You have a choice of where you want to work! We invite you along on our journey to Purify and Protect, with Every Fiber, for a Sustainable World. We aim to attract, retain, and energize passionate people, like you, by investing in your professional development and providing opportunities for personal growth.
Do your values align with ours? Accountability, Growth mindset, One team, Care and a fair and inclusive work environment for everyone, everywhere!
We strive to meet the highest standards of corporate citizenship by protecting the health and safety of our team, safeguarding the environment, and creating a long-lasting, positive impact on the communities where we do business. Are you with us?!?
Do you enjoy working with various team members in a fast-paced, global company with a purpose of building more sustainable world? Would you like to work in a dynamic and lean team of Procurement professionals? If you answered yes, we have an opportunity for you.
We are looking for a Global Category Manager - IT, Telecom, Digital & AI Solutions to strengthen our team!
NB: this is a remote role, with the flexibility to be based in any of Ahlstrom’s subsidiaries.
Purpose of the job:
The Global Category Manager – IT, Telecom, Digital & AI Solutions leads global sourcing strategy and supplier management across the assigned categories.
This role partners with executive, technology, operations and business stakeholders to maximize value, accelerate innovation, optimize total cost of ownership, strengthen cyber and compliance controls, and reduce supplier and commercial risk.
The position serves as a strategic procurement advisor, enabling competitive advantage through technology investments and supplier innovation across Ahlstrom’s global operations.
Main responsibilities:
- Strategic Category Management:
Build, develop, implement the strategy for the assigned categories with relevant set of activities in order to meet with business and stakeholder expectations.
- Market intelligence:
Have a deep understanding of the markets, monitor the key market fundamentals for categories, communicates key shifts to internal stakeholders and tailor category strategies accordingly
Translate innovations and developments from the supplier market to product development and innovation of our product portfolio
Have a basic understanding of rules and regulations;
- Supplier Management:
Manage suppliers relationship, build and manage a network with suppliers
Monitor Key Supplier performance metrics and provide feedback accordingly
- Contract Management
Negotiate prices and supply agreements in accordance to Ahlstrom’s business and legal requirements; ensures the implementation of contracts and price agreements
Make sure the suppliers are compliant with the group rules and policies (legal, sustainability, code of conduct,…)
- Stakeholders network:
Develop close relationship with internal stakeholders in order to:
Understand Company / BU / plant needs current and future for categories of responsibility, incorporate defined needs into category strategy annually
Support the business to source the required service / raw material needed for them to be successful
Build and manage a network of Ahlstrom plant locations
Communicate and monitor the implementation of new supply agreements to Plants
Provide relevant information to the stakeholders & report on category to key stakeholders / management when appropriate (results)
Lead/ Support the spend area council to benchmark & foster best practice sharing
- Costs management:
Analyze category specific markets and cost structures and drivers; perform internal and external benchmarks;
Identify and promotes saving potential and best practices;
Always make the best effort to ensure the group has the lowest cost possible
Ensure category savings are reported in the system
Qualifications:
- Work experience:
Minimum 8-10 years of experience in strategic procurement, leadership experience is a plus.
5+ years managing technology categories
Experience negotiating large complex software and technology agreements
Knowledge of cloud contracting
Experience with AI Solution Sourcing
Experience managing multi-million-dollar supplier portfolios
Experience in multinational manufacturing environment
Experience supporting ERP, digital and AI transformation programs
- Education:
Bachelor’s degree in business, Supply Chain, Information Technology, Engineering, Finance, or related field.
Master's degree, MBA preferred or relevant professional certification preferred.
Required skills:
- Procurement and Commercial Excellence:
Negotiating - Possesses the ability to negotiate in tough situations with both internal and external contacts
Strategic Agility – Deploys solid skills with evaluating market fundamentals, understanding categories technically, assessing business needs and can create competitive strategies accordingly
Drive for Results – Deploys ambition in setting key objectives and is driven to exceed targets consistently
Process Management – Possesses the ability to understand business and organizational processes in an effort to maneuver and accomplish results
- Technology and Digital Fluency:
Technology sourcing, software licensing, SaaS contracting and negotiation, Cloud economics, Managed Services, Enterprise Applications, Digital & AI, Operational Technology (OT), manufacturing systems.
Cloud fundamentals, Cybersecurity fundamentals, AI ecosystem understanding, Data governance principles
Technical Skillset – Ability to quickly acquire new technical learning and apply knowledge strategically
- Leadership & Stakeholder influence:
Executive stakeholder management, influencing without authority, Change management , Global matrix leadership, Leadership skills, Team oriented, “Never give-up” mentality, Proactive way of working, Fluency in English (additional languages is a plus), Acting responsibly and ethically.
Open and active communication – Understands the importance in identifying key stakeholders and naturally develops a proactive communication process which is inclusive.
Requires travelling to different Ahlstrom locations and to supplier and team meetings, fairs, trade shows, etc.
This is an exciting opportunity for a results-driven professional with a passion for Procurement topics. If you're ready to impact our strategic direction and contribute to our growth, we'd love to hear from you!
Ahlstrom is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Equal opportunity is a sound and just concept to which we are firmly bound. Ahlstrom will not engage in discrimination against, or harassment of, any person employed or seeking employment with our company based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, non-disqualifying disability, status as a protected veteran or other characteristics protected by law.
About Us. Ahlstrom is a global leader in combining fibers into sustainable specialty materials. Our purpose is to Purify and Protect, with Every Fiber, for a Sustainable World. We aim to be the Preferred Sustainable Specialty Materials Company for all our stakeholders. Our Filtration and Life Sciences, Food and Consumer Packaging, and Protective Materials segments, along with the Performance Materials Cluster, address global trends with safe and sustainable solutions. Our net sales in 2025 amounted to EUR 2.9 billion and we employ some 7,000 people.
Read more at www.ahlstrom.com.
