Category Manager
- Operations & Asset Lifecycle Department: Finance / Procurement – Group Report to: Group Procurement Manager Full-time. Travel required: in Europe. DATA4 creates Smart & Scalable digital facilities for our customers. Our network of highly connected, resilient, and sustainable data center campuses underpins our customers' digital growth in Europe. DATA4 Group finances, designs, constructs, and operates its own data centers. Delivered through our data center campus model, we provide our customers with secure, scalable, and high-performance data hosting solutions. To be entrepreneurial – we are teams of doers who make things happen
- with autonomy, energy and a sense of responsibility. The Category Manager
- Operations & Asset Lifecycle is responsible for strategic sourcing, procurement, and contract management related to technical or administrative campus operations, as well as retrofit and modernization projects across the group's data centers. Overseeing supplier relationships and negotiating contracts to secure high-quality equipment and services in a timely, cost-efficient manner. Collaborating with a diverse range of internal stakeholders—including operations teams, support teams, and project managers—across multiple countries to align procurement strategies with project timelines and objectives, while driving cross-functional initiatives. Reporting to the Group Procurement Manager, this role is pivotal in ensuring that our procurement activities support our strategic and environmental objectives. Strategic Sourcing & Supplier Management Identify, evaluate, and onboard new suppliers to diversify and enrich the network. Conduct continuous market intelligence to anticipate trends and mitigate risks. Tendering and Contract Negotiation Lead RFx processes and tenders for the assigned categories in close collaboration with internal stakeholders. Negotiate advantageous contracts while ensuring compliance with legal requirements and internal standards. Manage contracts and monitor supplier performance, ensuring alignment between contractual services and actual deliverables while driving continuous improvement. Budget Management and Cost Control Provide regular financial reports on procurement activities and budget adherence. Compliance, Risk Management & Reporting Distribute comprehensive reports to support informed decision-making. Bachelor's or master's degree in Procurement.

Experience:
Minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in a similar role covering both Opex and Capex procurement, preferably in the data center, infrastructure, or large-scale industrial project sectors. Proven experience in managing international tenders and negotiating complex contracts. Demonstrated expertise in procuring services and equipment for the maintenance, renovation, and optimization of existing facilities—including multi-technical maintenance, facility management (FM), security services, connectivity, as well as the procurement of intellectual services and other infrastructure-related services. Hard Skills Expertise in negotiation and contract management, with proven experience in international procurement. Proficient in cost analysis (TCO, should-cost analysis) and risk management. Strategic planning and execution, ensuring alignment with procurement objectives. Fluent in both English and French. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to foster effective collaboration with diverse internal and external stakeholders. This position may require occasional travel to supplier locations as well as to various sites operated by the group in France and internationally. Ability to work in a dynamic, fast-paced environment with shifting priorities. Competitive salary and benefits package, commensurate with experience. Opportunities for professional development and career advancement.

📌 Strategic Buyer Data center operations (Italia)
🏢 Data4
📍 Italia