Category Manager

Salt Digital Recruitment; Amsterdam; On-site; EUR 122,000 - 173,000; Full time

Job summary

Salt Digital Recruitment is seeking a Strategic Procurement Manager for a client in Amsterdam. The role is freelance (zzp) for 8 months, paying €107 per hour. You will lead strategic sourcing and category management across Legal, Consultancy and Professional Services.

Responsibilities include developing category strategies, leading sourcing events, negotiations, contracting, and supplier governance, while aligning with global procurement processes and stakeholder needs.

Qualifications

• 8-12 years' experience in strategic sourcing, category management or procurement, ideally within Legal, Consultancy, Professional Services or complex indirect categories.
• Proven experience leading category strategies, RFPs, negotiations, renewals and contracting.
• Strong understanding of Professional Services supplier markets, commercial models, rate cards and Statements of Work.
• Track record of delivering savings, cost avoidance, risk reduction or service improvements.
• Strong supplier management, stakeholder engagement, influencing and negotiation skills.
• Experience working across global, decentralized organizations and multiple regions.
• Comfortable working independently in a fast-paced environment with ambiguity and changing priorities.
• Strong analytical, project management and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute category strategies aligned with business priorities and Total Cost of Ownership.
• Lead sourcing events, renewals, negotiations, contracting, supplier governance and handovers.
• Deliver value through demand management, competitive sourcing, benchmarking, rate-card governance, supplier consolidation and process improvement.
• Build strong relationships with senior stakeholders and translate business needs into effective sourcing strategies and decisions.
• Manage strategic suppliers, including performance, risks, reporting, escalations and commercial issues.
• Support and improve Procurement processes, policies, tools and controls across a global, multi-brand organization.

Skills

Strategic sourcing

Category management

Negotiation

Stakeholder engagement

Supplier management

Analytical skills

Project management

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Procurement/Business/Law/Finance

Job description

Salt is currently hiring a Strategic Procurement Manager, for a client of ours in Amsterdam. This role is paying 107 euros an hour, and is for 8 months. It is Freelance(kvk/zzp) requirement.

Role Overview

We are looking for an experienced procurement professional to lead strategic sourcing and category management across Legal, Consultancy and Professional Services.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute category strategies aligned with business priorities and Total Cost of Ownership.
• Lead sourcing events, renewals, negotiations, contracting, supplier governance and handovers.
• Deliver value through demand management, competitive sourcing, benchmarking, rate-card governance, supplier consolidation and process improvement.
• Build strong relationships with senior stakeholders and translate business needs into effective sourcing strategies and decisions.
• Manage strategic suppliers, including performance, risks, reporting, escalations and commercial issues.
• Support and improve Procurement processes, policies, tools and controls across a global, multi-brand organization.

Knowledge, Skills & Experience

• 8-12 years' experience in strategic sourcing, category management or procurement, ideally within Legal, Consultancy, Professional Services or complex indirect categories.
• Proven experience leading category strategies, RFPs, negotiations, renewals and contracting.
• Strong understanding of Professional Services supplier markets, commercial models, rate cards and Statements of Work.
• Track record of delivering savings, cost avoidance, risk reduction or service improvements.
• Strong supplier management, stakeholder engagement, influencing and negotiation skills.
• Experience working across global, decentralized organizations and multiple regions.
• Comfortable working independently in a fast-paced environment with ambiguity and changing priorities.
• Strong analytical, project management and communication skills.
• Bachelor's degree in Procurement, Business, Finance, Law or a related field; relevant professional qualification is a plus.

*Rates depend on experience and client requirements