Senior Category Manager

About Us:

Planet is a leading technology company transforming payments by putting customer experience first. We offer integrated solutions that include payment processing, VAT refunds, dynamic currency conversion, and management services for merchants in the Retail and Hospitality sectors worldwide.

In recent years, we have experienced significant growth, expanding our services and global presence. 

With strong private equity investors, Advent International and Eurazeo, we have the financial capital and expertise to grow our capabilities and reach through acquisitions.

Our mission is to create a world of connected commerce where payments are simple, secure, and seamless, enabling our partners to deliver exceptional experiences to their customers.

Role Overview:
As a Senior NonIT Category Manager, you will be responsible for building and transforming the endtoend procurement capability across all nonIT categories, establishing bestinclass processes and delivering significant improvements in value, compliance, and supplier performance. 

You will lead the strategic management of categories such as Operations, Marketing, Professional Services, HR, Finance and Travel, and others, ensuring procurement strategies are aligned with business priorities and support Planet’s broader transformation agenda. 

A key focus will be on creating and maintaining the companywide category taxonomy, defining sourcing strategies, and implementing structured categorymanagement practices across all nonIT domains. This includes supplier segmentation, risk and sustainability assessments, demand management, and spend optimization. You will work closely with the Senior IT Category Manager to codesign and harmonize Procurement governance, ensuring a consistent and disciplined approach is applied across both IT and non IT categories as the function continues to mature. 

You will act as a trusted partner to senior leaders across the business, shaping requirements early, driving commercial strategy, and implementing robust sourcing frameworks. Through strong commercial acumen and datadriven insights, you will identify opportunities to consolidate supplier bases, eliminate cost leakages, redesign contracts, and deliver measurable savings. 

You will also manage and nurture strategic relationships with a diverse set of global suppliers, ensuring the delivery of highquality services at optimal terms while enhancing resilience, ESG alignment, and operational performance. Your ability to work crossfunctionally, influence senior stakeholders, and communicate clearly will be essential to strengthening procurement’s strategic role across the entire organization. 

What will you do:

Savings & Commercial Excellence 

• Drive complex commercial negotiations and contract management to secure competitive outcomes and mitigate risk across non-IT categories. 

• Partner with Legal, Security, and other departments to ensure robust risk management, compliance and governance standards. 

• Identify and implement cost-saving opportunities through strategic sourcing, supplier leverage, and process optimization. 

Strategic Procurement & Supplier Rationalization 

• Develop and execute category strategies aligned with business objectives, innovation priorities, and business objectives. 

• Rationalize and evolve the non-IT supplier portfolio using data-driven insights to consolidate spend, improve performance, and reduce complexity  

• Manage global supplier relationships to ensure quality, cost-effectiveness, and high service levels. 

Operational Excellence 

• Oversee end-to-end procurement processes, ensuring consistent adherence to internal policies and procedures. 

• Monitor supplier performance and compliance, driving continuous improvement and supporting sustainability goals. 

Internal Advocacy & Collaboration 

• Represent Procurement across the organization, promoting its strategic value to stakeholders and leadership. 

• Collaborate closely with internal teams to understand business needs and align procurement strategies accordingly. 

Who you are:

• Proven Procurement Expertise: Minimum 10 years of experience in a procurement-focused role or management consulting. You have a strong track record in managing strategic categories, combining strategic insight with hands-on execution. 

• Strategic Negotiator: Skilled in leading complex negotiations using varied strategies to secure favorable terms, drive measurable savings, and maintain strong supplier relationships. 

• Project Management Mindset: Highly organized and capable of managing multiple priorities in dynamic environments. Applies a structured, project-based approach to procurement initiatives.  

• Data-Driven Decision Maker: Proficient in analytics tools (e.g., Power BI) to assess spend, identify addressable opportunities, and generate actionable insights. Able to quantify impact through significant cost savings and performance improvements.  

• Supplier Portfolio Management: Experienced in rationalizing supplier bases through data analysis and strategic sourcing, contributing to cost reduction, operational efficiency, and improved governance.  

• Process-Oriented and Compliant: Deep understanding of procurement policies, procedures, and risk mitigation practices. Ensures consistent adherence across all procurement activities.  

• Technologically Curious: Passionate about technology, AI, and process improvement. Continuously seeks innovative ways to optimize procurement workflows and enhance efficiency.  

• Effective Communicator: Skilled in empathic, cross-functional communication. Comfortable presenting to leadership and building strong relationships across departments to align procurement with business needs.  

• Continuous Improvement Advocate: Open to feedback and committed to professional growth. Embraces change and contributes to the evolution of procurement practices.  

• Service-Oriented Perspective: Understands procurement’s role as a strategic enabler and approaches work with a collaborative, stakeholder-focused mindset.  

• Business English Fluency: Communicates clearly and professionally in business-level English, both written and spoken.

Why Planet :

Planet is an equal opportunity employer where diversity is valued, and all employment is decided based on qualifications, merit, and business need.

Come and grow your career in the most exciting, fast paced technology market, with a business that delivers feel-good connected commerce. We would love to hear from you – Apply now.