Category Manager IT Procurement

• Role: Category Manager Procurement
• Reporting to: Procurement Manager IT
• Team: 2 direct reports
• Experience: 710 years
• Qualification: Bachelors degree, preferably in IT; Masters in Business preferred.
• Role nature: Individual contributor/professional role with limited people management; the candidate will independently manage procurement projects.

Role & responsibilities

• Independently manage procurement sourcing initiatives, particularly within the IT category.
• Drive end-to-end sourcing and tendering for complex and medium-complexity procurement arrangements.
• Develop category strategies, sourcing plans, contracts, KPIs and supplier performance frameworks.
• Identify cost-saving and cost-avoidance opportunities through spend analytics and market intelligence.
• Conduct Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) analysis as part of procurement decisions.
• Build and manage strategic relationships with suppliers and internal stakeholders.
• Track and report procurement benefits and savings.
• Monitor procurement, contractual and supplier risks.

Must-Have Skills

• Strong IT procurement/category management experience.
• Strategic sourcing and vendor/supplier management.
• Strong negotiation and influencing skills.
• Experience managing complex contracts and commercial negotiations.
• Strong stakeholder management across Procurement, IT, Finance, Risk & Compliance and business teams.
• Ability to conduct market/supplier research and competitive analysis.
• Experience with cost optimization, savings and TCO analysis.
• Procurement governance and contract management expertise.

Preferred candidate profile

• Ability to manage multiple procurement projects simultaneously.
• Strong understanding of commercial, financial, operational and contractual risks.
• Experience developing procurement strategies based on market conditions and business requirements.
• Exposure to AI tools for analysis, documentation and procurement efficiency is specifically mentioned in the JD.
• Strong communication, collaboration, curiosity and continuous-improvement mindset.