Category Manager - Operations & Asset Lifecycle
Department: Finance / Procurement – Group
Report to: Group Procurement Manager
Position type: Full-time.
Location: Milan, Italy OR Marcoussis, France
Travel required: in Europe.
DATA4'S MISSION
DATA4 creates Smart & Scalable digital facilities for our customers. Our network of highly connected, resilient, and sustainable data center campuses underpins our customers’ digital growth in Europe.
DATA4 Group finances, designs, constructs, and operates its own data centers. Delivered through our data center campus model, we provide our customers with secure, scalable, and high-performance data hosting solutions.
DATA4 VALUES
At DATA4 we are driven by our values. These are the core of everything we do – from the proactivity we show in delivering great outcomes for our clients, to the responsibility we show as a key contributor to the digital economy. Our three values are :
- To be entrepreneurial – we are teams of doers who make things happen - with autonomy, energy and a sense of responsibility.
- To always take responsibility – for our impact on the people we work with, the society we are part of, and the environment in which we operate.
- To constantly be adaptable – our business is designed to adapt, answering not only today’s challenges, but also anticipating what’s coming next.
ABOUT THE ROLE
The Category Manager - Operations & Asset Lifecycle is responsible for strategic sourcing, procurement, and contract management related to technical or administrative campus operations, as well as retrofit and modernization projects across the group’s data centers. Additionally, the role encompasses the management of Group costs (SGA or Overheads expenditures).
The Role will typically include:
- Overseeing supplier relationships and negotiating contracts to secure high-quality equipment and services in a timely, cost-efficient manner.
- Collaborating with a diverse range of internal stakeholders—including operations teams, support teams, and project managers—across multiple countries to align procurement strategies with project timelines and objectives, while driving cross-functional initiatives.
- Driving sustainability across the supply chain by integrating CSR and ethical practices into all procurement process and
Reporting to the Group Procurement Manager, this role is pivotal in ensuring that our procurement activities support our strategic and environmental objectives.
Key Responsibilities:
- Strategic Sourcing & Supplier Management
- Define and implement procurement strategies for the assigned categories, fully aligned with the group’s procurement strategy and objectives.
- Identify, evaluate, and onboard new suppliers to diversify and enrich the network.
- Conduct continuous market intelligence to anticipate trends and mitigate risks.
- Tendering and Contract Negotiation
- Lead RFx processes and tenders for the assigned categories in close collaboration with internal stakeholders.
- Negotiate advantageous contracts while ensuring compliance with legal requirements and internal standards.
- Manage contracts and monitor supplier performance, ensuring alignment between contractual services and actual deliverables while driving continuous improvement.
- Budget Management and Cost Control
- Monitor and manage procurement budgets to ensure cost-effective purchasing practices.
- Identify and implement cost-saving opportunities without compromising quality.
- Provide regular financial reports on procurement activities and budget adherence.
- Compliance, Risk Management & Reporting
- Ensure all procurement activities comply with internal policies, industry regulations, and ethical standards.
- Identify potential risks in the supply chain and develop appropriate mitigation strategies.
- Distribute comprehensive reports to support informed decision-making.
Qualifications:
- Education:
- Bachelor’s or master’s degree in Procurement.
- Experience:
- Minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in a similar role covering both Opex and Capex procurement, preferably in the data center, infrastructure, or large-scale industrial project sectors.
- Proven experience in managing international tenders and negotiating complex contracts.
- Demonstrated expertise in procuring services and equipment for the maintenance, renovation, and optimization of existing facilities—including multi-technical maintenance, facility management (FM), security services, connectivity, as well as the procurement of intellectual services and other infrastructure-related services.
- Hard Skills
- Expertise in negotiation and contract management, with proven experience in international procurement.
- Proficient in cost analysis (TCO, should-cost analysis) and risk management.
- Strong analytical, attention to detail and problems-solving abilities.
- Strategic planning and execution, ensuring alignment with procurement objectives.
- Fluent in both English and French.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to foster effective collaboration with diverse internal and external stakeholders.
- Strategic and visionary mindset, able to anticipate growth, identify key partners, and design scalable solutions to shape the future.
- Demonstrated leadership and a collaborative team-oriented approach.
- Exceptional organizational skills, capable of managing multiple priorities in fast-paced environments.
- High ethical standards and integrity, ensuring compliance and responsible decision-making.
- Resilient under pressure with a proven ability to meet tight deadlines.
- Working Conditions:
- This position may require occasional travel to supplier locations as well as to various sites operated by the group in France and internationally.
- Ability to work in a dynamic, fast-paced environment with shifting priorities.
- Compensation:
- Competitive salary and benefits package, commensurate with experience.
- Opportunities for professional development and career advancement.
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