Senior Category Manager Software and Application Services

Yara International; Oslo; On-site; NOK 800,000 - 1,000,000; Full time

Job summary

A global agricultural company based in Oslo is seeking a Category Manager to lead the sourcing of Software and Application Services. The ideal candidate will have at least 10 years of procurement experience and a proven record in managing global teams. You will be responsible for developing category strategies, managing supplier relations, and collaborating with internal stakeholders to drive value. This role offers significant responsibilities and opportunities for career growth.

Benefits

Dynamic work environment

Career development opportunities

Exposure to senior management

Qualifications

• Minimum 10 years of relevant procurement experience.
• Experience leading sourcing projects.
• Demonstrated leadership capabilities in global organizations.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute category strategy for Software and Application Services.
• Lead a pool of Sourcing Managers for sourcing projects.
• Manage relations with main D&PS suppliers and partners.

Skills

Leadership

Negotiation skills

Stakeholder management

Project management

Communication

Education

Degree in Business or relevant disciplines

Job description

About the Unit

At Yara International, we’ve been shaping the future of agriculture and sustainability since 1905. Headquartered in Oslo, Norway, Yara is a global company with a strong presence in over 60 countries across six continents, employing more than 000 people worldwide. We specialize in agricultural products, industrial solutions, and environmental innovations, all driven by a deep commitment to sustainable practices and ethical collaboration with farmers and partners around the globe. Our mission is bold and inspiring: to responsibly feed the world and protect the planet.

Responsibilities

As a Category Manager, you will work closely with the Sourcing and Category Managers in Digital & Professional Services (D&PS). You will be working with internal stakeholders across all areas of the company, as well as external stakeholders across multiple sectors in the domain of digital services. Your responsibilities will include:

• Develop, refine, and execute the category strategy for Software and Application Services, covering areas such as software licenses, SaaS, license maintenance and support, and application development and maintenance services.
• Lead a flexible pool of Sourcing Managers who deliver sourcing projects across the broader Digital and Professional Services (D&PS) domain, ensuring clear prioritisation, effective resource allocation, and consistent delivery of business value.
• Empower and develop team members by fostering ownership, collaboration, and continuous learning, while promoting best practices in sourcing and stakeholder engagement.
• Build close working relationships with your cross-functional stakeholders and lead a selection of D&PS initiatives, including business case development, to deliver value in line with Yara’s strategy.
• Work closely with regional procurement teams, notably in Brazil and BULA, to ensure alignment between global category strategies and local business requirements.
• Manage, maintain and develop relations with main D&PS suppliers and partners. Continuously look to improve vendor performance whilst also optimising the supplier cost base and innovation pipeline, and lead Supplier Performance processes for key suppliers across the business.
• Demonstrate perseverance and tenacity, and the ability to communicate compelling and well thought out solutions to complex problems.
• Conduct contract negotiations, tenders (RFP/RFI’s) and manage the contract review / approval / records management processes.
• In addition to delivering against common domain value targets, adopt a total cost of ownership mindset to drive new ways of working with the business and suppliers that add value.
• Contribute and adhere to procurement policies and procedures to improve the compliance agenda and drive best practices.

Profile

• Degree in Business related areas or other relevant disciplines
• Minimum 10 years of relevant procurement experience, ideally with experience leading sourcing projects and driving category strategies within complex, global organizations.
• Demonstrated leadership capabilities, including experience managing and developing teams across different countries and cultures, fostering collaboration, accountability, and performance.
• Structured, with good organizational skill, a service minded attitude and with a strong ability to work independently
• Proven ability to influence and build trusted relationships with senior stakeholders, earning a high level of confidence through sound judgment, business acumen, and delivery focus. Commercial mindset with strong negotiation, contracting and supplier relationship management skills
• Bridge-builder with a collaborative, outcome-focused and pragmatic style
• Experience in working across cultural and geographical boundaries
• English fluency is a must

Additional Information

If you are a high performing individual, a team player with strong business acumen, drive and “can do attitude”, we would like to meet you.

In return, we offer a dynamic environment, senior management exposure, exciting responsibilities and great career development opportunities.

Contact details

Ryan Ellen - Digital & Professional Services Director

Yannick Deplechin - Senior Manager People & Culture

Apply no later than

Thursday 4 December 2025

Knowledge grows through differences

Yara is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We believe that creating a diverse and inclusive work environment is not only the right thing, but also the smart thing to do. To deliver on this, Yara has firmly anchored Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DE&I) in our business strategy and has more than 400 employees worldwide involved in D&I ambassadors networks.

As part of our recruitment process, where permitted by local law, we may conduct reference and background checks. These checks will only be performed when deemed necessary for the nature of the job. Candidates will be informed by HR before any background checks are initiated.