Software Category Manager

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Role Overview

The Category Manager, Software and Data Subscriptions is a senior procurement role reporting to the Category Director, Software, responsible for developing, managing and executing global category sourcing strategies across enterprise software, SaaS applications, and data/market subscription services. This position partners with IT application owners, business stakeholders, and senior technology leaders across JLL's regions to align sourcing strategies with business objectives, drive measurable value, and ensure JLL has access to market-leading software and data services.

This role owns end-to-end category management for following sub-categories:

• Data & Market Subscriptions (research subscriptions, market data feeds, and information services), coordinated with the Professional Services category where subscriptions sit within that spend pool

• Enterprise Software

• SaaS Applications & Enterprise Licensing (including license optimization and true-up management)

• Software Asset Management support and renewal calendar ownership

• Vendor Consolidation & Rationalization across the software and data subscription supply base

Key Responsibilities Strategy & Planning

• Develop and maintain short-, mid-, and long-term global category strategies for software and data subscriptions, aligned with JLL's overall business strategy and technology roadmap.

• Build and manage internal demand plans across all sub-categories, identifying consolidation opportunities and emerging licensing/commercial models.

• Partner with application owners and business stakeholders to ensure category strategies reflect regional requirements and global efficiency targets.

• Proactively identify and execute new sourcing opportunities, including platform consolidation and renewal optimization.

Supplier & Market Management

• Build and maintain strategic relationships with key software publishers, SaaS providers, and data/market subscription vendors.

• Rationalize the supply base and maintain a clear strategic supplier framework for the category.

• Own Supplier Relationship Management for the category to the framework, segmentation and cadence in partnerships with the Procurement Centre of Excellence - running reviews to standard, managing scorecards and capturing outputs - and complete third party risk management activity in line with the TPRM framework.

• Stay current on market trends, licensing models, and pricing benchmarks to inform sourcing decisions.

Execution & Delivery

• Lead end-to-end procurement events including RFP development, bid management, commercial evaluation, recommendation, and contract execution.

• Drive delivery of financial targets including cost savings, cost avoidance, and value-add outcomes across the category.

• Manage the category project calendar, ensuring timely execution of sourcing events and contract renewals.

• Prepare and present contract documents and recommendations in line with JLL's Delegation of Authority.

Governance & Reporting

• Maintain an accurate and current savings tracker for the category, providing clear visibility of value delivered to internal stakeholders.

• Serve as the category ambassador for best practice, process improvement, and adoption of sourcing tools and technology.

• Ensure all sourcing activity complies with JLL procurement policies, ethical standards, and governance frameworks.

Required Qualifications

• Minimum 7 years of strategic sourcing experience, with the majority in software, SaaS, and/or data/information services categories.

• Demonstrated experience managing category strategies across multiple regions.

• Proven ability to lead complex, high-value procurement projects from strategy through execution.

• Strong commercial acumen with experience in contract negotiation, TCO analysis, and supplier performance management.

• Ability to build and sustain relationships with senior technology and business stakeholders.

• Experience working with cross-functional teams across procurement, IT, finance, and…