Global IT Category Manager

The HEINEKEN Company; Amsterdam; On-site; EUR 98,000 - 135,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus

Annual leave 20 days

NS Business Card for commuting

Job summary

The HEINEKEN Company in Amsterdam is seeking a Global D&T Category Manager to lead end-to-end sourcing strategies for technology, cloud, software and IT services.

You will partner with senior D&T stakeholders worldwide, drive digital transformation, optimise value and manage supplier risk. This role offers global exposure across markets and impact on procurement strategy while shaping HEINEKEN’s tech partnerships.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Business, IT or related field.
• 7–10+ years of strategic procurement experience, with 5+ years in Global IT/D&T.
• Strong knowledge of the global IT supplier market and familiarity with SaaS/Cloud.
• Experience leading complex sourcing initiatives and high-value negotiations.
• Ability to translate business and technology requirements into effective procurement strategies.

Responsibilities

• Design and execute a 3–5 year global D&T procurement strategy.
• Lead RFx processes and global supplier negotiations for enterprise tech.
• Collaborate with Finance, Legal, Data Privacy and Compliance teams.
• Manage cross-functional stakeholder relationships and risk.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Stakeholder management

Negotiation

Analytical skills

English fluency

Project management

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s in Business/IT

CIPS or MBA desirable

Tools

ERP systems

SaaS platforms

TCO modelling

Job description

Location: Amsterdam

Fulltime: 40 hours per week

Closing Date: 25th October 2026. Please note, we may close vacancies early where we receive significant numbers of applications, so don’t delay!

What will you do as Global D&T Category Manager?

As the Global D&T Category Manager, you will be the strategic architect behind our global technology spend. You will design, execute and manage end-to-end sourcing strategies across the D&T ecosystem, working at the intersection of Procurement, Digital & Technology and the wider business.

You will be a trusted business partner to senior D&T stakeholders, driving digital transformation, optimising commercial value, mitigating supplier risk and ensuring our technology partnerships foster long-term innovation.

With HEINEKEN operating across markets around the world, you will have the opportunity to shape global procurement strategies across a broad technology landscape, from cloud and enterprise software to digital solutions and IT consulting. You will work with senior stakeholders and strategic suppliers to turn complex business and technology needs into sustainable commercial value.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Category Management

• Strategy Development: Design and execute a 3–5 year global procurement strategy for the D&T category, covering areas such as SaaS, Cloud Infrastructure, Enterprise Software, Digital Marketing Technology and IT Consulting/Professional Services.
• Spend Analysis: Conduct continuous spend analysis and market intelligence to identify cost optimisation opportunities, supplier rationalisation levers and emerging technology trends.
• Demand Management: Aggregate global demand across business units to leverage HEINEKEN’s scale and maximise purchasing power.
• Value Creation: Identify opportunities to create sustainable value beyond cost savings, balancing commercial, strategic and business objectives.
  

Commercial Negotiations & Sourcing Execution

• End-to-End Sourcing: Lead complex, high-value RFxs, global supplier selections and commercial negotiations for enterprise-grade technology solutions.
• Deal Structuring: Develop innovative commercial models, including consumption-based, value-based and hybrid pricing approaches.
• Contracting Excellence: Partner with Finance, Legal, Data Privacy and Compliance teams to negotiate robust commercial agreements and ensure appropriate governance.
• Commercial Optimisation: Ensure sourcing strategies deliver the right balance between cost, value, flexibility, innovation and risk.
  

Stakeholder Collaboration & Digital Transformation

• Business Alignment: Establish strong partnerships with global D&T leadership, product owners and regional business leaders to align procurement strategies with HEINEKEN’s digital roadmap.
• Strategic Partnership: Act as a trusted Procurement advisor to senior D&T stakeholders, bringing commercial expertise and external market insight to key decisions.
• Innovation Scouting: Stay close to the technology market and identify emerging solutions, trends and opportunities that could support HEINEKEN’s digital transformation.
• Cross-functional Collaboration: Work closely with D&T, Finance, Legal, Data Privacy, Compliance and other stakeholders to deliver successful outcomes.
  

Supplier Relationship & Risk Management

• Strategic SRM: Manage a portfolio of critical global technology partners to unlock value beyond contractual commitments and build long-term strategic relationships.
• Supplier Performance: Drive supplier performance, innovation and continuous improvement across strategic partnerships.
• Risk Mitigation: Proactively assess and mitigate risks related to software compliance, cybersecurity, vendor lock-in and operational resilience.
• Market Intelligence: Maintain a strong understanding of the global technology supplier landscape and anticipate market developments that could impact HEINEKEN.
  

Experience & Profile (what & How)

What:

• Education: Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Business, Supply Chain, Finance, IT or an equivalent field. A purchasing or business qualification such as CIPS or MBA is desirable.
• Work experience: 7–10+ years of progressive experience in strategic procurement, with a minimum of 5 years specifically within Global IT/D&T procurement.
• Category expertise: Strong knowledge and broad understanding of the global IT supplier market, ideally including experience with ERP, enterprise technology solutions, SaaS, Cloud, IT Services and/or Professional Services.
• Strategic procurement: Proven experience developing and executing category strategies, leading complex sourcing initiatives and managing high-value commercial negotiations.
• D&T understanding: Ability to understand complex D&T transformation projects and translate business and technology requirements into effective procurement strategies.
• International exposure: Demonstrated experience working within a matrixed, multinational corporate environment, managing cross-border stakeholders and diverse global supplier pools.
• Supplier management: Experience managing strategic technology suppliers and building long-term commercial partnerships.
  

How:

• Key Leadership expectations: Shape, connect, develop, deliver and/or role model HEINEKEN behaviours.
• Functional skills: Strong analytical skills, business acumen, commercial thinking, negotiation and interpersonal skills.
• Strategic mindset: Able to look beyond individual sourcing events and develop long-term strategies that create sustainable value for the business.
• Communication skills: Fluent in English, both written and verbal, with the executive presence to influence senior stakeholders and challenge assumptions constructively.
• Stakeholder management: Strong influencing and relationship-building skills, with the ability to manage without formal authority across functions, markets and seniority levels.
• Resilient & Adaptable: Thrives in ambiguity and organisational change, and is comfortable navigating the fast-paced evolution of digital technology.
• Analytical Mindset: Strong data-driven decision-making skills, with experience using spend analysis, market intelligence and Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) modelling to inform procurement decisions.
• Commercially minded: Able to balance cost, value, risk, innovation and business requirements when making complex commercial decisions.
• Curious & Future-focused: Naturally curious about technology and emerging trends, with the ability to anticipate how developments in the market could create opportunities for HEINEKEN.
• Collaborative: Builds trusted relationships and brings diverse stakeholders together around shared objectives.
  

We embrace learning and growth and anticipate there is scope to develop in this role. You’re also likely to bring experiences to this role that are not listed above – as long as you have a thirst for learning and development, not every box needs to be ticked when it comes to skillset.

What's in it for you? Let's uncork!

• Competitive salary: A gross monthly salary ranging from €8,173 to €11,209, based on your experience and expertise, excluding 8% holiday allowance.
• Performance-driven bonus: A bonus linked to your results, celebrating your achievements and rewarding your contribution to our success.
• Plenty of vacation time: Enjoy 20 vacation days per year, plus a flexible budget to add 10 extra days — that’s 6 weeks in total.
• Stress-free commuting: Enjoy easy travel with an NS Business Card for public transport or a reimbursement of €0.23 per km (up to 30 km per one-way trip).
• Grow with us: We offer endless opportunities for you to learn, grow and explore new career paths, both locally and globally.
• Global impact: Work on strategic technology categories and partnerships that support HEINEKEN’s digital transformation across our global organisation.