Global Category Manager - Events & Sponsorships

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At SAP, we keep it simple: you bring your best to us, and we'll bring out the best in you. We're builders touching over 20 industries and 80% of global commerce, and we need your unique talents to help shape what's next. The work is challenging – but it matters. You'll find a place where you can be yourself, prioritize your wellbeing, and truly belong. What's in it for you? Constant learning, skill growth, great benefits, and a team that wants you to grow and succeed. 

 

 

About the role

As the Global Category Manager for Events & Sponsorships within Global Marketing Procurement, you will play a pivotal role in shaping one of the company’s most visible and strategically important Marketing spend areas. Operating with a truly global remit, you will lead high‑complexity, cross‑regional strategic initiatives and define the long‑term vendor and sourcing strategy for your category.

You will own and drive the global Events & Sponsorships category strategy - establishing the vendor landscape, building global sourcing frameworks, and implementing robust governance structures that ensure consistency, transparency, and sustainable value delivery. Your leadership will be instrumental in elevating Procurement’s strategic contribution to the business, ensuring both control and agility in how the category is managed.

In close partnership with senior Marketing stakeholders, you will position Procurement as a trusted strategic advisor. You will help transform how Events and Sponsorships are planned, sourced, and executed across the organization—bringing forward more integrated, data‑driven, and scalable ways of working.

As a global connector, you will provide functional leadership to regional procurement teams, ensuring alignment with global priorities while supporting regional needs. You will also champion the use of data, digital tools, and AI‑enabled capabilities to modernize the category, increase visibility, and unlock new opportunities for innovation and long‑term value creation.

 

What you’ll do

 

Strategic Leadership, Collaboration & Value Delivery

• Define and execute the global Events & Sponsorships category strategy in close collaboration with senior stakeholders, aligned with overall business objectives
• Provide functional leadership to regional teams, fostering strong collaboration, capability development, and best‑practice sharing
• Identify, deliver, and track sustainable financial value and long‑term impact
• Act as a strategic advisor to senior stakeholders, shaping decision-making through procurement expertise
  
  

Category Management & Procurement Excellence

• Lead complex global sourcing initiatives, including high-value eRFX processes and commercial negotiations
• Establish and oversee robust governance structures to drive alignment, transparency, and consistent, sustainable outcomes.
• Harmonize Source‑to‑Pay, contracting, and vendor management processes across regions

 

Digital Enablement & Insight‑Driven Performance

• Leverage data, analytics, and digital tools - including AI - to enhance visibility, performance management, and decision‑making.
• Drive the implementation and adoption of digital and event‑management solutions to increase operational efficiency, transparency, and scalability.
  
  

Vendor Strategy, Innovation & Responsible Sourcing

• Build and manage strategic partnerships with key vendors, leveraging SRM practices to drive innovation and long-term value
• Oversee vendor performance across value, quality, and ESG dimensions
• Ensure compliance with procurement policies and Source-to-Pay standards

 

Sustainability (ESG) & Real-World Impact

• Define and implement category ESG strategies, translating corporate targets into actionable procurement measures
• Identify and drive Real World Measures