Your mission
As a Lead Application Service Management, you are responsible for managing and developing external service providers within the Application Management domain. You act as the central interface between internal stakeholders and external partners, ensuring compliance with service levels, budgets, and contractual agreements.
Vendor Management
Manage and develop relationships with external service providers and vendors
Build and maintain long-term strategic partnerships
Conduct regular service reviews and performance assessments
Ensure compliance with SLAs, KPIs, and contractual obligations
Support vendor selection processes (RFPs, contract negotiations).
Invoice Approval Management
Review and approve vendor invoices in line with contractual agreements
Ensure cost transparency and adherence to budgets
Align with Finance on discrepancies
Drive and align continuous improvement of invoice approval processes with Invoice Application Management Team
Track and monitor ongoing costs and forecasts in close alignment with the budget owners.
Application Management Support
Manage external partners responsible for ERP application operations and support
Coordinate incidents, service requests, and change activities
Manage and improve tools @PUMA supporting the Application Management Service process (e.g. SAP Solution Manager, SAP Cloud ALM, Jira Service Management)
Control, drive and monitor the external AMS partner and make sure that SLA’s are always met
Ensure stable and efficient application operations
Promote automation, standardization, and continuous improvement
Handle escalations and critical service issues.
Your talent
Degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or a comparable qualification
Several years of experience in IT Service Management or Application Operations
Proven experience in vendor management and managing external service providers
Strong knowledge of ITIL or similar frameworks
Experience with budget, cost control, and contract management
Strong communication and negotiation skills
High level of ownership and accountability
Analytical thinking and structured working style
Strong problem-solving and conflict management skills
Team-oriented mindset with excellent stakeholder management abilities
Fluent English is mandatory (Puma’s corporate language); German or other regional languages are a strong asset.
Our principles
PUMA provides equal opportunities for all job applicants, regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, or disability. Equality for all is one of the core principles at PUMA and we do not tolerate any form of harassment or discrimination.
At PUMA, every application is reviewed by real people who are committed to fairness, transparency, and equal opportunity - no matter your background, identity, or experience. To ensure our process stays true to these values, no automated systems or AI tools are used to make hiring decisions. Every decision is made by real people -with real judgment and accountability. We may use functions supported by Artificial Intelligence (AI) to carry out isolated organizational steps, such as scheduling interviews. These functions have no influence on decisions in the application process. We believe in creating spaces where everyone is welcome, celebrated, and empowered to contribute authentically. Because at PUMA, whoever wants to play, can play.
PUMA is a global sports brand creating footwear, apparel, and accessories that inspire athletes and everyday movers. The PUMA Group owns PUMA, Cobra Golf, and stichd, operates in 120+ countries, and has around 22,000 employees worldwide.
