Global Category Leader – IT

Global Category Leader – IT | BIG FISH S.C.
03.11.2026

Global Category Leader – IT

Job location:
Location: Czech Republic (Prague) Work model: Hybrid – 2 days per week in the office

Ref:
PL100-R26-S04

Global Category Leader – IT

Ref. PL100-R26-S04
Scope: Global
Location: Czech Republic (Prague)
Work model: Hybrid – 2 days per week in the office
Employment: Full-time

Our Client

Our Client is an international pharmaceutical organisation undergoing a significant transformation of its global Procurement function.

As part of this transformation, the company is building a new global Indirect Procurement organisation responsible for approximately 25 countries. The ambition is to move from a predominantly tactical and business-request-driven purchasing model towards a mature, strategic Procurement function with clear category ownership, strong financial accountability and a proactive role in business decision-making.

The new team is expected to identify opportunities independently, build and deploy category strategies, challenge demand and existing ways of working, increase Procurement coverage and establish more structured supplier and category management across the organisation.

This is therefore an opportunity for an experienced IT Procurement professional who wants to take meaningful category responsibility within a newly built global structure and contribute directly to how the IT category develops.

Position Overview

We are looking for an experienced Global Category Leader – IT who will take responsibility for selected areas of the global IT category and play an active role in the development and deployment of its broader category strategy.

The overall IT scope includes:

  • IT Services,
  • Software and Licensing,
  • SaaS,
  • Cloud Services,
  • IT Hardware and Infrastructure,
  • related digital and technology services.

Depending on experience, category priorities and the future division of responsibilities within the team, the Global Category Leader may take full ownership of selected IT subcategories – for example Software & Licensing, IT Services or another defined area – while also leading strategic initiatives across the wider IT portfolio.

The role combines Category and Subcategory Management, strategic procurement, complex negotiations, supplier management, commercial value creation and international stakeholder engagement.

The successful candidate will be expected to identify opportunities proactively, build their own agenda within the assigned scope and contribute to measurable business and financial results.

Key Responsibilities

Category & Subcategory Strategy

  • Develop and deploy strategies for assigned IT subcategories.
  • Actively contribute to the development and evolution of the broader global IT category strategy.
  • Analyse spend, demand, supplier structures, cost drivers, licensing models and market developments.
  • Build sourcing and value-creation roadmaps within the assigned category scope.
  • Identify and prioritise commercial, savings and optimisation opportunities.
  • Challenge demand, specifications, consumption models and incumbent supplier structures where appropriate.
  • Support implementation of category strategies across countries and relevant stakeholder groups.
  • Monitor IT market developments and translate them into actionable category recommendations.
  • Contribute to initiatives such as licence optimisation, application rationalisation, supplier consolidation, platform standardisation and demand management.

Strategic Procurement & Commercial Value

  • Lead complex strategic procurement initiatives within assigned IT categories.
  • Develop commercial strategies based on market knowledge, business requirements and financial analysis.
  • Lead complex negotiations with IT suppliers covering pricing, licensing structures, service models, contractual terms and performance commitments.
  • Evaluate commercial models and Total Cost of Ownership.
  • Identify and deliver measurable savings and broader commercial value.
  • Build and manage strategic supplier relationships within the assigned scope.
  • Support supplier segmentation, governance and performance-management models.
  • Identify supplier, commercial and continuity risks and develop appropriate mitigation approaches.

Stakeholder Management & Business Partnership

  • Build strong relationships with international stakeholders across IT, Digital, Cybersecurity, Finance, Legal, Compliance and other relevant functions.
  • Work directly with stakeholders across different countries, business units and organisational levels.
  • Understand business and technology priorities and translate them into category and procurement decisions.
  • Influence and challenge stakeholders constructively where supported by market insight, data and a clear business rationale.
  • Develop credibility as a Procurement expert who brings market knowledge, commercial judgement and independent recommendations to business discussions.
  • Navigate different stakeholder expectations, levels of Procurement maturity and local market requirements.
  • Escalate material risks and roadblocks early and contribute actively to resolving them.

Financial Performance

  • Take ownership of savings and value-creation initiatives within the assigned category scope.
  • Build and manage a credible opportunity and savings pipeline.
  • Understand and explain the financial impact of Procurement decisions.
  • Work with Finance to support savings validation and reconciliation.
  • Contribute to cost transparency, demand optimisation and financial planning.
  • Support budgeting and Long-Range Planning activities relevant to the assigned category areas.

Experience & Profile

We are particularly interested in candidates with:

  • solid experience in IT Category Management, Subcategory Management and Strategic Procurement;
  • sustained responsibility for IT Procurement as a category or significant subcategory, rather than occasional involvement in individual IT sourcing projects;
  • proven experience developing and/or deploying IT category or subcategory strategies;
  • experience taking ownership of a defined IT category scope and identifying its strategic and commercial priorities;
  • hands-on experience in IT Services and/or other relevant areas such as Software, Licensing, SaaS, Cloud, Infrastructure or Hardware;
  • experience independently leading complex negotiations with IT suppliers;
  • experience identifying and delivering measurable financial value;
  • strong understanding of IT supplier markets, commercial models and cost structures;
  • experience working directly with international business and technology stakeholders;
  • exposure to multi-country or regional environments;
  • strong stakeholder-management and influencing capability;
  • commercial judgement and financial awareness;
  • the maturity to challenge established requirements, supplier models and ways of working constructively.

IT Category Experience

Candidates should have built a meaningful part of their Procurement career within IT categories.

Relevant areas may include:

  • IT Services and managed services,
  • application development and support,
  • software and licensing,
  • SaaS,
  • cloud services,
  • infrastructure,
  • hardware,
  • other technology-related services.

We do not expect equally deep experience across every IT subcategory.

The IT team is expected to benefit from complementary areas of expertise, and the successful candidate may have deeper ownership of selected parts of the portfolio.

What is important is genuine IT category experience, strong commercial understanding and the ability to take strategic responsibility for an assigned scope.

Strategic Procurement Capabilities

The successful candidate should demonstrate strong capability in:

  • IT Category and Subcategory Management,
  • category and subcategory strategy development,
  • category strategy deployment,
  • Strategic Procurement,
  • spend and opportunity analysis,
  • supplier-market analysis,
  • demand management,
  • sourcing roadmap development,
  • supplier portfolio development and optimisation,
  • Supplier Relationship Management,
  • complex commercial negotiations,
  • Total Cost of Ownership and financial evaluation,
  • savings and value creation,
  • stakeholder management and influencing,
  • change management.

International Exposure

Exposure to different markets is important for this role.

We are particularly interested in candidates who have worked directly with international stakeholders and have had to manage different business priorities, communication styles and market requirements.

Managing suppliers located in different countries alone is not sufficient to demonstrate the level of international exposure expected for this position.

What Will Make You Successful in This Role?

Technical IT Procurement expertise alone will not be sufficient.

We are looking for someone who:

  • takes ownership and proactively develops an agenda within their category scope;
  • understands how category decisions translate into financial and business results;
  • combines strategic thinking with strong commercial execution;
  • is comfortable taking full responsibility for selected subcategories or strategic initiatives;
  • challenges the status quo rather than automatically accepting existing business requirements;
  • forms independent recommendations based on data, market knowledge and commercial judgement;
  • builds strong relationships with international stakeholders while remaining able to challenge them constructively;
  • works effectively in an environment where not all data, processes and structures are already mature;
  • operates with a high degree of autonomy and accountability;
  • knows when to involve senior Procurement leadership in material decisions or risks;
  • works transparently and collaboratively;
  • brings energy, resilience and a strong results orientation.

Languages

  • Fluent business English is essential for regular cooperation, negotiations and decision-making with international stakeholders.
  • Additional languages are an advantage.

Why Consider This Opportunity?

  • Join a newly created global Indirect Procurement organisation at an important stage of its development.
  • Take meaningful ownership of selected IT subcategories within a global Procurement structure.
  • Develop and deploy category strategies rather than only execute individual sourcing projects.
  • Influence how the wider global IT category and supplier landscape are developed.
  • Work directly with international IT, Digital and business stakeholders.
  • Combine Category Management, strategic procurement, commercial responsibility and stakeholder leadership in one role.
  • Contribute to a significant savings and value-creation agenda.
  • Participate in the transformation of Procurement towards a more strategic, business-oriented and financially accountable function.
  • Work in an environment where ownership, independent thinking and constructive challenge are explicitly expected.

How to Apply

Please send your CV in English to: agnieszkapiatkowska@e-bigfish.com.pl

Application Note

Please include the following clause directly in your CV:

“I hereby agree to the processing of personal data included in my application for the needs necessary to carry out the recruitment process conducted by Big Fish in accordance with art. 6 par. 1 lit. a Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 April 2016 on the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data and repealing Directive 95/46/EC (General Data Protection Regulation). I also consent to processing of my personal data for the purposes of any future recruitment processes.”

Big Fish is an international recruitment and skills development company specialising in Procurement, proudly serving the market for over 20 years.


If you wish to apply, than send us your CV in English to: agnieszkapiatkowska@e-bigfish.com.pl

Please introduce in your CV the following clause:

"I hereby agree to the processing of personal data included in my application for the needs necessary to carry out the recruitment process carried out by Big Fish Polska Sp. z o.o in accordance with art. 6 par. 1 lit. a Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 April 2016 on the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data and repealing Directive 95/46/EC (General Data Protection Regulation). I also consent to processing of my personal data for the purposes of any future recruitment processes.