Regional Category Manager - Events & Sponsorships

We help the world run better 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.    Location: Any SAP office in North America    What you'll build   We are seeking a highly experienced and strategic Regional Category Manager – Events & Sponsorships to join our Global Marketing Procurement team. In this senior role, you will drive innovation, efficiency, and strategic value creation across the Events and Sponsorships categories, shaping how the organization engages partners and delivers world-class brand experience.   You will be responsible for developing and executing the regional category strategy for events and sponsorships, while leading efforts to streamline and advance ways of working across regional teams. This includes mapping, optimizing, and standardizing sourcing, contracting, and supplier management processes to ensure global consistency, agility, and excellence.   As a trusted business partner, you will collaborate closely with Marketing and Commercial teams to deliver innovative, high-quality and cost-efficient event & sponsorship experiences while ensuring procurement brings strategic value and seamless support.   Your tasks will include:

Develop and execute the regional category strategy for events and sponsorships in line with business and procurement goals. Own the regional category spend and deliver financial targets (savings, rebates, payment terms etc.) , value creation, and risk-mitigation targets with full accountability. Harmonize and optimize processes across regions by mapping current workflows, identifying inefficiencies and implementing standardized, agile and compliant solutions to improve overall stakeholder experience. Provide strategic leadership to buyers / sourcing teams, ensuring consistency and alignment with global/regional frameworks and policies. Build strong business partnerships with global and regional stakeholders to understand needs, influence decisions and deliver tailored, value-driven procurement solutions. Lead strategic sourcing and supplier management initiatives, including supplier selection, negotiation, contracting, risk mitigation and performance optimization. Lead complex, high-impact commercial negotiations, including multi-year sponsorship agreements and regional event frameworks. Lead procurement transformation and change management initiatives, supporting the adoption of new tools, governance frameworks and digital solutions. Develop governance models, metrics and knowledge-sharing frameworks to ensure transparency, capability building and continuous improvement globally. Drive innovation, sustainability and diversity across the supplier base, supporting corporate ESG goals

Minimum 5 years of experience in marketing procurement, ideally focused on events, sponsorships or related marketing categories. Proven track record in defining and executing global/regional category strategies in close collaboration with business stakeholders and suppliers, ensuring alignment with both commercial and business objectives. Demonstrated success in leading cross-regional and cross-functional initiatives and driving process harmonization or transformation. Strong expertise in process mapping, documentation and optimization, with the ability to simplify complex workflows and enhance stakeholder experience. Strong analytical skills with the ability to collect, interpret, and analyze data to support decision-making, identify opportunities, and drive continuous improvement. Effective