IT Category Manager

The client is one of the Netherlands’ biggest dairy products manufacturers who is also active globally

The IT Category Manager plays a pivotal role in the company’s digital and data-driven transformation. Operating within Corporate Procurement, this role acts as a strategic business partner to IT, ensuring that sourcing strategies, vendor partnerships, and contractual arrangements fully support the company’s digital ambitions. You will lead global category strategy development, shape strategic supplier relationships, and drive long-term value creation across key IT domains, including SAP and supporting technology landscapes.

• Developing and executing a global sub-category strategy in close collaboration with IT and business stakeholders, with a 3-year value and sustainability horizon.
• Establishing, leading and continuously improving the Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) process for key partners to unlock innovation, performance improvements and efficiency opportunities.
• Strengthening IT’s relationship management practices with SAP and other strategic vendors, enhancing maturity, governance, and collaboration.
• Implementing effective internal and external governance structures built on trust, transparency and measurable performance.
• Aligning IT and suppliers within the SAP ecosystem on technology innovation, architecture, benchmarking, audit requirements and security.
• Leading negotiations, contract closures, ongoing contract management and contract termination activities with strategic SAP vendors to ensure service excellence and risk mitigation.
• Support centralized SAP product ownership and standardized contracting to enable the upcoming SAP transformation roadmap (3–5 years).
• Managing the long-tail vendor landscape within SAP domains, collaborating closely with IT and Corporate Procurement offices to ensure cost-effective and value-driven outcomes.

• Master’s degree or postgraduate education.
• 10+ years of relevant experience in IT procurement, vendor management, sourcing, or managing large IT services suppliers.
• Strong knowledge of the global IT supplier market, especially SAP.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills; able to influence at senior levels.
• Proven ability to build, maintain and elevate strategic vendor relationships.
• Skilled at coordinating across different IT offices and functions to optimize supplier relationships and drive cost/value improvements.
• Strong negotiation capabilities and commercial acumen.
• Deep understanding of IT service cost drivers and a track record of driving continuous cost optimization.
• Strategic thinker with strong conceptual, analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Result-oriented, persuasive and continuously seeking improvement opportunities.
• Fluency in English and comfortable working with international, remote teams; strong cultural awareness.

Apply to our vacancy for more information. Looking forward to getting in touch!