Category Manager, IT Sourcing

FI12 UPM-Kymmene Oyj Global Functions; Helsinki; On-site; EUR 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

UPM is seeking a Category Manager, IT to join its Sourcing organisation. You will shape IT category strategies, lead strategic sourcing and negotiations, and build strong partnerships with business stakeholders and technology suppliers.

The role supports digital transformation and cost transparency in an international environment. The position is located in Helsinki or Tampere, Finland, or Wroclaw, Poland, with reporting to the Sourcing Director, IT.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or master's degree in business, supply chain, technology, engineering or equivalent experience.
• Experience in strategic sourcing, procurement, commercial management or vendor management.
• Knowledge of IT supplier markets, cost drivers and commercial models.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement global IT category strategies aligned with business priorities.
• Lead sourcing initiatives, negotiations, contracts and tenders across software, cloud, infrastructure and IT services.
• Identify opportunities for cost transparency, value creation and risk management with cyber, compliance and continuity in mind.
• Collaborate with IT, finance, legal and other stakeholders to translate needs into sourcing solutions.
• Develop a competitive, innovative supplier base and manage supplier performance.
• Monitor technology market developments and translate insights into sourcing actions.

Skills

Strategic sourcing

Procurement

Commercial management

Vendor management

Category strategies

Negotiation

Stakeholder collaboration

IT supplier markets

Data-driven sourcing

English fluency

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in business, supply chain, tech, engineering

Tools

SAP Ariba

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

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.
• 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.

What this role offers

• 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. [phone] 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. If you have any concerns about the recruitment and selection process, you can report those online through the UPM Report Misconduct channel using the link: https://www.upm.com/investors/governance/compliance/reportmisconduct/

UPM – we renew the everyday

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