Global Category Manager - Software

Global Category Manager - Software LOCATION: Liberec / Czech Republic | BRAND: KNORR-BREMSE | REQUISITION ID: 9480 | ON-SITE/REMOTE: Hybrid We see it as our daily mission to make a significant contribution to greater safety and efficiency on roads and railways. That goes for passenger and goods transport - all over the world. Making mobility safe on roads and railways - that is the mission driving us each and every day at Knorr-Bremse. It has been that way for over 110 years. Today the Knorr-Bremse Group, based in Munich, is the world's leading manufacturer of braking systems and a leading supplier of safety-critical sub-systems for rail and commercial vehicles. As an innovator in our fields, we advance developments in mobility and transport technologies. JOB DESCRIPTION: As Global Category Manager – Software, you will be responsible for the strategic procurement and category management of software 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 key software suppliers, to run complex strategic projects, and to contribute to the development of a cost-efficient and future-oriented IT procurement strategy. YOUR TASKS 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 procurement strategies for your assigned categories in close cooperation with the Global Category Team Lead and Director as well as cross-functional stakeholders Lead complex global contract negotiations with a focus on software procurement Support the implementation of sustainability and compliance initiatives in IT procurement Identify and drive initiatives for cost reduction and efficiency improvement on a global, regional, and cross-site level for software 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 YOUR PROFILE Extensive professional experience in strategic procurement, preferably in indirect procurement Strong knowledge of sourcing processes and supplier management Proven negotiation skills and experience in managing complex supplier contracts Ability to communicate effectively across organizational units and build consensus Profound skills in Excel and PowerPoint to structure your projects and communicate progress to top management Team player with assertiveness and excellent communication skills Fluent in English (mandatory); Czech and German language skills are a plus Willingness to travel occasionally (approx. 10%) WHAT WE OFFER Through a blend of engineering excellence, sustainable development and social responsibility, our employees help to drive progress at more than 100 sites in 30 countries. We offer you an exciting role with plenty of variety in an international environment, as part of an attractive package that extends from flexible working hour models, via professional and personal development opportunities, all the way to sports and healthcare programs. ARE YOU INTERESTED? Then join us! We look forward to receiving your online application!