Global Category Manager HR, Audit, Risk & Travel Category

The Global Category Manager HR, Audit, Risk and Travel is responsible for developing and driving category strategies related to HR, Audit, Risk and Travel. This includes oversight of HR categories, including Learning and Development, Recruitment Process, Payroll and Travel, as well as risk-related activities including Statutory Audit, ensuring significant year-on-year cost improvements while meeting financial and budget targets and providing financial market updates for forecasting and budget purposes. The role identifies and implements demand, productivity and innovation improvements while maintaining quality and managing vendor service levels, and works closely with internal and external key stakeholders to develop effective cost reduction strategies and implementation plans.

Your responsibilities

Category Expertise

• Provide and share category trends, developments, and risks for assigned sub-categories with Procurement colleagues and senior business stakeholders to identify opportunities or trigger awareness.
• Bring knowledge and extensive experience with top strategic HR, Audit, Risk and Travel services vendors, and leverage this expertise to lead negotiations with global operating Payroll, Recruitment Process Outsourcing, Learning and Development service providers, executive search providers, and Risk-Audit service providers including Statutory Audit firms.
• Set sourcing strategy and manage sourcing initiatives related to HR services, particularly L&D, RPO services, executive search, Payroll, and related areas.
• Manage the Travel category, including Hotel, Travel Agency and Corporate Airline, and implement Travel policies.
• Manage large and global complex deals related to Statutory Audit services.
• Apply experience in contracting frameworks, fee models and billing structures for categories related to HR, Audit, Risk and Travel.
• Maintain solid knowledge of the statutory audit regulatory framework.

Category Management

• Execute business partnering activities by establishing and managing business stakeholder relationships and aligning on business-specific objectives and targets. Establish, review and monitor governance policies with business stakeholders and provide training where necessary.
• Identify business innovation opportunities and understand stakeholder needs. Monitor and analyse stakeholder satisfaction. Gather market intelligence and assess supplier innovation opportunities and market innovation trends.
• Develop and execute forward-looking category strategies and plans for the HR, Finance and Risk solutions category, covering input from team members managing strategic suppliers and contracts in this category. Establish KPIs and manage category performance.
• Manage supplier segmentation, supplier performance and risk. Perform strategic activities around innovation management and develop and release new specifications with suppliers.
• Execute strategic sourcing activities, provide project-level risk assessments and mitigation plans. Define project scope and objectives by developing sourcing approaches and sourcing strategies, conducting complex supplier negotiations and managing the supplier selection process.
• Build supplier relationships, prepare and validate negotiation strategies, conduct strategic and complex supplier negotiation sessions and manage escalations and conflicts. Give direction to teams on sourcing initiative activities, contract signings and approvals.
• Provide guidance to the contract management team for the contract creation and finalization process.
• Consult the Procurement Leadership team on the development of procurement strategy by analysing market trends, communicating governance strategies and reviewing corporate strategy.
• Manage buying channel strategies.
• Function as an SME for the business for the respective category.
• Develop and implement the global strategy and include local requirements where applicable.
• Drive contract and third-party risk compliance for a full area of responsibility.

People Management

• Lead sourcing and category experts in their area of expertise and procurement generally through influence.
• Coach category buyers on negotiation, analysis and strategy building.
• Lead and influence cross-functional teams across regions. Execute functional, talent, people and performance management.
• Perform stakeholder management activities with senior stakeholders by leveraging advanced advisory skills.

Strategic Challenges

One of the key challenges in this role, and across the broader organisation, is transitioning from a business partner model to a category-focused approach. Success in this position depends on the ability to embed category management practices in close collaboration with local procurement teams, thereby unlocking strategic category opportunities. This challenge extends beyond capability building in alignment with global direction; it also involves ensuring the consistent adoption and practical application of these capabilities across all locations.

Your profile

Work Experience

• >6 years in Procurement, preferably at a strategic level in an international financial services provider organisation.
• >6 years of experience managing direct reports or actively coaching procurement colleagues.
• >5 years of category-specific experience in HR services, including global outsourcing agreements in Payroll, RPO and L&D, as well as proven experience in Risk-Audit activities including Statutory Audit Global Agreements in large financial services companies.
• Proven track record in delivering Procurement Value, with experience in leadership, transformation and working with offshore teams.

Competencies

• Master English business language and communication perfectly, spoken as well as written.
• Strong project management skills to align with multiple stakeholders.
• Strong negotiation skills and understanding of regulatory and compliance aspects of procurement in a finance organisation.
• Legal acumen.
• Analytical skills and a strategic mindset to develop and execute best-in-class sourcing strategies with involvement of business stakeholders.
• Influencing and conflict resolution skills.
• Agile and self-driven.
• Drive Sustainable Procurement.

About us

With 60,000 employees and operations in approximately 40 countries, there is no shortage of opportunities for people with initiative who want to help people take a step ahead in life and in business. Do you want to work at the cutting edge of what’s possible and at the same time ensure you work with integrity and hold the customer’s interests at heart? Do you want to be surrounded by progressive, inspiring, diverse and supportive colleagues? Then there is no better place to invest your talents than at ING.