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Strategic Vendor Manager

Posted on Nov. 7, 2025

Helsinki, Finland
0 - 0 USD (yearly)

Full Time

The forest is at the heart of Stora Enso, and we believe that everything made from fossil-based materials today can be made from a tree tomorrow. We are the leading provider of renewable products in packaging, biomaterials, and wooden construction, and one of the largest private forest owners in the world. Stora Enso has approximately 19,000 employees.

This is your chance work at the intersection of sustainability, innovation, and profitability, contributing to digital solutions that deliver impactful business performance. Everyday.

We are looking for a Strategic Vendor Manager to join Stora Enso's global IT starting as soon as possible.

You will be part of the IT Strategy and Digital Portfolio team, committed to “Driving a strategy-led IT and digital vision that builds the foundation for future business acceleration". You will be reporting to the Head of IT Strategy and Digital Portfolio.

Stora Enso is currently transitioning towards a global IT proactively partnering up with our business colleagues to drive growth with every project and every line of code. We build on a digital core to deliver what our business and customers need most. Your role will be critical in this shift, as we embed AI, automation, and data-driven governance into the fabric of the organisation.

Purpose

As the Strategic Vendor Manager, you are responsible for managing and developing Stora Enso’s strategic IT vendor relationships to ensure delivery of agreed business value and enable Stora Enso’s transformation journey. You will ensure that strategic vendors operate as true strategic partners and are aligned with the company’s digital vision, innovation goals, and long-term business strategy.

Your role is central to driving collaboration, value creation, and continuous improvement across a complex vendor ecosystem. You balance operational performance with strategic foresight, ensuring that every partnership contributes to Stora Enso’s competitiveness, efficiency, and sustainability goals.

In this position, you will collaborate across business and IT, connect strategy to execution, and guide vendors towards shared innovation and enterprise value.

Your responsibilities

Manage strategic IT vendor relationships and contracts across Stora Enso in collaboration with the Sourcing team, ensuring performance, efficiency, and business alignment.

Oversee vendor selection, evaluation, and negotiation processes together with the Sourcing team, to ensure sourcing decisions support Stora Enso’s strategic and operational goals.

Ensure that vendor services and solutions meet agreed quality standards, SLAs, and compliance requirements, including financial, security, and regulatory aspects.

Monitor and assess vendor performance through structured governance and reporting, and drive accountability and continuous improvement amongst vendors.

Manage the vendor contract portfolio and ensure renewals, amendments, and terminations are aligned with Stora Enso’s evolving business needs.

Anticipate market and industry trends to identify opportunities where vendors can contribute to Stora Enso’s transformation, innovation, and sustainability agenda.

Partner with strategic vendors to support the adoption of best practices and innovation and optimise delivery models to create more business value.

Explore opportunities for vendors to contribute to technology improvements and enhancements of existing platforms.

What you bring

Proven experience managing complex IT vendor relationships and contracts in large or global organisations.

Deep understanding of IT sourcing, vendor governance, and contract management, including performance and risk management.

Strong financial and analytical skills with the ability to assess value, optimise spend, and manage long-term cost efficiency.

Experience in negotiation and building long-term, trust-based relationships with vendors and stakeholders.

Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to influence and align diverse internal and external audiences.

Strategic mindset combined with structured execution, ensuring decisions deliver measurable business and operational value.

Insight into technology and market trends, with the ability to translate them into sourcing opportunities and innovation partnerships.

Experience driving continuous improvement, harmonisation, and best-practice adoption across vendor management processes.

We offer

You will be part of our diverse working culture which supports you in exploring new perspectives and developing professionally. You will contribute to a more sustainable world, as sustainability and innovation are at the core of our strategy. To keep you going safely, we support your physical and mental well-being.

Career growth opportunities within an international organisation

Access to modern technologies and digital tools

Professional development opportunities

Motivating additional benefits package

Hybrid work options and flexible working hours

Inspiring, sustainable, and innovation-driven work environment

How can you apply for this role?

You can only submit your application to us by using our recruitment tool. As we are assessing our candidates on an ongoing basis, we hope to hear from you as soon as possible but at the latest on November 28th.

Our recruitment process could include pre-employment actions such as background, reference and health checks as well as a drug test.

Welcome to work in the renewable materials company!

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