Procurement Specialist T4 (USA)

Interim Category Manager – Events & Sponsor ships

CLIENT is seeking a highly experienced and immediately available Interim Category Manager – Events & Sponsor ships to join the Global Marketing Procurement team on a freelancer / C-User assignment basis for a minimum period of six months, with the possibility of extension. The role is available immediately and has arisen due to an urgent business need within a critical and high-profile procurement category.

CLIENT is currently in the middle of running global RFPs across the Events & third-party Sponsor ships categories. The incoming interim resource will be required to take up this active programme without delay, drive it through to completion, and deliver on a board-level cost optimisation programme. This includes finalising ongoing supplier negotiations, managing supplier selection processes, and executing all required contracting activities to secure the targeted commercial outcomes.

Beyond the immediate programme delivery, the role carries a strategic mandate. The successful candidate will develop and execute a forward-looking vendor ecosystem strategy for Events & Sponsor ships within CLIENT, bringing structure, transparency, and rigour to a category with a spend in excess of 300 million EUR. The category is characterised by a high degree of complexity across both the supplier landscape and the internal requester community, and demands a seasoned professional who can navigate this environment with confidence.

In close partnership with senior Marketing and Business stakeholders, the interim Category Manager will act as a catalyst for change – providing strategic leadership, driving a future operating model and governance model for the entire Events & Sponsor ships category, and positioning Procurement as a trusted strategic partner to the business.

Take immediate ownership of active global RFPs within Events & third-party Sponsor ships and drive them to completion. Finalise supplier negotiations and lead supplier selection processes in line with commercial targets. Execute contracting for selected suppliers, ensuring legal compliance and alignment with CLIENT procurement standards. Deliver measurable savings outcomes as part of the board-level cost optimisation programme. Provide regular status updates and executive-level reporting on programme progress and commercial outcomes.

Develop and execute a comprehensive category strategy for Events & Sponsor ships, covering both short-term delivery and long-term strategic direction. Design and implement the future vendor ecosystem for Events & Sponsor ships within CLIENT, rationalising the supply base and establishing strategic partnerships. Bring structure and clarity to a highly complex category (> 300m EUR spend) with a large and diverse supplier and requester landscape.

Lead complex global sourcing initiatives including high-value eRFX processes, multi-year agreements, and regional event frameworks. Harmonise Source-to-Pay, contracting, and vendor management processes across regions to ensure consistency, compliance, and agility.

Define and implement a future operating model and governance framework for the Events & Sponsor ships category globally. Establish governance structures that drive accountability, transparency, and sustainable performance across the category. Lead change management initiatives to embed new ways of working, tools, and governance frameworks within the team and across stakeholder communities. Develop knowledge-sharing frameworks, metrics, and performance tracking mechanisms to ensure continuous improvement.

Support the definition of a future-proof organisational design and team structure for category management within Marketing Procurement.

Act as a strategic advisor and trusted business partner to senior Marketing and Business stakeholders across CLIENT. Engage, challenge, and align senior stakeholders across functions and geographies to ensure procurement objectives are understood and…