Global Category Manager, Procurement AI Transformation

Xylem is a Fortune 500 global water solutions company dedicated to advancing sustainable impact and empowering the people who make water work every day. As a leading water technology company with 23,000 employees operating in over 150 countries, Xylem is at the forefront of addressing the world's most critical water challenges. We invite passionate individuals to join our team, dedicated to exceeding customer expectations through innovative and sustainable solutions.

The Role:

The Global Category Manager, Procurement AI Transformation, will lead the strategic sourcing, contracting, and supplier-relationship management of all AI-related products and services across Xylem. This role builds and manages the AI vendor ecosystem - driving innovation, cost efficiency, governance, and delivery excellence on AI use cases that accelerate Xylem's digital transformation.

The position acts as the primary interface between Procurement, IT Business Relationship Management, and the Global AI Team, ensuring that supplier strategies and AI program objectives are tightly aligned.

The role works closely with the AI Navigator and AI Champion networks to ensure alignment between business-driven AI priorities and sourcing execution, enabling efficient scaling of vetted AI solutions across the enterprise.

The ideal candidate combines procurement expertise with strong AI fluency — understanding how artificial intelligence, data analytics, and digital platforms create business value. This person is curious, hands-on with emerging tools, and confident engaging both business and technical stakeholders to translate innovation into measurable impact.

Key Responsibilities:

Category Strategy & Thought Leadership

• Develop and execute the global category strategy for AI vendors (software, services, data).
• Lead sourcing projects, including market analysis, RFPs, supplier evaluation, and contract negotiation.
• Support development and apply tailored procurement framework for AI: covering risk, IP protection, data privacy, and performance management.
• Conduct supplier benchmarking and market intelligence to ensure competitiveness and innovation.
• Establish framework agreements with key partners to enable scalable adoption.
• Maintain a category innovation roadmap aligned with business priorities and emerging AI technologies.
• Monitor total cost of ownership (TCO) and realized value from AI solutions

Supplier & Partner Management

• Build and maintain long-term relationships with strategic AI vendors and emerging innovators.
• Co-develop, pilot, and scale AI solutions that support business priorities.
• Track supplier KPIs and SLAs to ensure consistent delivery, compliance, and innovation.
• Represent Procurement in supplier performance reviews and steering committees.
• Run structured innovation reviews and capability assessments with suppliers.
• Develop supplier maturity to meet enterprise-grade standards in security and compliance.

Cross-Functional Collaboration & Change Management

• Act as the Procurement lead for AI sourcing initiatives in collaboration with IT, AI CoE, Legal, Cybersecurity, and business stakeholders.
• Collaborate with AI Navigators to operationalize vendor-provided AI solutions within the AI Tool Decision Tree process.
• Align sourcing activities with AI governance, budgets, and business cases.
• Partner with IT BRMs to forecast AI demand and integrate sourcing into project planning.
• Promote AI sourcing best practices and enable knowledge sharing across functions.

Program & Performance Management

• Manage the lifecycle of AI vendor-supported programs, from pilot to global rollout, ensuring delivery on time, budget, and performance KPIs.
• Track procurement KPIs for AI transformation (savings, time-to-contract, innovation contribution).
• Provide reporting and insights on supplier performance, market trends, and risk.
• Partner with Finance and stakeholders to measure ROI and realized value of AI initiatives.

Governance & Compliance

• Co-develop and implement governance frameworks for AI sourcing
• Co-develop and document procurement policies, playbooks, and contract standards specific to AI.
• Ensure compliance with contractual, data protection, and security requirements.
• Collaborate with Legal and IT to evolve contract templates and sourcing playbooks in line with changing AI regulations and best practices.
• Lead communication and training on AI sourcing guidelines and risk controls.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Supply Chain Management, IT, or a related field; Master's degree preferred.
• 7+ years of experience in strategic sourcing, category management, or procurement, preferably in technology or digital services.
• Proven experience managing complex vendor relationships and negotiating high-value technology contracts.
• Practical understanding of artificial intelligence technologies and applications (e.g., generative AI, analytics, automation) and how they transform business operations.
• Hands-on experience using, evaluating, testing AI tools to enhance productivity or decision-making.
• Ability to assess AI solutions' value propositions and technical maturity, collaborating effectively with IT, data, and AI stakeholders.
• Solid analytical skills for cost modeling, market analysis, and supplier performance management.
• Ability to engage and influence senior stakeholders across IT, Legal, and business functions.
• Familiarity with Coupa, SAP Ariba, or similar procurement platforms.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English; additional languages an asset.

Contract: Full-time, Permanent

Location: Italy, Spain or Hungary

Join the global Xylem team to be a part of innovative technology solutions transforming water usage, conservation, and re-use. Our products impact public utilities, industrial sectors, residential areas, and commercial buildings, with a commitment to providing smart metering, network technologies, and advanced analytics for water, electric, and gas utilities. Partner with us in creating a world where water challenges are met with ingenuity and dedication; where we recognize the power of inclusion and belonging in driving innovation and allowing us to compete more effectively around the world.