Job Description

At ING, procurement is about collaboration, innovation, and creating strategic impact that drives sustainable growth. We are a global organization in the CFO domain with a presence in more than 20 countries. We embed responsible practices and deliver solutions that touch every part of the organization. If you thrive in a dynamic environment, approach challenges with curiosity, and want to help shape what’s next, this is your opportunity to make a real difference.

The team
Group Technology Procurement Category forms part of the Group Procurement organization and is led by the Head of Group Technology Procurement. Category Management is a critical procurement discipline within the Procurement Organisation to ensure ING achieves best value for money when procuring its goods and services. It is a well-established, comprehensive, and market-leading procurement approach that considers ING’s organisational goals, technology strategy, objectives, and requirements, as well as market conditions and innovations, to ensure cost-effective, innovative, and efficient procurement of goods and services. The technology category consists of Global Category Manager Services & CTO Office, Global Category Leads, Sourcing and Category Experts, Sourcing and Contracting Experts, Sourcing Project Managers, and the SAM team.

Your role
The primary focus of the Global Category Manager Services & CTO Office is developing and driving category strategies related to the Services category and managing the Software Asset Management capability. This includes managing a substantive number of non-staff externals. Responsibilities include achieving goals by securing supply, ensuring year-on-year cost improvements, meeting financial and non-financial targets, and providing benchmarking and market insights for forecasting and savings initiatives. The role also involves identifying and implementing demand, productivity, and innovation improvements while maintaining quality and managing vendor service levels. You will work closely with internal and external stakeholders to develop cost reduction strategies and implementation plans and act as a Business SPOC for parts of the Global Tech Organization. This is your opportunity to lead sourcing execution globally, work with strategic partners, and deliver meaningful solutions.

Your responsibilities
Category Expertise

• Establish strong relationships with ING Tech and act as key liaison between Tech and Procurement. Translate complex technology requirements into strategic sourcing opportunities, identify new supply sources, and drive innovation. Lead the global SAM strategy aligned with business priorities and digital transformation. Improve SAM service effectiveness and efficiency, and manage complex vendor licensing discussions while acting as a trusted advisor on licensing risks, regulatory, and audit exposures.
• Deliver measurable ROI through initiatives such as license harvesting, vendor consolidation, governance, and negotiations. Partner with CIOs and engineering teams to prevent license sprawl and shadow IT. Drive automation, optimisation, AI integration, and innovation in license management, and support category managers in defining global software license strategies.

Category Management

• Build and manage stakeholder relationships, align on objectives, and ensure governance and training where needed. Identify innovation opportunities, monitor stakeholder satisfaction, and gather market intelligence. Manage supplier segmentation, performance, and strategic partnerships.
• Execute sourcing strategies, conduct negotiations, manage supplier selection, and oversee category performance. Develop sourcing initiatives, manage risks, define project scope, and lead negotiation strategies. Guide teams on RFX processes, contracts, and approvals.
• Provide direction to contract management, support procurement leadership with strategy development, and manage buying channels. Act as SME for the category, ensure global strategy implementation (including local requirements), and drive contract and third-party risk compliance.

People Management

• Lead and influence Category Leads and the wider Procurement Technology tribe. Encourage collaboration across disciplines and regions.
• Coach experts on executive presence and provide development feedback. Drive performance management, talent development, and stakeholder engagement with senior leadership.

Strategic Challenges

• A key challenge is transitioning from a business partner model to a category-focused approach. Success depends on embedding category management practices across locations in collaboration with local procurement teams and ensuring consistent adoption and execution of these capabilities globally.

Your profile
Work Experience

• More than 6 years of experience in Technology Procurement categories at a strategic level, preferably within an international financial services organization.
• Over 6 years of experience managing teams or coaching procurement colleagues, and experience in SAM and SSI domains.
• Deep knowledge of IT procurement, professional services, system integrations, outsourcing, and SAM, including tools, audits, compliance, and reporting.
• Experience in transforming SAM into a strategic function and managing complex licensing models across enterprise vendors. Proven track record in delivering procurement value and leading transformation initiatives.

Competencies

• Excellent English communication skills.
• Strong leadership and stakeholder management experience.
• Advanced project management, negotiation, and analytical skills. Solid understanding of regulatory and compliance aspects within financial services. Legal acumen and strong networking skills in complex organisations.
• Strategic mindset, influencing ability, conflict resolution skills, and a proactive, self-driven approach with a focus on sustainable procurement.