Global Category Manager - IT HW / SW

Roche; Sant Cugat del Vallès; Hybrid; EUR 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Roche is seeking a Global Category Manager for IT Software & Hardware based in Sant Cugat, Spain. This role involves managing tier-one technology providers and developing strategies for critical spend categories.

You will lead high-value negotiations, driving value creation while ensuring sustainability priorities. The ideal candidate has over 5 years of experience in strategic sourcing within regulated industries and a strong understanding of IT hardware and software environments.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of strategic and operational procurement experience.
• Experience in regulated industries like Diagnostics.
• Proficient in navigating enterprise procurement systems.

Responsibilities

• Deliver commercial impact by leading high-value negotiations.
• Develop a global Category Strategy and initiative pipeline.
• Build relationships with senior stakeholders to maximize value.

Skills

Strategic sourcing

Category management

Financial acumen

Leadership

AI application

Education

University degree (Business or Life Sciences preferred)

Post-graduate qualification (preferred)

Tools

eSourcing

eAuction

P2P tools

Job description

Position

Global Category Manager for IT Software & Hardware in Sant Cugat, Spain (or Indianapolis, U.S.).

About Our Team

We at Global Diagnostics Procurement (DOP) are a team of about 200 enthusiastic professionals, committed to driving value with our suppliers worldwide. From locations around the world and with a diverse and multicultural team, we source, manage our supplier base, develop & execute category strategies and constantly develop & digitize processes that enable us to best support our business to grow sustainably. If you aspire to make an impact and want to be part of a high performing and world‑class Procurement team, this is for you.

The Opportunity

Are you ready to spearhead the long‑term category roadmap and command our high‑value IT supplier landscape that drives the functioning of our Diagnostics Instruments? In this role you will take ultimate accountability for developing strategies and leading strategic initiatives for this rapidly evolving spend category. You will manage tier‑one global technology providers, negotiate complex commercial frameworks, and translate category goals into bottom‑line value creation.

• Reporting Line: Directly reports to the Global Category Lead Capex / Engineering Services / IT within the Category organization.
• Wider Team and Stakeholders: Engages directly with cross‑functional teams composed of representatives from Category, Delivery, Procurement Center of Excellence, and global business partners. Serves as a key business partner contact point for senior functional and business stakeholders.
• Role Type: An Individual Contributor role with global category leadership position focused on strategic vision, category development, pipeline building, and relationship ecosystem management.
• Impact: You deliver commercial impact by anchoring cost and developing a resilience pipeline of projects, in addition to securing our sustainability priorities. Specifically, you are accountable for:
  • Strategy & Annual Pipeline: Collating market intelligence, supplier data, and business requirements to formulate a formalized, global Category Strategy and initiative pipeline, to be aligned with leaders across the organization.
  • Commercial Negotiations: Leading high‑value commercial and contractual negotiations for strategic suppliers within the category.
  • Supplier Ecosystems: Managing key global suppliers, establishing development and innovation programs, monitoring value targets, and managing supplier risks.
  • Guidance & Content: Developing and maintaining category guidance documents to translate strategy into clear, executable content for procurement colleagues and business users.
  • Business Partnering: Building deep relationships with senior stakeholders, challenging demand/specifications to maximize value, and managing risk/CSR reviews.
  • Team & Budget Oversight: Coaching procurement colleagues, providing professional development, managing a shared Associate Category Manager within the team, and tracking budget spend.

Who You Are

• Education: University degree required (Business or Life Sciences focus preferred); a post‑graduate business‑related qualification is preferred.
• Experience: 5+ years of in‑depth strategic and operational procurement experience with extensive knowledge of category management and advanced strategic sourcing.
• Regulated Industry: 5+ years of overall business experience, working within a regulated industry like Diagnostics with familiarity of relevant legal and quality risks.
• Market Expertise: Deep subject matter knowledge of specialized instrument control environments and technical software/hardware dependencies: IT HW (e.g., Embedded hardware: Servers, PCs, IPCs, CPUs, and Firewalls, including Tier 2 electronics market (DRAM, SSDs)), IT SW (Operating Systems, Databases) and IP Licensing.
• Systems & Analytics: Expert proficiency in navigating enterprise systems, P2P tools, and procurement systems for sourcing events and contract negotiations (e.g., eSourcing, eAuction).
• AI & Digitalization: Advanced knowledge in AI application and a strong affinity to explore AI‑driven solutions broadly, particularly regarding the digital transformation of operations (Digital 2.0 / Industry 4.0).
• Financial Acumen: Proven financial and business acumen, with grounding in total cost of ownership (TCO) and cost modeling.
• Leadership & Change: Strong communication, project management, and change management skills with a demonstrated ability to lead global cross‑functional teams in a fluid environment.
• Languages: Business‑level fluency in English is required.
• Travel: High flexibility and willingness to travel both domestically and internationally up to 30 %.

Roche is an Equal Opportunity Employer.