IT Category Manager

WestPoint Search; Eindhoven; On-site; EUR 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Westpoint Search is exclusively supporting an international organisation to appoint a Senior IT Buyer who will own the technology procurement category during a major transformation. You will work closely with IT leadership, architecture, security and finance to shape strategy and extract value from key technology suppliers.

You will lead category strategy across software, cloud, infrastructure, and IT services, drive RFPs and commercial negotiations, and build strong supplier relationships that

Qualifications

• Proven IT procurement experience with strategic sourcing.
• Experience leading complex IT sourcing and commercial negotiations.
• Ability to translate IT ambitions into robust sourcing strategies.
• Strong stakeholder engagement with IT leadership and finance.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute category strategies across software, SaaS, cloud, infrastructure, telecoms and IT services
• Lead complex sourcing initiatives, RFPs, supplier selections and commercial negotiations
• Partner with senior IT stakeholders to translate technology ambitions into robust sourcing and supplier strategies
• Build and manage strategic supplier relationships that support innovation and long-term value
• Drive cost optimisation, vendor consolidation, governance and supplier-risk management
• Support major transformation programmes, system implementations and digital initiatives
• Challenge stakeholders on sourcing approach and opportunities
• Strengthen supplier governance, contract management and performance-management frameworks
• Help professionalise an ambitious procurement function with significant influence across the business

Skills

IT Procurement

Strategic Sourcing

Category Management

Vendor Negotiation

Stakeholder Management

Technology Knowledge

Job description

Senior IT Buyer / Category Manager | Technology Procurement

Permanent Role

Westpoint Search is exclusively supporting an international organisation as it appoints a Senior IT Buyer to take ownership of its technology procurement category across the business during a period of significant transformation.

Technology is central to the organisation’s ongoing transformation. From cloud platforms and enterprise applications to infrastructure, telecoms and managed services, the business is investing in the technology partnerships that will help it operate smarter, safer and more sustainably.

This is an opportunity for a sharp IT procurement professional to become the commercial partner to senior IT leadership, including a board level CIO and a newly appointed Director of IT Operations.

You will not simply manage contracts or process purchase requests. You will lead strategic sourcing activity, shape category strategy, negotiate complex technology deals and help determine how the business selects, manages and extracts value from its key technology suppliers.

You will work closely with IT leadership, architecture, security, finance and external partners, bringing commercial discipline and strategic thinking to a broad and evolving IT landscape.

What you will do:

• Develop and execute category strategies across software, SaaS, cloud, infrastructure, telecoms and IT services
• Lead complex sourcing initiatives, RFPs, supplier selections and commercial negotiations
• Partner with senior IT stakeholders to translate technology ambitions into robust sourcing and supplier strategies
• Build and manage strategic supplier relationships that support innovation, resilience and long-term business value
• Drive value through cost optimisation, vendor consolidation, commercial governance and supplier-risk management
• Support major transformation programmes, system implementations and digital initiatives
• Challenge stakeholders on sourcing approach, supplier selection and commercial opportunities
• Strengthen supplier governance, contract management and performance-management frameworks
• Help further professionalise an ambitious procurement function with significant influence across the business

What we are looking for:

• Proven experience in IT Procurement, Strategic Sourcing or Technology Category Management
• A clear track record of personally leading complex IT sourcing processes and commercial negotiations
• Experience across several technology categories, such as software, cloud, SaaS, infrastructure, telecoms or managed services
• The confidence and communication style to work credibly with senior IT and business stakeholders
• Strong commercial judgement, coupled with the ability to build trusted internal and supplier relationships
• Someone who thinks strategically but is happy to stay close to delivery and lead the work themselves
• Fluent English. Dutch is advantageous

The role will suit either an experienced Senior IT Buyer ready for broader category ownership, or an established IT Category Manager who wants a highly visible position with real autonomy and proximity to the business.

You will join an international procurement team responsible for approximately €550m OPEX and €100m CAPEX spend across the business, with a clear mandate to create value through supplier partnerships, innovation, sustainability and commercial excellence.

If you are an IT procurement professional who wants to lead meaningful technology deals and shape a major organisation’s supplier landscape,