Global IT Software & Cloud Category Director

Philips; Eindhoven; Hybrid; EUR 93,000 - 155,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual incentive

Health and well-being programs

Personal development budget

25 days annual leave

Pension plan

Employee share purchase program

Job summary

Philips is seeking a Category Director IT - Software & Cloud to shape procurement strategy for software and cloud globally. You will lead cross-functional teams and collaborate with senior stakeholders to turn strategic opportunities into lasting value while managing supplier relationships and complex negotiations.

The role requires 10+ years in IT procurement, a Master’s in a related field, and the ability to influence CIO-level stakeholders across APAC, Europe, and North America.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Business, Procurement, Supply Chain Management, or equivalent discipline.
• 10+ years of procurement IT category experience in large, international organizations, including leading managers and multi-layered teams.
• Ability to create and deliver category strategy for a large global spend area.
• Deep software and cloud procurement/category expertise; generic procurement experience alone is not sufficient.
• Strong track record in complex negotiations, generating savings, defending commercial positions, and managing long-term strategic supplier relationships.
• Experience influencing senior Enterprise IT and CIO-level stakeholders in high-visibility environments.

Responsibilities

• Create strategic impact by initiating, organizing, and implementing breakthrough category strategies, programs, and policies to drive transformative change and deliver measurable business results.
• Evaluate and define procurement goals and objectives for the assigned market or region, considering market dynamics, business requirements, and stakeholder needs.
• Identify and evaluate potential suppliers, conduct thorough assessments of capabilities, quality standards, and cost-effectiveness to ensure alignment with Philips’ requirements.
• Oversee the negotiation of contracts and agreements with suppliers to secure favorable terms and conditions, including pricing, delivery schedules, and quality standards.
• Lead cross-functional teams to program-manage the execution of supply base change projects through funnel and Source2Contract RfX event management, ensuring alignment with strategic objectives.
• Plan and implement negotiation roadmaps with suppliers; manage supplier relationships, performance, and contracting based on clear targets and ongoing business review meetings with key suppliers.
• Drive Design for Excellence (DFX) continuously, understanding internal business processes and functional strategies to optimize category performance and enhance operational efficiency.

Skills

Category management

Supplier relationship management

Cross-functional leadership

Negotiation

Strategy development

Stakeholder influence

Program management

Education

Master’s degree in Business or equivalent

Tools

Source2Contract

RFx

Job description

Philips is seeking a Category Director IT - Software & Cloud to shape procurement strategy for software and cloud globally. You will lead cross-functional teams and collaborate with senior stakeholders to turn strategic opportunities into lasting value while managing supplier relationships and complex negotiations.

The role requires 10+ years in IT procurement, a Master’s in a related field, and the ability to influence CIO-level stakeholders across APAC, Europe, and North America.