Senior Category Manager (IT & AI Procurement)

Interested applicants are invited to apply directly at the NUS Career Portal. Please note your application will only be processed if you apply via NUS Career Portal.NUS Career Portal link: https://careers.nus.edu.sg/job/Senior-Category-Manager-%28IT-&-AI-Procurement%29/34869-en_GB/We regret that only shortlisted candidates will be notified.Job DescriptionThe Senior Category Manager (IT & AI Procurement) manages assigned IT and AI procurement categories within the Central Procurement Office, driving strategic sourcing, supplier management and cost optimisation to maximise the value of the university’s IT and AI spend, in compliance with NUS policies, public-sector governance and AI governance and data-protection requirements.KEY ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIESCategory Strategy & SourcingDesign and execute sourcing strategies for IT categories (e.g., hardware, software, cloud, networking, IT services, AI platforms and tools), tracked against KPIsEvaluate AI pricing models and total cost of ownership, and run pilots before purchaseMarket Intelligence & Risk ManagementMonitor IT and AI market trends and advise stakeholders on procurement timingMaintain a category risk register, including AI risks such as vendor lock-in, data leakage and biasSupplier Relationship ManagementManage suppliers end to end, from onboarding and scorecard reviews to issue resolutionConduct due diligence on AI vendors’ data practices, security and viabilityContract & Commercial ManagementLead negotiations to secure optimal pricing, service levels and protections, in line with NUS policiesNegotiate AI-specific terms, such as data and IP ownership, no training on university data, and spend controlsAI GovernanceEmbed responsible-AI checks in procurement with IT security, data protection and legal teams, in line with NUS AI policies and the PDPAMaintain a register of procured AI tools and consolidate duplicate purchases across facultiesData Analytics & ReportingReport monthly on spend, savings and catalogue use, including AI usage costsDrive catalogue and e-procurement adoption across the universityStakeholder Engagement & CompliancePartner with faculties, research centres and administrative units to forecast demand, including AI needsEnsure audit compliance and train stakeholders on procurement processes and approved routes for buying AI toolsQualificationsEducationDegree in Business Administration, Supply Chain Management, IT or a related disciplineCIPS, CPSM or CSCP certification is advantageous; AI governance credentials are a plusExperienceMinimum 8 years in procurement, with a strong focus on IT category managementMarket knowledge in at least two IT categories (e.g., hardware, software, cloud, IT services, AI)Proven track record of delivering savings through strategic sourcing1–2 years of experience buying AI or subscription-based software (SaaS) is preferredExperience in higher education, the public sector or large organisations is preferredSkills & CompetenciesStrong analytical, negotiation and stakeholder management skillsStrategic mindset and strong project management skillsExcellent written and verbal communication in EnglishProficiency in Microsoft Office, e-procurement platforms and data analytics toolsWorking understanding of AI concepts and related commercial, legal and privacy risks