Category Buyer

Job description

Job Mission The Category Buyer will be responsible for driving strategic procurement initiatives while supporting transactional activities for one site (approximately 25–30% PR‑to‑PO processing in Oracle), the role includes category management, negotiation, contract management, and operational support for MRO, spares, services, and equipment leasing/hiring. This position reports to the Procurement Manager and is considered a successor role for future managerial responsibilities. Key Responsibilities Category Procurement & Service Agreements Lead category procurement for all MRO items, spare parts, consumables, and service agreements, including equipment leasing/hiring. Conduct cost–benefit analyses to determine optimal owning vs. rental options. Develop category strategies aligned with operational and commercial needs. Economic Viability & Business Decision Support Evaluate Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) and full life‑cycle costing for products and services. Prepare economic feasibility assessments and make recommendations to business leadership. Identify and drive cost‑saving opportunities, cost‑avoidance measures, and budget optimizations. Strategic Negotiation & Sourcing Plan, execute, and manage sourcing events, including RFI/RFQ/RFP processes. Lead robust commercial and contractual negotiations to secure favorable terms. Utilize historical data, forecasting, and TCO analytics for informed strategic decisions. Regulatory, Safety & Statutory Compliance Ensure adherence to local laws, contracting norms, safety standards, and compliance requirements. Integrate statutory and safety requirements into all procurement agreements. Contract Management & Risk Mitigation Draft, review, and administer contracts incorporating LDs, penalties, incentives, and clearly defined KPIs. Identify and mitigate commercial, operational, and performance-related risks. Ensure clarity of roles, responsibilities, deliverables, and service levels in all contracts. Stakeholder Collaboration Engage with operations, finance, engineering, and HSE teams to ensure alignment of procurement objectives. Support decision‑making through transparent communication and analytical insights. Issue Resolution & Post‑Procurement Support Manage post‑PO issues, including disputes, reconciliations, and supplier performance concerns. Provide timely support to site operations and contractors to ensure seamless execution. Vendor Management Identify, evaluate, onboard, and manage suppliers to ensure reliability and compliance. Conduct periodic vendor assessments and performance reviews. Team Collaboration & Capability Building Work closely with site buyers and procurement strategy teams to improve category knowledge and performance. Promote a culture of collaboration, innovation, and accountability. Procurement MIS & Reporting Track and report cost savings, cost avoidance, and category spend. Monitor performance of BPAs/CPAs and managed spend. Prepare monthly MIS reports and track delivery performance. Key Competencies & Skills. Excellent communication skills, with the ability to convey information effectively in both English and the local language Expertise in strategic sourcing, category management, and complex negotiations. Knowledge of equipment hiring, and financial/commercial evaluation. Good understanding of bank guarantees, Letters of Credit, and transactional commercial instruments. Experience in import processes, freight forwarding, customs clearance, and logistics. Excellent stakeholder management, communication, and problem‑solving capabilities. Working knowledge of ERP systems (Oracle preferred) and continuous improvement mindset. Advanced Excel and PowerPoint skills. All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines. Harsco Environmental, a division of Enviri Corporation, is a premier global provider of onsite material processing, resource recovery, and environmental services for the steel and metals industries. Operating at 130+ sites in 30+ countries, they specialize in converting industrial byproducts into sustainable products, focusing on slag management and metal recovery to support a circular economy.