Procurement Manager IT
Procurement Manager IT - Global Category Manager - IT Procurement
Cologne, Germany | Global Scope | Hybrid (3 days/week in office) | High-Impact Growth Projects
A leading international manufacturing company is seeking a Global Category Manager - IT Procurement to lead sourcing strategy and manage key IT procurement initiatives, overseeing €50M IT spend across EMEA.
This is a high-impact, strategic role, working closely with global leadership to influence transformation projects and integrate procurement excellence into the digital core of the business. The ideal candidate will have IT procurement experience in manufacturing, financial services, or any non-telecom company.
About the Role
As Global Category Manager for IT, you will manage IT procurement spend and lead global sourcing activities across infrastructure, software, cloud services, and IT consulting.
You'll define and implement category strategies aligned with market trends, internal priorities, and compliance requirements, supporting digital transformation while ensuring value delivery, risk management, and innovation.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Procurement
Develop and implement global IT sourcing strategies to optimize cost, performance, and risk
Lead contract negotiations and framework agreements with major IT vendors
Drive bundling, harmonization, and optimization projects across international regions
Align category management with finance, procurement, and IT transformation goals
Procurement Market Management
Conduct supplier market analysis and identify alternative sourcing strategies
Track market trends, pricing developments, and category innovation opportunities
Report on procurement performance and sourcing pipeline regularly
Internal Stakeholder Engagement
Collaborate with global and regional IT, finance, and business leaders to align sourcing strategies
Act as the interface between Procurement and IT/digitalization teams
Support new tech initiatives and digital transformation rollouts
Supplier Relationship Management
Build and manage strategic partnerships with key IT vendors
Drive supplier performance through KPIs, reviews, and continuous improvement
Support risk mitigation across financial, operational, cyber, and compliance areas
Integrate sustainability objectives into supplier engagements
What We're Looking For
IT procurement experience at a manufacturing, financial, or any non-telecom company
Expertise in SaaS, IaaS, PaaS, cloud platforms, enterprise software
Strong understanding of licensing models, SLAs, KPIs, and IT contract negotiations
Familiarity with vendor risk management, cloud security, data privacy, and compliance
Proven track record in leading complex sourcing projects from strategy to execution
Strong communication, stakeholder management, and influencing skills
Fluent English
What Makes This Role Exciting
Strategic Visibility - Work directly with CIOs and global leadership teams
Ownership - Lead category strategy, supplier partnerships, and key negotiations
Greenfield Projects - Influence digital transformation initiatives
Innovation - Challenge the status quo and drive procurement excellence
Location & Work Model Hybrid role based in Cologne, Germany, with 3 days per week in office, collaborating with global stakeholders.
Apply Now If you're ready to own global IT procurement in a business investing in growth and innovation, we'd love to hear from you.
FAQs
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