services
• Proven ability to develop category strategies and translate them into sourcing roadmaps, supplier governance and measurable value creation
• Strong understanding of supplier and supply chain risk in a global environment, including geopolitical exposure, supplier concentration, business continuity, cybersecurity and contractual risk
• Ability to interpret IT market developments, including AI, cloud, software licensing and cybersecurity trends, and translate them into sourcing and supplier management actions
• Strong commercial and contractual understanding, especially in complex supplier negotiations and technology-related agreements
• Strong senior stakeholder management skills across IT, Finance, Legal, Cybersecurity and business functions
• Analytical mindset with ability to use spend data, market data, contract data and supplier performance information to support decisions
• Experience with eProcurement, eSourcing, eAuction, analytics, FinOps, software asset management or supplier risk tools is an advantage
• Fluent English communication skills; German language skills are advantageous

• Define, own and continuously improve the global category strategy for IT and Digital Services
• Set sourcing priorities, supplier governance principles and the commercial roadmap across the full IT and Digital Services scope
• Own the global category view on supplier and supply chain risk, including supplier dependency, geopolitical exposure, cybersecurity requirements, business continuity, contractual exposure, market concentration and technology disruption
• Build a forward-looking view of IT supplier markets, including AI-related demand shifts, cloud and software market concentration, changing licensing models and emerging technology risks
• Partner with senior stakeholders in IT, Finance, Legal, Cybersecurity and the business to shape demand, agree priorities and align the category strategy with business objectives
• Lead or steer strategic sourcing activities for key suppliers and major initiatives, including negotiation strategy and high-impact commercial decisions
• Establish the commercial fact base for the category, using TCO, benchmark pricing, rate-card analysis, cloud consumption modelling, software licence optimisation and, where applicable, should-cost models
• Coordinate category activities across procurement colleagues, regions and stakeholders to ensure consistent execution of the global category strategy
• Report on category strategy progress, market developments, supplier risks, savings, cost avoidance and broader value contribution
• Contribute to the further development of the global sourcing and category management operating model.