Category Manager – IT (m/f/d)

Kloepfel Consulting GmbH; Köln; Hybrid; EUR 95,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Above-tariff remuneration

Hybrid work in Cologne

6 flexi-leave days

CareFlex nursing care insurance

Flat hierarchies

Job summary

Kloepfel Consulting GmbH in Cologne seeks a Category Manager – IT (m/f/d) to develop and implement IT category strategies, optimise expenditure, and manage supplier relationships in a global IT context. You will autonomously lead negotiations on global IT contracts, manage sourcing projects, ensure cybersecurity/compliance, and collaborate with internal stakeholders while traveling up to 30%.

The role offers hybrid work in Cologne with above-tariff remuneration and opportunities for professional

Qualifications

• Completed degree in business or IT, or related field.
• 5–10 years in strategic procurement, around 5 years IT procurement.
• Experience in category management and independently conducting sourcing projects and negotiating major IT contracts.
• Sound knowledge of SaaS, IaaS and PaaS models, licensing models and SLAs.
• Experience in supplier risk management and cybersecurity requirements.
• Strategic thinking: market analysis, supplier portfolio and risk management.
• Confident when dealing with internal stakeholders, the legal department and management; able to challenge requirements.
• Full professional proficiency in English and very good knowledge of German.
• Willingness to travel up to 30%

Responsibilities

• Development and implementation of IT category strategies to optimise expenditure and supplier relationships.
• Autonomous leadership of negotiations and finalisation of global IT contracts and framework agreements, including licence models and SLAs.
• Management of IT sourcing projects, pooling initiatives and cost optimisation as well as category governance.
• Establishment and maintenance of strategic partnerships with internal stakeholders and suppliers.
• Cybersecurity and cloud security compliance.
• Integration of sustainability requirements: supplier evaluations, audits and action plans.
• Working in a modern S2P environment with Coupa.

Skills

Category management

IT procurement

Negotiation leadership

Supplier relationship management

Cost optimization

SaaS/IaaS/PaaS knowledge

Licensing models & SLAs

Cybersecurity & cloud security

Strategic thinking

English (business)

German language skills

Willingness to travel

Education

Completed degree in business or IT

Tools

Coupa

Job description

Is that exactly what you're looking for?

Job advertisement: Category Manager – IT (m/f/d)

Location: Cologne

About our job offer

Category Manager – IT (m/f/d)

What lies ahead for you?

• Development and implementation of IT category strategies to optimise expenditure and supplier relationships
• Autonomous leadership of negotiations and finalisation of global IT contracts and framework agreements, including licence models and SLAs
• Management of IT sourcing projects, pooling initiatives and cost optimisation as well as category governance
• Establishment and maintenance of strategic partnerships with internal stakeholders and suppliers
• Cybersecurity and cloud security compliance
• Integration of sustainability requirements: supplier evaluations, audits and action plans
• Working in a modern S2P environment with Coupa

What should you bring?

• Completed degree in business or IT, or a qualification in a related field
• 5 to 10 years' experience in strategic procurement, including around 5 years in IT procurement
• Demonstrable experience in category management as well as in independently conducting sourcing projects and negotiating major IT contracts
• Sound knowledge of SaaS, IaaS and PaaS models, licensing models and SLAs
• Experience in supplier risk management as well as with cybersecurity and cloud security requirements
• Strategic thinking: market analysis, supplier portfolio and risk management
• Confident demeanour when dealing with specialist departments, the legal department and management, alongside the ability to constructively challenge requirements
• Full professional proficiency in English and very good knowledge of German
• Willingness to travel up to 30 %

What does our customer offer?

• Above-tariff remuneration in a stable chemical industry group environment
• Hybrid working: 3 days on-site in Cologne, the rest working from home
• 6 additional flexi-leave days in lieu of overtime
• CareFlex supplementary nursing care insurance
• Flat hierarchies in an intercultural environment as well as individual development and further training opportunities