Sourcing and Category Expert Marketing, Media and Insurance

Job Summary

The Sourcing & Category Manager Insurance, Marketing & Media supports the development and execution of category strategies related to insurance, marketing, media, advertising, marketing research and related supplier services. Working closely with the Global Category Lead he/she ultimately supports ING brand, customer engagement initiatives, bank-assurance distribution and risk protection programs.

This role leads the sourcing, negotiation and vendor management of services related to advertising, creatives agencies, media buying, sponsorship, marketing research, bank-assurance distribution contracts and insurance policies (covering risk of the bank).

Reporting to the Global Category Lead and working closely with procurement colleagues and business stakeholders, the role helps identify opportunities for value creation, demand management, supplier innovation while ensuring compliance with procurement policies and regulatory requirements.

Your responsibilities

Category Expertise

Proven knowledge and expertise for the assigned categories (Marketing, Media, Insurance) including understanding of market trends, commercial models, associated risks at Global/European level. This includes Proven experience in Media buying and Media agencies, Creative and Advertising Agencies, Market Research, Production Services, Digital Marketing Services, Event and Communication Services, Agency advisory Services, MarTech and Marketing Platforms.

Proven experience of key insurance lines (employee benefits, credit risks, non-life insurance) including embedded insurance in packages and card product.

Solid understanding of customer strategy in regards of Bank assurance for all banking segments (Retail Banking, Private Banking, Business Banking) including wide knowledge of bank insurance market value chain (Insurers, brokers, MGA, distributors, etc) and related regulatory framework.

Successful track record with top strategic players including suppliers such as GroupM, Dentsu, WPP, IPG, Omnicom, Ebiquity, R3, Ipsos, Bain, Kantar, and insurers/brokers such as Marsh, AON and insurance company as AXA, Allianz, NN, Generali, Zurich, CIGNA.

Proven experience in managing global and multi-country sourcing initiatives in complex environment for the category assigned including coordination/steering of resources distributed in other geographies.

Ability to steer and influence decision at Steerco level at global and local level, being recognized as an expert (SME) for the (sub)categories.

Category Management

Execute strategic sourcing activities, provide project level risk assessments and mitigation plans. Define project scope and objectives by developing sourcing approaches, sourcing strategies, conducting complex supplier negotiations and managing the supplier selection process.

Build supplier relationships, prepare/validate negotiation strategies, conduct strategic/complex supplier negotiation sessions and manage escalations/conflicts.

Coordinate and provide direction to buyers distributed in other teams (Middle Office and other geographies) on the sourcing initiatives activities (RFX), and contracting and risk mitigation activities (Third Party Risk Management activities).

Provide guidance to the contract management team for the contract creation and finalization process.

Support business partnering activities by establishing and managing business stakeholder relationships and align on business specific objectives targets.

Contribute to develop and execute forward looking category strategies and plans for the Insurance, Marketing and Media category\

Function as an SME towards the business for the respective category.

Contribute to develop and implement the global strategy and/or include local requirements where applicable.

People Management

Coordinate and steer buyers supporting global initiatives either in Procurement Middle Office Hub and/or other ING geographies generally by influencing.

Coach buyers on how to negotiate, make analyses, and build strategies, ensure execution and delivery in line with expectations.

Perform stakeholder management activities with senior stakeholders by leveraging advanced advisory skills.

Strategic Challenges

One of the key challenges in this role, and across the broader organisation, is transitioning from a business partner model to a category-focused approach. Success in this position will depend on the ability to embed category management practices in close collaboration with local procurement teams, thereby unlocking strategic category opportunities. Importantly, this challenge extends beyond capability building in alignment with global direction; it also involves ensuring the consistent adoption and practical application of these capabilities across all locations. A strong understanding of supplier market particularly for bank-