Category Manager

Job description

Role summary: ​​The Category Manager is responsible for developing and executing category strategies that deliver sustainable value, cost optimisation, risk mitigation, and supplier performance improvement across assigned spend categories. This role combines strategic sourcing, market intelligence, stakeholder engagement, and performance analytics to ensure alignment with business objectives and long‑term growth. The successful candidate will act as the commercial owner of their categories, driving value beyond price through innovation, resilience, and total cost of ownership. Responsibilities: Develop and implement end‑to‑end category strategies aligned with business, operational, and financial goals. Analyse spend, market dynamics, and supply risks to identify cost‑saving, value‑creation, and resilience opportunities. Lead strategic sourcing activities including RFPs, negotiations, supplier selection, and contract implementation. Together with Supplier Managers, support the management of supplier relationships, performance reviews, and continuous improvement initiatives. Partner closely with internal stakeholders (Business Units, Procurement, Quality and Supplier Management) to align category plans with business needs. Drive contract compliance negotiations and implementation, ensuring value realisation from negotiated agreements. Identify opportunities for supplier consolidation, localisation, dual sourcing, or innovation. Monitor and report category KPIs including cost savings, cost avoidance, supplier performance, risk exposure, and service levels. Ensure adherence to procurement policies, ethical standards, and regulatory requirements. Support transformation initiatives such as digital procurement tools, supplier rationalisation, or ESG objectives. Requirements: Bachelor’s degree in Business, Engineering, or related field 5+ years’ experience in category management, strategic sourcing or products management, engineering or sales in electrical industries, sealing or valves companies Proven experience leading negotiations and managing complex categories. Strong commercial and financial acumen with the ability to interpret data and translate insights into actions. Experience working with ERP systems and spend analytics tools (e.g. SAP, Oracle, Power BI). Demonstrated ability to influence senior stakeholders without direct authority Strategic thinking and structured problem solving Negotiation and contract management Data‑driven decision making Stakeholder management and cross‑functional collaboration Risk management and supply market analysis Project management and prioritisation Clear communication and executive‑level presentation skills Proficiency in English, both written and spoken We offer variety of benefits alongside competitive salary.