Global Category Manager IT - Automotive Business

SKF has been around for more than a century and today we are one of the world’s largest global suppliers of bearings and supporting solutions for rotating equipment. Our products can be found literally everywhere in society. This means that we are an important part of the everyday lives of people and companies around the world.

In September of 2024, SKF announced the separation of its Automotive business, with the objective to build two world-leading businesses. The role you are applying for will be a part of the new organization created from the Automotive business. This means you will have the opportunity to be a part of shaping a new business aimed at meeting the needs of the transforming global automotive market. Would you like to join us in shaping the future of motion? We are now looking for a …  

Global Category Manager IT – Automotive Business

As a result of building the new automotive business, we are forming a new global procurement team. To Indirect Procurement, we are now seeking a curious Global Category Manager to oversee and manage the IT category. This will be a unique opportunity to build and shape a category from the ground up. In this role, you will play a vital part in the value realization, working closely with key stakeholders to grasp business requirements and opportunities as well as forming strategic relationships with key suppliers.
 
Your primary objective is to add value to the business by developing category strategies and establishing resilient supplier bases. To execute these global strategies, you will collaborate with regional category managers, operational buyers in various regions where Automotive operates, and the Head of Indirect Procurement for SKF Automotive. You will interface with several SKF Automotive Global IT organizations and units where major change and creation initiatives within IT are being run.
 
Key responsibilities

• Develop, communicate, and implement IT category strategies to optimize IT solutions and total cost of ownership for SKF Automotive.
• Lead teams in sourcing projects and renegotiations, capturing requirements, evaluating suppliers and supplier markets, negotiating and implementing agreements.
• Initiate savings projects and ensure timely realization.
• Take responsibility for KPIs and develop them according to agreed targets.
• Handle global supplier relations, follow up on supplier performance, manage contracts, conduct rate reviews and negotiations, optimize existing ways of working, and explore new solutions. 
• Meet internal stakeholders from SKF Automotive IT organizations and other business functions to understand and document requirements for sourcing, renegotiations, and management of commercial supplier relations.
• Exchange ideas and issues with stakeholders and colleagues from IT procurement on a daily basis.
• Play a key role in developing and supporting the SKF digitalization journey.

 
 
We expect you to 
For this job you need to have the ability to execute strategic sourcing of IT solutions in a global corporate environment. We believe you have attained this ability either in a procurement role or by selling and/or delivering IT solutions in such an environment. In addition to this, we expect you to be/have:

• Have a degree in a relevant field, such as Business Administration, IT, or equivalent working experience
• Have a history of delivering business results through collaboration in a global environment
• Engaged negotiator with the ability to identify and act on movements and trends affecting business.
• Effective management of projects, showcased by a systematic workflow.
• Have experience in IT Service Management, integrating IT suppliers in a multi-vendor supplier ecosystem in a global context
• Experience in understanding, reviewing, and negotiating complex IT contracts and having proficient financial and analytical skills.
• Have successful negotiation experience with near-to monopolistic vendors
• Challenge as is situations and to have fun to develop new ways of working
• Effective communication skills, ability to understand different cultures, manage stakeholders at various levels, challenge existing situations, and enjoy developing new ways of working.
• Proficiency in business English, both written and verbal.
• Skills in SAP, Coupa, Ariba Sourcing, and the Ariba Request to Order solution, is a plus

You will enjoy working here if you

• Exhibit a keen interest in business, highlight value and efficiency, and work towards noteworthy milestones.
• Thrives when you can create solid relations with suppliers based on mutual respect.
• Are a forward-thinking individual who enjoys rapid development and the chance to be part of establishing a new business.
• Get energy from working with people from different cultures, and want to be part of a new exciting company being created.
• Looking for position where you will be directly involved in the overall performance of the company – IT is a key area for SKF Automotive and the external spend will have to be managed closely to ensure its always value for money

SKF is committed to creating a diverse environment, and we firmly believe that a diverse workforce is essential for our continued success. Therefore, we only focus on your experience, skills, and potential. Come as you are – just be yourself. #weareSKF

Some additional information for you
Location: in any of SKF Automotive's major sites in the EMEA region (Turin - Italy, Schweinfurt - Germany, or Gothenburg - Sweden). You will be hired on a local contract. This role will report to Head of Indirect Procurement for SKF Automotive, located in Schweinfurt, Germany. 

For questions regarding the recruitment process, please contact Stina Scheller, Recruitment Expert Automotive EMEA, by email: stina.scheller@skf.com. Please note that we can't accept applications via email.

Is this you?
If you are interested and meet the above requirements, please submit your application with your CV in English, no later than the 21st of May, 2025.