Category Manager

We're building a dedicated Hardware category within our Technology Sourcing team and looking for an experienced Category Manager – Hardware to help shape and execute our global sourcing strategy for one of Optiver's largest and most strategically important technology spend areas.
Hardware is fundamental Optiver's trading and enterprise infrastructure. Every server, storage platform, network device and workstation underpins the performance, reliability and scalability of our global technology environment.
You'll partner with Infrastructure and Technology teams to optimise supplier relationships, navigate global supply chain dynamics and ensure our hardware strategy supports the long-term performance, resilience and scalability of the business.
This is a hands-on commercial role for someone who enjoys combining strategic sourcing, technical collaboration and commercial negotiation within a fast-paced, engineering-led environment.
What you'll do
- Partner with the Global Category Lead to develop and execute sourcing strategies across Optiver's global hardware category.
- Lead end-to-end sourcing events (RFI, RFQ, RFP) for servers, compute, networking, storage and enterprise hardware, developing commercial evaluation models and negotiation strategies.
- Act as the day-to-day commercial owner for key OEM and supplier relationships, negotiating pricing, warranties, support models and service levels.
- Monitor supplier performance, lead times, allocation and lifecycle planning, proactively identifying and escalating risks and opportunities to supply resilience.
- Partner with Infrastructure and Technology teams as their commercial advisor, translating engineering requirements and roadmaps into sourcing strategies and supporting refresh, standardization and total-cost-of-ownership decisions.
- Collaborate with Procurement colleagues globally to align supplier strategies, commercial frameworks and ways of working across regions.
- Monitor hardware market trends, component availability, allocation risk and pricing to sharpen sourcing decisions and strengthen supply assurance.
- Ensure sourcing activity complies with Optiver's procurement policies, governance and contracting standards, with accurate records maintained across procurement systems.
- Challenge existing ways of working, leveraging AI and emerging tools to automate routine work.
Who you are
- 5–10 years in technology procurement, strategic sourcing or category management, with significant exposure to technology hardware procurement.
- Exposure to financial services, trading or other high-performance technology environments.
- Experience sourcing enterprise hardware — servers, compute, networking, storage and related infrastructure.
- Proven track record delivering complex, end-to-end sourcing projects (intake through to contract execution) independently and with minimal direction.
- Strong commercial judgement negotiating with OEMs, distributors and strategic suppliers — pricing models, commercial terms, warranties, support and long-term agreements.
- Working knowledge of hardware supply chain dynamics (lead times, allocation, refresh planning, warranty and support models).
- Strong analytical capability, including total cost of ownership (TCO), should-cost modelling and commercial evaluation.
- Experience partnering with technical and commercial stakeholders — translating engineering requirements into sourcing decisions.
- Excellent communication skills, able to translate complex technical and commercial concepts for both engineering and leadership audiences.
- Experience operating in a matrixed, global environment spanning multiple regions and stakeholders.
- Experience with procurement systems such as Coupa, SAP Ariba or similar sourcing platforms.
- Bachelor's degree in Business, Supply Chain, Finance, Engineering, or related field.
- Familiarity with operational resilience, ICT third-party risk management or regulatory frameworks such as DORA.
- Professional procurement qualification (CIPS, CPSM, NEVI or equivalent).
Who we are
At Optiver, our mission is to constantly improve the market by injecting liquidity, providing accurate pricing, increasing transparency and acting as a stabilizing force no matter the market conditions. With a focus on continuous improvement, we participate in the safeguarding of healthy and efficient markets for everyone who participates. As one of the largest market making institutions, we are a trusted partner of 70+ exchanges across the globe.
What you'll get
You’ll join a culture of collaboration and excellence, where you’ll be surrounded by curious thinkers and creative problem solvers. Motivated by a passion for continuous improvement, you’ll thrive in a supportive, high-performing environment alongside talented colleagues, working collectively to tackle the toughest problems in the financial markets.
In addition, you’ll receive:
- A performance-based bonus structure unmatched anywhere in the industry. We combine our profits across desks, teams and offices into a global profit pool.
- The opportunity to work alongside best-in-class professionals from over 50 different countries.
- 25 paid vacation days in your first year, increasing to 30 from your second year onwards.
- Training opportunities, discounts on health insurance, and fully paid first-class commuting expenses.
- Extensive office perks, including breakfast, lunch and dinner, world-class barista coffee, in-house physio and chair massages, organized sports and leisure activities, and Friday afternoon drinks.
- Training and continuous learning opportunities, including access to conferences and tech events.
- Competitive relocation packages and visa sponsorship where necessary for expats.
How to apply
Are you interested in furthering your career on one of the most dynamic and exciting trading floors in Europe? 
Apply directly via the form below. If you have any questions feel free to contact our Recruitment team via our recruitment inquiry form.
Please note:
- We do not require any assistance from third-parties including agencies in the recruitment of this role
- We cannot accept applications via email
Diversity statement
Optiver is committed to diversity and inclusion.