Regional Category Manager - IT, Professional Services & Energy AMP-E

Regional Category Manager – IT & Professional Services (Europe)

We are seeking a high-impact Regional Category Manager for IT & Professional Services to develop European strategy and lead category across European market while being an integral part of our global category leadership network. This role offers a unique opportunity to shape procurement strategy at scale, drive digital and service innovation, and create measurable business value across a complex, international organization.

You will act as a strategic business partner to key functional stakeholders, while managing critical supplier ecosystems across software, infrastructure, telecom, and professional services. This role combines strategic ownership, commercial excellence, and hands‑on execution in a fast‑paced global environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the European strategy for IT & Professional Services category, fully aligned with the global category roadmap.
• Act as a trusted business partner to regional and global stakeholders, translating business demand into high‑impact sourcing strategies.
• Drive end‑to‑end sourcing execution, including market analysis, budgeting, cost modeling, and total cost of ownership (TCO).
• Build and manage strategic supplier relationships, ensuring performance, innovation, risk management, and long‑term value creation.
• Lead complex commercial negotiations and contract finalization in close collaboration with Legal.
• Actively monitor market trends, digital innovation, and best practices to continuously enhance category performance.
• Identify and deliver value creation opportunities through cost optimization, standardization, demand management, and process improvement.
• Contribute to global category governance and best‑practice sharing across regions.
• Ensure full compliance with internal procurement standards, ESG principles, and external regulatory requirements.

Key Requirements

• University degree in Business, Economics, Supply Chain, IT, or related field; professional procurement certifications are a strong advantage.
• 5–10 years of experience in Procurement, Supply Chain, Consulting, or IT Sourcing within an international environment.
• Strong hands‑on experience in IT & Professional Services sourcing, including: Software & licensing, IT infrastructure & cloud, Telecommunications, Consulting & professional services.
• Proven track record in strategic sourcing, contracting & negotiations and supplier relationship management.
• Ability to operate effectively in a matrix, multicultural, and fast‑paced global organization.
• Excellent communication, influencing, and stakeholder management skills.
• Strong analytical and financial acumen.
• Ability to think strategically while driving execution with discipline and speed.
• Fluency in English; additional European languages are a plus.
• Advanced skills in Microsoft Office; experience with ERP and e‑sourcing tools is an advantage.

Leadership & Behavioral Competencies

• Strategic mindset with strong execution focus.
• Change leadership and transformation mindset.
• Customer & stakeholder orientation.
• Target-driven and performance-focused.
• Cross‑functional collaboration.
• Ability to build strong supplier and stakeholder ecosystems.

Closing date for applications; 21.01.26.

About Ardagh Group

Ardagh Group is a global leader in metal and glass packaging solutions, producing packaging for the world’s leading brands. We trace our roots all the way back to the Irish Glass Bottle Company, founded in 1932. Since then we have grown rapidly to a team of more than 20,000 people with revenues of almost $10 billion. Today we have a presence across Europe, Africa and the Americas.

• Did you know that Ardagh produce many of the beverage cans and bottles you drink your favourite beverages from?
• Did you know we produce metal and glass packaging which are permanent materials, meaning they can be infinitely recycled without any loss of quality?
• Did you know we produce more than 160 million containers per day.

Ardagh is passionate about sustainability and has a reputation for innovation. We push the boundaries of what’s possible, pioneering new production methods, new design techniques and new ways to recycle and save energy. Our aim is to reduce any negative environmental impact whilst remaining economically sustainable and socially responsible.

We believe that the success of our business depends on the success of our people. We strive to create working environments where our employees feel valued, can work to their full potential, and where their achievements are celebrated.

Here at Ardagh, we offer exciting and rewarding opportunities for talented and creative people. If you have ambition and want to make an impact with your career, come and join our team, you’ll enjoy the journey!

Click here for more information about our careers or click here for more information about Ardagh Group.