Procurement Category Manager - IT

Mistral AI; Paris; On-site; EUR 75,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Mistral is seeking a Procurement Category Manager - IT to own and drive cost savings across indirect spend, with a focus on IT, SaaS, and tooling. You will define and execute procurement strategies in collaboration with internal stakeholders to renegotiate agreements and simplify complex contracts.

This role requires 5+ years as a Buyer/Category Manager, strong negotiation and project management skills, and the ability to push back constructively in a dynamic, fast-growing AI company.

Qualifications

• 5+ years as Buyer/Category Manager, IT/SaaS experience preferred.
• Proven ability to negotiate with large providers in competitive markets.
• Strong project management skills to handle multiple initiatives and align stakeholders.
• Assertiveness and communication to push back constructively and build relationships.
• Adaptability to thrive in dynamic, evolving environments.

Responsibilities

• Lead global negotiations on indirect spend to drive cost savings.
• Define and execute IT procurement strategies.
• Identify and manage existing contracts, renewals and renegotiations.
• Build and manage supplier panels to reduce fragmentation and improve governance.
• Rationalize tool usage and align internal needs with business owners.
• Lead procurement projects end-to-end, from RFP to contractualization.
• Contribute to digitization of procurement through P2P tool adoption.

Skills

Negotiation

Project management

Stakeholder management

Communication

Adaptability

Job description

About Mistral

Mistral provides full-stack AI solutions: from frontier models to developer tools, applications, and compute. We partner with enterprises tackling the hardest problems across high-stakes industries like finance, manufacturing, defense, healthcare, and the public sector, co-creating customized AI systems that they can run on their terms.

We are a dynamic, collaborative team passionate about AI and its potential to transform society. Our diverse workforce thrives in competitive environments and is committed to driving innovation. Our teams are distributed between Europe, North America, Asia and the Middle East. We are creative, low-ego and team-spirited.

The Role

As a Procurement Category Manager - IT on the Procurement team, you will own and drive cost savings across indirect spend, with a focus on IT and Data categories. This role is critical to scaling Mistral’s operations efficiently, as you define and execute procurement strategies for high-impact areas like data acquisition, SaaS, and tooling. You will collaborate closely with internal stakeholders to rationalize contracts, renegotiate agreements, and implement processes that reduce complexity and costs, directly shaping how Mistral optimizes its resources.

What You Will Do

• Lead global negotiations on indirect spend to drive measurable cost savings.
• Define and execute procurement strategies tailored for the IT category.
• Identify and manage existing contracts, tools, and needs, including renewals and renegotiations.
• Build and manage supplier panels to reduce fragmentation and improve governance.
• Rationalize tool usage and consolidate internal needs with business owners.
• Lead procurement projects end-to-end, from RFP to contractualization.
• Contribute to the digitization of procurement through P2P tool adoption.

What We're Looking For

• At least 5 years of experience as a Buyer/Category Manager, ideally in IT, SaaS, or related categories.
• Proven ability to negotiate with large providers in competitive or tense markets.
• Strong project management skills to handle multiple initiatives and align stakeholders.
• Assertiveness and communication skills to push back constructively and build trusted relationships.
• Adaptability to thrive in dynamic, evolving environments.

What We Offer

We offer a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your well-being, growth, and work-life balance. Benefits vary by country and may include healthcare coverage, parental leave, retirement plans, relocation support, wellness programs, meal and transportation allowances, and other location-specific perks.

For the most up-to-date details on benefits available in your location, please refer to our Benefits page.

Privacy Policy

Your privacy matters to us. You can learn more about how we handle your personal data in our Applicant Privacy Policy.