Global Category Manager

IFS is a billion-dollar revenue company with 6000+ employees on all continents. Our leading AI technology is the backbone of our award-winning enterprise software solutions, enabling our customers to be their best when it really matters–at the Moment of Service™. Our commitment to internal AI adoption has allowed us to stay at the forefront of technological advancements, ensuring our colleagues can unlock their creativity and productivity, and our solutions are always cutting-edge.

At IFS, we’re flexible, we’re innovative, and we’re focused not only on how we can engage with our customers but on how we can make a real change and have a worldwide impact. We help solve some of society’s greatest challenges, fostering a better future through our agility, collaboration, and trust.

We celebrate diversity and understand our responsibility to reflect the diverse world we work in. We are committed to promoting an inclusive workforce that fully represents the many different cultures, backgrounds, and viewpoints of our customers, our partners, and our communities. As a truly international company serving people from around the globe, we realize that our success is tantamount to the respect we have for those different points of view.

By joining our team, you will have the opportunity to be part of a global, diverse environment; you will be joining a winning team with a commitment to sustainability; and a company where we get things done so that you can make a positive impact on the world.

We’re looking for innovative and original thinkers to work in an environment where you can #MakeYourMoment so that we can help others make theirs. With the power of our AI-driven solutions, we empower our team to change the status quo and make a real difference.

If you want to change the status quo, we’ll help you make your moment. Join Team Purple. Join IFS.

We are seeking a strategic and results-oriented Global Category Manager to join our growing procurement team, led by our new Chief Procurement Officer (CPO). This role will report into the Director of Sourcing & Category Management and be instrumental in driving cost reduction and value creation across the IFS Group. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in category management, particularly within a private equity environment. As a Global Category Manager, you will develop and execute category strategies, manage supplier relationships, and collaborate with cross-functional teams to achieve Procurements objectives.

Key Responsibilities:

• Category Strategy Development: Develop and implement global category strategies that align with the company’s overall procurement objectives to deliver value back to the business.
• Cost Reduction Focus: Identify and execute cost reduction initiatives across all assigned categories, leveraging spend analysis, market intelligence, and supplier negotiations.
• Contract Management: Oversee the development, negotiation, and management of contracts to ensure favourable terms and mitigate risks.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with procurement teams, portfolio company stakeholders, and other departments to ensure alignment on category strategies and cost-saving initiatives.
• Market Analysis: Conduct thorough market research and analysis to identify trends, risks, and opportunities within the assigned categories.
• Performance Tracking: Establish and track key performance indicators (KPIs) for category performance, regularly reporting on progress to Procurement Leadership.
• Change Management: Support the CPO in driving procurement transformation across the portfolio, embedding best practices and building upon a culture of continuous improvement.
• Risk Management: Identify and manage risks within the supply chain, developing mitigation strategies to ensure supply continuity and compliance.
• Team Leadership: Provide guidance and mentorship to junior team members, contributing to the development of a high-performing procurement team.

• 5-8 years of experience in category management, procurement, or strategic sourcing.
• Proven experience in a private equity or dynamic, fast-paced environment is highly desirable.
• Strong negotiation skills with a track record of delivering significant cost savings.
• Excellent analytical skills, with the ability to leverage data to inform decision-making and drive results.
• Experience managing global supplier relationships and complex procurement projects.
• Strong leadership, and the ability to influence stakeholders at all levels.
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, with a collaborative approach to working across functions and regions.
• Ability to travel as required to manage key projects and drive results.

We believe that coming together as a community, in person, is important for innovation, connection and fostering a sense of belonging. Our roles have the right balance of remote and in-office working to enable flexibility for managing your life along with ensuring a real connection with your colleagues and the broader IFS community.