Global Category Manager IT Services

Location: Chennai, India

As Global Category Manager Hardware & IT Services (m/f/d), you will be responsible for the strategic procurement and category management of IT Services across our global organization. This role includes functional leadership responsibilities and close collaboration with the Global Category Team Lead and Director. Your stakeholders are spread between cross-functional teams such as IT, Engineering, and Product management. You will also be expected to manage relationships with Managed Service Providers (MSPs), to run complex strategic projects, and to contribute to the development of a cost-efficient and future-oriented IT procurement strategy.

Responsibilities:

• Identify and drive initiatives for cost reduction and efficiency improvement on a global, regional, and cross-site level for IT Services category.

• Contribute significantly to strategically valuable projects with high visibility at the executive level, while shaping the future direction of the IT procurement landscape.

• Develop and implement sourcing strategies for your assigned categories in close collaboration with internal stakeholders.

• Manage supplier relationships and conduct contract negotiations focusing on service agreements, managed service provider (MSP) engagements, service delivery, SLAs, and cost optimization

• Support the implementation of sustainability and compliance initiatives in IT procurement.

• Collaborate with internal stakeholders to define requirements and ensure alignment with business objectives.

• Provide functional leadership and guidance to regional category managers, local purchasing and project teams.

• Monitor market trends and supplier performance to ensure continuous improvement and innovation in the supply base.

• Ensure alignment with global procurement policies and contribute to the development of best practices.

Candidate Profile:

• Min. 5 years of experience in strategic procurement, preferably in IT Services.

• Strong understanding of IT Service management and MSP handling.

• Proven negotiation skills and experience in managing service contracts and vendor relationships.

• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills across organizational levels.

• Profound skills in Excel and PowerPoint to structure your projects and communicate progress to top management.

• Fluent in English, both written and spoken.

• Willingness to travel occasionally (approx. 10%).

Join Our Team!

Be part of a global organization shaping the future of mobility. We offer a dynamic work environment, flexible working models, and opportunities for professional growth. At Knorr Bremse, your contribution to IT procurement will have a strategic impact.