Category Sourcing Management Specialist
About the role
Hager Sourcing Obernai, France Blieskastel, Germany Permanent
Innovation starts with us!
At the heart of every project, our sourcing teams develops innovative strategies for acquiring materials and services, ensuring quality partnerships and effective cost management. We are committed to providing sustainable solutions, meeting environmental standards and achieving industry-leading performance.
By joining our sourcing team, you will play a key role in selecting the best suppliers and optimizing our supply chain. You will work with a passionate team, dedicated to finding innovative and sustainable solutions to the challenges of an ever-changing sector.
In the Sourcing department, we are shaping tomorrow’s electrical world. You can too, Join us
Purchasing Category Manager Software & Digital Applications
Hager Group is a leading supplier of solutions and services for electrical installations in residential, commercial and industrial buildings. The company is a worldwide business, family-owned and represented in more than 120 countries all over the world. Today, 12,000 employees generate a turnover of more than 2.5 billion euros.
The Hager Group is looking to strengthen its Sourcing Department with a Senior Category Manager for Software & Digital Applications.
Hager Group is strengthening its Indirect Sourcing organization and is seeking a Senior Category Manager – Software & Digital Applications to shape and steer our global digital procurement strategy.
This is not a transactional buying role. You will act as the strategic architect of our digital supply ecosystem, ensuring that our software, SaaS, cloud, and embedded solutions accelerate innovation while delivering sustainable commercial value.
From scaling IoT cloud infrastructure to optimizing enterprise-wide SaaS portfolios, your impact will be felt across the entire organization.
The position will be based either in Obernai (France) or in Blieskastel (Germany).
Your Mission & Strategic Impact
Own the Global Software Category Strategy
Develop and execute a 3–5 year global category roadmap aligned with Hager’s digital and business strategy (P2030)
Integrate emerging technologies such as AI-powered platforms and data-driven solutions into the sourcing strategy
Identify innovation opportunities, supplier consolidation levers, and risk mitigation strategies
Drive Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) optimization and long-term value creation
Lead High-Impact Negotiations & Contractual Governance
Manage complex commercial negotiations with global software vendors (including major tech players and specialized digital partners)
Lead end-to-end contractual structuring: licensing models, SaaS/subscription frameworks, cloud consumption agreements, AI usage clauses, data ownership, IP rights, cybersecurity, liability, and exit strategies
Ensure full compliance with applicable digital and data regulations (e.g., GDPR, NIS-2)
Protect Hager’s legal and financial interests while fostering long-term strategic partnerships
Orchestrate Cross-Functional Collaboration
Act as the strategic interface between Procurement and IT, Engineering, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, R&D, and Commercial functions
Translate technical architectures (cloud-native, APIs, embedded software, AI solutions) into robust commercial and contractual frameworks
Influence executive stakeholders and support key digital and AI investment decisions
Build & Lead a High-Performance Vendor Ecosystem
Design and manage a robust and future-ready supplier panel
Conduct executive-level business reviews
Implement structured vendor governance models covering performance, risk, innovation, and compliance
Enable Digital Agility & FinOps Excellence
Support Cloud Architecture and Agile environments (SCRUM / Kanban) with procurement processes adapted to digital speed
Drive solution portfolio rationalisation
Implement cloud cost optimization and FinOps governance practices
Anticipate contractual implications of AI adoption, cloud scalability, and evolving digital business models
Who You Are
Strategic Negotiator & Contract Expert
5+ years of experience in Software Purchasing
Strong mastery of complex contractual structures (software licensing, SaaS, cloud, AI-related clauses, IP, data protection)
Tech & AI-Savvy Business Partner
Solid understanding of SaaS, cloud-native architectures, IoT platforms, APIs, embedded software, and AI-enabled solutions
Able to bridge legal, commercial, and technical dimensions
Influential Leader
Executive presence and ability to challenge and guide C-level stakeholders
Strong communication skills within complex, matrixed, international organizations
What we offer?
Personalized onboarding experience program designed to make your first days smooth
Opportunities to learn and grow through Hager Group's awarded Hi University.
Internal career opportunities, over 25% of our recruitments are through internal mobility
What are the recruitment stages?
Once your CV has been selected, you will be contacted by a recruiter for an initial phone exchange.
You will be invited for a first interview with the hiring manager & the recruiter
A second Interview will be then organized with the N+2 & the HR manager
Questions about this role
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