Interim Category Manager – Events & Sponsorships

***Please note, that all applicants applying for US job openings must be legally authorized to work in the United States.***

Our Customer is the market leader in enterprise application software, helping companies of all sizes and in all industries run at their best. A top cloud company with 200 million users worldwide, they help businesses of all sizes and in all industries to operate profitably, adapt continuously, and achieve their purpose. Their machine learning, Internet of Things (IoT), and advanced analytics technologies help turn customers’ businesses into intelligent enterprises. Their end-to-end suite of applications and services enables our customers to operate profitably, adapt continuously, and make a difference.

We are seeking a Interim Category Manager – Events & Sponsorships on a contract basis to support our Customer’s business needs. This role is 100% remote.

Role Overview:

• Seeking a highly experienced and immediately available Interim Category Manager – Events & Sponsorships to join the Global Marketing Procurement team on a freelancer / C-User assignment basis for a minimum period of six months, with the possibility of extension.
• The role is available immediately and has arisen due to an urgent business need within a critical and high-profile procurement category.
• The incoming interim resource will be required to take up this active program without delay, drive it through to completion, and deliver on a board-level cost optimization program.
• This includes finalizing ongoing supplier negotiations, managing supplier selection processes, and executing all required contracting activities to secure the targeted commercial outcomes.
• Beyond the immediate program delivery, the role carries a strategic mandate.
• The successful candidate will develop and execute a forward-looking vendor ecosystem strategy for Events & Sponsorships, bringing structure, transparency, and rigor to a category with a spend in excess of 300 million EUR.
• The category is characterized by a high degree of complexity across both the supplier landscape and the internal requester community, and demands a seasoned professional who can navigate this environment with confidence.
• In close partnership with senior Marketing and Business stakeholders, the interim Category Manager will act as a catalyst for change – providing strategic leadership, driving a future operating model and governance model for the entire Events & Sponsorships category, and positioning Procurement as a trusted strategic partner to the business. Assignment type: Freelancer / C-User (external contractor)
• Duration: Minimum 6 months, with option to extend
• Reporting: Global Head of Marketing Procurement
• We welcome applications from senior procurement professionals who bring deep expertise, immediate availability, and a drive to deliver exceptional results in a high-visibility, high-impact environment.

Responsibilities:

• Immediate RFP Program Delivery & Contracting
• Take immediate ownership of active global RFPs within Events & third-party Sponsorships and drive them to completion
• Finalize supplier negotiations and lead supplier selection processes in line with commercial targets
• Execute contracting for selected suppliers, ensuring legal compliance and alignment with the organization procurement standards
• Deliver measurable savings outcomes as part of the board-level cost optimization program.
• Provide regular status updates and executive-level reporting on program progress and commercial outcomes
• Strategic Category Management & Vendor Ecosystem
• Develop and execute a comprehensive category strategy for Events & Sponsorships, covering both short-term delivery and long-term strategic direction
• Design and implement the future vendor ecosystem for Events & Sponsorships, rationalizing the supply base and establishing strategic partnerships
• Bring structure and clarity to a highly complex category (>300m EUR spend) with a large and diverse supplier and requester landscape
• 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 to ensure consistency, compliance, and agility
• Operating Model, Governance & Organisational Change
• Define and implement a future operating model and governance framework for the Events & Sponsorships category globally
• Establish governance structures that drive accountability, transparency, and sustainable performance across the category
• Lead change management initiatives to embed new ways of working, tools, and governance frameworks within the team and across stakeholder communities
• Develop knowledge-sharing frameworks, metrics, and performance tracking mechanisms to ensure continuous improvement
• Support the definition of a future-proof organisational design and team structure for category management within Marketing Procurement
• Senior Stakeholder Engagement & Business Partnering
• Act as a strategic advisor and trusted business partner to senior Marketing and Business stakeholders across the organization.
• Engage, challenge, and align senior stakeholders across functions and geographies to ensure procurement objectives are understood and supported
• Influence decision-making at senior and executive level through well-structured analysis, clear communication, and authoritative subject-matter expertise
• Build strong relationships with key internal requesters to understand business needs and deliver tailored, value-driven procurement solutions
• Supplier & Performance Management
• Build and manage strategic partnerships with key vendors across Events & Sponsorships, leveraging SRM best practices
• Oversee supplier performance management across value, quality, risk, and ESG dimensions – noting that a comprehensive supplier management model, including SLAs and a KPI framework, still needs to be developed and implemented
• Design and establish a robust supplier management model for the Events & Sponsorships category, including the definition of appropriate SLAs, a structured KPI framework, and performance review cadences that enable proactive vendor management and continuous value delivery
• Drive innovation, sustainability, and diversity across the supplier base in support of the organization's corporate ESG goals

• Data, Analytics & Digital Enablement
• Leverage data, analytics, and digital tools to generate actionable insights and drive evidence-based decision-making
• Drive adoption of digital procurement and event management solutions to increase operational efficiency, transparency, and scalability
• Apply AI-enabled capabilities where relevant to enhance category intelligence and procurement performance

Qualifications:

• University degree in Business, Economics, Supply Chain Management, Marketing, Communications or a related field
• Professional procurement certification (e.g., CIPS, CPM) or equivalent practical experience
• 10+ years of strategic procurement experience, with a strong focus on Events & Sponsorships category management within complex, multinational environments
• Demonstrable experience in Events Procurement and Events Category Management at a senior level, with the ability to take up active programmes immediately
• Proven track record of successfully running and closing complex global RFP / eRFX processes, including supplier negotiations and supplier selections
• Solid experience in executing procurement contracting for Events and/or Sponsorships categories at scale
• Demonstrated success in managing multi-million or multi-hundred-million EUR spend portfolios and delivering measurable cost optimisation outcomes
• Background in defining and executing global or regional category strategies, including the design of vendor ecosystem and operating models
• Experience working within or closely with an event agency, experiential marketing agency, or sponsorship agency is a strong advantage
• Proven experience leading organisational or category change – including implementing new governance frameworks, operating models, and procurement processes
• Comfortable operating in dynamic, fast-paced environments and capable of delivering results under time pressure
• Experience driving procurement transformation and managing stakeholder change in large, matrixed organisations
• Ability to lead without authority, steering cross-functional and geographically dispersed teams towards shared outcomes
• High analytical capability: ability to collect, interpret, and synthesise complex data to support category decisions and business cases
• High communication skills: ability to convey complex topics clearly and concisely at all levels, including senior and executive leadership
• High influencing skills: able to shape and guide decisions across functions, hierarchies, and geographies without direct authority
• Strong business partnering skills: ability to build trust-based relationships with senior stakeholders and act as a credible strategic advisor
• Structured approach to complexity: ability to bring order, clarity, and rigour to a highly fragmented and complex category environment
• Strong project management skills: capable of managing multiple concurrent workstreams, priorities, and stakeholders in a global environment
• Deep understanding of supply markets, commercial drivers, and value levers within the Events & Sponsorships space
• Proficiency in digital procurement tools, analytics platforms, and willingness to leverage AI-enabled capabilities
• Fluency in English, written and spoken; additional languages are an advantage

We offer a competitive salary range for this position. Most candidates who join our team are hired at the median of this range, ensuring fair and equitable compensation based on experience and qualifications.

Please Note: In order to create a safe, productive work environment, our client is requiring all contractors who plan to be onsite to be fully vaccinated according to the CDC guidelines. Prior to coming into our offices, contractors will be required to attest that they are fully vaccinated.

Perks are available through our 3rd Party Employer of Record (Available upon completion of waiting period for eligible engagements)

Health Benefits: Medical, Dental, Vision, Life (including spouse & child), 401k, STD/LTD, AD&D, and Commuter Benefits program.

An Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.