Category Manager (43405)

Take on a strategic interim assignment as a Category Manager – Events & Sponsorships focused on transforming a global procurement category. You will lead global RFPs, supplier selection, negotiations, and contracting while delivering measurable commercial results and defining the future operating model, governance, and vendor ecosystem. The role requires 10+ years of strategic procurement experience, extensive expertise in Events Procurement and Category Management, and a proven track record of delivering complex global sourcing and cost optimisation programmes.

🚀 Project
- lead active global RFP programmes across Events & third-party Sponsorships and drive them to completion
- finalise supplier negotiations, manage supplier selection processes, and execute contracting activities
- deliver board-level cost optimisation initiatives and measurable savings outcomes
- develop and execute a long-term category strategy for Events & Sponsorships
- design and implement a future vendor ecosystem, operating model, and governance framework
- lead complex global sourcing initiatives, including high-value eRFX processes, multi-year agreements, and regional event frameworks
- harmonise Source-to-Pay, contracting, and vendor management processes across regions
- drive organisational change, governance, knowledge sharing, and performance tracking
- partner with senior Marketing and Business stakeholders to influence strategic procurement decisions
- build and manage strategic supplier partnerships, establish supplier management models, SLAs, and KPI frameworks
- leverage data, analytics, digital procurement solutions, and AI-enabled capabilities to improve procurement performance

🎯 Skills
- 10+ years of strategic procurement experience
- strong focus on Events & Sponsorships category management within complex multinational environments
- senior-level experience in Events Procurement and Events Category Management
- proven experience managing and completing complex global RFP and eRFX processes
- experience in supplier negotiations and supplier selection
- experience executing procurement contracting for Events and/or Sponsorships categories
- experience managing multi-million or multi-hundred-million EUR spend portfolios
- proven ability to deliver measurable cost optimisation outcomes
- experience defining and executing global or regional category strategies
- experience designing vendor ecosystems and operating models
- English at C1 level

💡 Nice to have
- experience working within or closely with an event agency, experiential marketing agency, or sponsorship agency