Category Manager, IT Sourcing

UPM

Helsinki

On-site

EUR 70,000 - 110,000

Full time

14 hours ago

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Benefits offered by this job

Meaningful work

Caring community

Development opportunities

Sustainability focus

Job summary

UPM is seeking a Category Manager, IT to shape IT category strategies, lead sourcing and negotiations, and build strong partnerships across IT and business stakeholders. You will influence technology spend, improve cost transparency, and support transformative digital initiatives in an international environment.

You should have proven strategic sourcing and supplier management experience, excellent negotiation skills, and fluency in English; Finnish language is a plus. Helsinki or Tampere based.

Qualifications

Bachelor's or master's degree in business, supply chain, technology, engineering or related field.
Experience in strategic sourcing, procurement, commercial management or vendor management in an international environment.
Knowledge of IT supplier markets, cost drivers and licensing models (software, cloud, services).
Experience contributing to category strategies, sourcing initiatives or negotiations delivering business value.
Fluent written and spoken English; Finnish or another relevant language is a plus.

Responsibilities

Develop and implement global IT category strategies aligned with business priorities and roadmaps.
Lead sourcing initiatives, negotiations, contract renewals and tenders across software, cloud, infrastructure and IT services.
Identify opportunities to improve total cost of ownership and demand transparency, and manage related risks.
Build trusted relationships with IT, business, finance, legal, information security and other stakeholders.
Develop a competitive, innovative and resilient supplier base and manage supplier performance.
Monitor technology markets and translate insights into sourcing actions.

Skills

Strategic sourcing

Procurement

Negotiation

Stakeholder management

IT supplier market knowledge

Data-driven decisions / AI in sourcing

Cross-functional collaboration

English fluency

Education

Bachelor's or Master's degree in business, supply chain, technology, engineering

Tools

SAP Ariba

Procurement software

Job description

Would you like to join a global, growing company that innovates for a more sustainable tomorrow? UPM could be the team for you. We are frontrunners in developing renewable alternatives to fossil-based materials. Besides enabling both businesses and consumers make more sustainable choices, we strive to create a positive UPM experience for all our employees around the world. We live by our values – trust and be trusted, achieve together, renew with courage. Together we can renew the everyday, for a future beyond fossils!

Learn more about us as a workplace upm.com/careers

Category Manager, IT

We are now looking for a Category Manager, IT to join UPM’s Sourcing organisation.

Greetings from your future manager

“Welcome to UPM Sourcing. We create commercial value and strengthen business performance through strategic, insight-led sourcing. As Category Manager, IT, you will help shape category strategies, lead sourcing and negotiation initiatives, and build strong partnerships with business stakeholders and technology suppliers. You will have the opportunity to contribute to UPM’s technology landscape, improve cost transparency and resilience, and support responsible digital transformation. If you are motivated by combining commercial thinking, technology insight and practical execution in an international environment, we would be delighted to hear from you.” – Nina Kivioja, Vice President, Sourcing, Indirect Materials & Services

What You Will Do

Category strategy: Develop and implement global category strategies and plans for assigned IT areas, aligned with business priorities, technology roadmaps and UPM’s sourcing objectives
Strategic sourcing and negotiations: Lead sourcing initiatives, commercial negotiations, contract renewals and competitive tender processes across software, cloud, infrastructure and IT services
Value and risk management: Identify opportunities to improve total cost of ownership and demand transparency, create business value, and manage commercial, operational, cybersecurity, compliance and supply continuity risks in collaboration with relevant experts
Stakeholder collaboration: Build trusted working relationships with IT, business, finance, legal, information security and other stakeholders, translating technology needs into commercially sound sourcing solutions
Supplier management: Develop a competitive, innovative and resilient supplier base. Lead supplier selection, performance management and strategic supplier relationships within your category area
Market intelligence and innovation: Monitor developments in technology and supplier markets, including AI-enabled services and evolving commercial models, and turn insights into sourcing actions that support business objectives

Who You Are

You are a sourcing professional with strong commercial awareness and an interest in technology and its business impact. You enjoy working with different stakeholders, balancing strategic thinking with practical execution, and identifying opportunities to improve outcomes. In addition:

You have a bachelor's or master's degree in business, supply chain management, technology, engineering or another relevant field, or equivalent experience
You have experience in strategic sourcing, procurement, commercial management, technology vendor management or related areas, ideally within an international environment
You have experience contributing to category strategies, sourcing initiatives, negotiations or other activities that deliver measurable business value
You have knowledge of IT supplier markets, cost drivers and commercial models, such as software licensing, subscriptions, cloud consumption and professional services
You have confidence in negotiating and managing commercial agreements and working with technology suppliers
You have the ability to build relationships, influence stakeholders, collaborate across functions and translate requirements into clear sourcing decisions
You are fluent written and spoken English; Finnish or another relevant language is considered an asset
You have experience with digital sourcing tools, such as SAP Ariba, and an interest in using data and AI to support sourcing decisions and improve outcomes

We are looking for talent and potential. If your experience does not match every qualification listed above, we still encourage you to apply if you believe you can contribute to the role and grow with us.

This Is What We Offer To You

A meaningful job: We have an inspiring purpose “We renew the everyday for a future beyond fossils”. Our work is impactful and transformative.
A caring community: Our community is built on great team spirit and shared commitment. We care about each other and the well‑being of our colleagues. We support the work-life balance of all our employees.
Development opportunities: We offer you great opportunities to learn and grow throughout your career. We are an international, multi-business organization offering plenty of avenues for personal growth.
Responsible employer: Sustainability is at the core of everything we do. We are committed to ambitious, science‑based sustainability targets in all areas, from climate change mitigation to enhancing biodiversity. We foster diversity and inclusivity, offering a work environment in which everyone can be themselves.

Learn about our Rewarding and our Ways of working

Additional Information About The Position

The position is located in Helsinki or Tampere, Finland, or Wroclaw, Poland.

The position holder will report to Sourcing Director, IT.

For further information about the role, please contact Nina Kivioja, Vice President, Sourcing, Indirect Materials and Services at tel. +358403548638 on October 21, 2026 at 14.00 – 15.00 EEST.

Country-specific information

For UPM positions located in Finland, a security background check may be performed for those selected in accordance with the company recruitment guidelines and the Security Clearance Act 726/2014.

UPM BUSINESS HUB POLAND

UPM is a material solutions company, renewing products and entire value chains with an extensive portfolio of renewable fibres, advanced materials, decarbonization solutions, and communication papers. In Poland, UPM is running two factories near Wrocław, a Human Resources Service Center in Kraków and UPM Hub Poland at the heart of the city of Wrocław. At the moment, the Hub brings together over 600 professionals in customer, supplier and financial services.

What makes us unique? The Finnish leadership culture encourages people in personal growth and self-development. Our values – trust and be trusted, achieve together, renew with courage – are visible in our everyday work. We are committed to ambitious sustainability targets, and we keep aiming higher.

Sourcing

UPM Sourcing is responsible for maintaining a supplier base that can deliver cost-competitive, innovative, and sustainable material and service solutions to UPM businesses globally. The sourcing function consists of proactive, business-minded professionals who are experts on the supply markets. By applying sourcing expertise, business insight, and supply market knowledge, the Sourcing organization advances UPM businesses' profitability and growth.

Our proactive approach to risk assessment is a key part of our operations. We continuously work with over 25,000 material and service suppliers to ensure efficiency, transparency, and responsibility throughout the entire supply chain. We assess environmental, social, and economic risks both globally and at the supplier level. With selected suppliers, Sourcing is building strategic, long-term cooperation to optimize cost and quality without compromising on sustainability and innovation.

UPM – we renew the everyday