Strategic Vendor Manager

The forest is at the heart of Stora Enso, and we believe that everything made from fossil-based materials today can be made from a tree tomorrow. We are the leading provider of renewable products in packaging, biomaterials, and wooden construction, and one of the largest private forest owners in the world. Stora Enso has approximately 19,000 employees. 

This is your chance work at the intersection of sustainability, innovation, and profitability, contributing to digital solutions that deliver impactful business performance. Everyday. 

We are looking for a Strategic Vendor Manager to join Stora Enso's global IT starting as soon as possible. 

You will be part of the IT Strategy and Digital Portfolio team, committed to “Driving a strategy-led IT and digital vision that builds the foundation for future business acceleration". You will be reporting to the Head of IT Strategy and Digital Portfolio. 

Stora Enso is currently transitioning towards a global IT proactively partnering up with our business colleagues to drive growth with every project and every line of code. We build on a digital core to deliver what our business and customers need most. Your role will be critical in this shift, as we embed AI, automation, and data-driven governance into the fabric of the organisation. 

Purpose 

As the Strategic Vendor Manager, you are responsible for managing and developing Stora Enso’s strategic IT vendor relationships to ensure delivery of agreed business value and enable Stora Enso’s transformation journey. You will ensure that strategic vendors operate as true strategic partners and are aligned with the company’s digital vision, innovation goals, and long-term business strategy. 

Your role is central to driving collaboration, value creation, and continuous improvement across a complex vendor ecosystem. You balance operational performance with strategic foresight, ensuring that every partnership contributes to Stora Enso’s competitiveness, efficiency, and sustainability goals. 

In this position, you will collaborate across business and IT, connect strategy to execution, and guide vendors towards shared innovation and enterprise value. 

Your responsibilities 

• Manage strategic IT vendor relationships and contracts across Stora Enso in collaboration with the Sourcing team, ensuring performance, efficiency, and business alignment. 

• Oversee vendor selection, evaluation, and negotiation processes together with the Sourcing team, to ensure sourcing decisions support Stora Enso’s strategic and operational goals. 

• Ensure that vendor services and solutions meet agreed quality standards, SLAs, and compliance requirements, including financial, security, and regulatory aspects. 

• Monitor and assess vendor performance through structured governance and reporting, and drive accountability and continuous improvement amongst vendors. 

• Manage the vendor contract portfolio and ensure renewals, amendments, and terminations are aligned with Stora Enso’s evolving business needs. 

• Anticipate market and industry trends to id