Title:  Sourcing Marketing

Join Our Team 

It is an exciting time at Chain IQ. Our team in China is seeking a highly motivated Category Manager for Marketing Procurement to be based in our Shanghai office. This role is designed for an experienced procurement professional specialising in marketing spend management, sourcing strategy, and commercial governance across all key marketing categories. 

While based in Shanghai, you may support national and regional initiatives across China. The role is fully focused on procurement strategy, agency sourcing, commercial negotiations, and supplier governance, and does not involve marketing operations or campaign delivery. 

Role Purpose 

As the Marketing Procurement Category Manager, you will take end‑to‑end commercial ownership of the marketing spend category. You will design sourcing strategies, lead negotiations, evaluate agencies and suppliers, and manage commercial governance across media, creative services, production, digital marketing, market research, events, and marketing technology. 

This is a pure procurement role. You partner closely with Marketing stakeholders but remain accountable for commercial strategy, contracting, savings delivery, and supplier performance management—not creative direction or brand execution. 

What You Will Do: 

Procurement Strategy and Execution 

Develop and implement multi‑year Marketing category strategies tailored to China’s unique market dynamics, in alignment with global procurement principles and client marketing priorities. 

Strategic Sourcing 

Lead RFPs, RFIs, pitch processes, rate benchmarking, and complex contract negotiations across media agencies, creative networks, digital specialists, production houses, market research firms, and event management companies. 

Regional Procurement Support 

Support China‑wide sourcing initiatives, supplier onboarding, commercial reviews, and compliance governance. Activities remain procurement‑focused and separate from marketing operations. 

Market Intelligence 

Conduct analysis of China’s marketing supplier landscape, including media agencies, creative networks, social commerce partners, KOL agencies, production vendors, and emerging digital marketing solutions. 

Stakeholder Management 

Partner with Marketing, Finance, Legal, Compliance, and Business stakeholders to ensure sourcing decisions meet commercial, contractual, brand‑safety, and regulatory expectations within China. 

Supplier Partnership and Value Creation 

Manage strategic marketing suppliers, monitor performance through KPIs and SLAs, strengthen rate structures, and identify cost optimisation and innovation opportunities that enhance ROI. 

Compliance and Risk 

Ensure all sourcing activities comply with China’s regulatory environment, local marketing regulations, global procurement policies, and ESG guidelines. 

What You Bring: 

Expertise 

5+ years of experience in procurement, strategic sourcing, or category management, with direct experience in Marketing categories (media, creative, digital, production, research, events, or MarTech). Must be procurement‑focused, not marketing operational. 

Education 

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Business Administration, Supply Chain, Marketing, Communications, or a related discipline. 

Negotiation Power 

Proven strength in leading complex marketing negotiations including agency retainers, media rate agreements, production contracts, digital marketing services, and event services. 

Mobility 

Based in Shanghai with willingness to travel regionally within China to support sourcing activities, supplier evaluations, and client engagements. 

Analytical Mindset 

Strong commercial and analytical skills with ability to assess rate cards, evaluate supplier proposals, review marketing spend data, and drive actionable recommendations. 

Stakeholder Influence 

Excellent communication and influencing capabilities, with experience working with senior Marketing leaders and cross‑functional stakeholders in a matrix environment. 

Language 

Fluency in Mandarin and English is essential.