IT Category Manager

Senior IT Buyer / Category Manager | Technology Procurement

Location: EindhovenPermanent RoleWestpoint 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 servicesLead complex sourcing initiatives, RFPs, supplier selections and commercial negotiationsPartner with senior IT stakeholders to translate technology ambitions into robust sourcing and supplier strategiesBuild and manage strategic supplier relationships that support innovation, resilience and long-term business valueDrive value through cost optimisation, vendor consolidation, commercial governance and supplier-risk managementSupport major transformation programmes, system implementations and digital initiativesChallenge stakeholders on sourcing approach, supplier selection and commercial opportunitiesStrengthen supplier governance, contract management and performance-management frameworksHelp further professionalise an ambitious procurement function with significant influence across the businessWhat we are looking for:Proven experience in IT Procurement, Strategic Sourcing or Technology Category ManagementA clear track record of personally leading complex IT sourcing processes and commercial negotiationsExperience across several technology categories, such as software, cloud, SaaS, infrastructure, telecoms or managed servicesThe confidence and communication style to work credibly with senior IT and business stakeholdersStrong commercial judgement, coupled with the ability to build trusted internal and supplier relationshipsSomeone who thinks strategically but is happy to stay close to delivery and lead the work themselvesFluent English. Dutch is advantageousThe 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, please get in touch directly or apply via LinkedIn.