IT Category Manager

Unilabs; Barcelona; On-site; EUR 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Unilabs, based in Barcelona, Spain, is seeking an IT Category Manager to lead sourcing strategy and supplier relationships across software, hardware, cloud services, and IT services. The role requires 5+ years in IT procurement within multinational environments and a strong grasp of licensing models and digital technologies.

You will collaborate with business stakeholders to drive cost optimization, supplier performance, and risk management while negotiating high-value IT contracts.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5+ years in IT procurement, strategic sourcing and category management within multinational environments.
• Strong understanding of IT markets, licensing models and digital technologies.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Proven expertise in IT contract negotiation and management of software licensing and commercial frameworks.
• Collaborative, engaging and influential with senior stakeholders and cross-functional teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead category planning, sourcing and contracting for designated IT categories.
• Collaborate with IT and business stakeholders to align spend objectives with goals.
• Draft, review and negotiate IT contracts; monitor savings, compliance and risk.
• Drive cost optimisation and supplier innovation; manage supplier performance and SLAs.

Skills

IT procurement

Strategic sourcing

Category management

Contract negotiation

Stakeholder engagement

Sourcing analytics

supplier relationship management

Job description

Unilabs is on a multi-year journey to become Europe's leading diagnostics company. To achieve this, we need to operate our markets, build synergies that leverage our size and scale, and ensure we are best setup to meet the evolving needs of patients, medics and healthcare ecosystems.

As part of our ongoing wider transformation journey to build a more agile, efficient, and patient-centred organisation and strengthen our medical, operational and commercial performance – we are looking to recruit an IT Category Manager based in Barcelona, Spain.

The role is responsible for managing the sourcing strategy and supplier relationships across IT spend categories, including software, hardware, cloud services, telecoms, IT consultancy and AI solutions. The role supports the delivery of commercial value, risk management, and alignment with business and technology goals.

Reporting to the Senior Category Manager, you will play a critical role in supporting change, delivering results, and setting standards. You will also collaborate closely with stakeholders across the business to drive projects and enhance supplier performance

There may be a requirement to travel as required by the business.

Responsabilities

Category Planning, Sourcing and Contracting

• Gains agreement and implements sourcing strategy for designated IT categories based on business needs and market insights.
• Expert for nominated category. Becomes "go-to" person for advice on market and sourcing trends. Develops deep understanding of category.
• Conduct spends analysis and supplier segmentation to identify opportunities.
• Support the Senior Global IT Category Manager in cross-border IT deals and end-to-end category management process that includes RFPs, negotiations, and contract awards/management
• Ensure contracts are commercially robust and legally compliant.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Collaborate and build strong relationships with IT and business stakeholders to ensure to align spend category objectives with organisational goals.

Contract and Risk Management

• Draft, review, and negotiate commercial terms in IT contracts.
• Report, monitor on savings, compliance and risk

Cost Optimisation and Innovation

• Drive supplier innovation and continuous improvement
• Manage supplier performance, including service levels, KPIs, and relationship development.
• Extensive experience i.e. 5+ years in IT procurement, strategic sourcing and category management within multinational environments
• Strong understanding of IT markets, licensing models, and digital technologies.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Proven expertise in IT contract negotiation and management of software licencing models and commercial frameworks, across Technology categories (Software, IT Services i.e. SaaS, cloud, enterprise agreements, Hardware and Telecoms)
• Collaborative, engaging and influential style, with proven success building credible senior stakeholders and shape business decisions.
• Certifications like CIPS, ITIL would be an advantage
• Fluent in English, spoken and written
• A highly collaborative and true team player.
• Proactive with a positive, solutions-focused mindset.
• Comfortable working at pace, consistently delivering to deadlines, and stable under pressure.
• Resilient and adaptable to change