Procurement Category Manager

Van den Bosch; Dubai; On-site; AED 300,000 - 420,000; Full time

Job summary

Van den Bosch is seeking a Procurement Category Manager to lead ocean freight procurement, negotiating with shipping lines and carriers to secure favorable terms.

You will drive contracts, monitor supplier performance, contribute to tender processes, and ensure accurate data in our systems. A minimum of five years in purchasing services with logistics focus is required. Strong English and commercial insight are essential, with local language knowledge a plus.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or master's degree in business or supply chain related field.
• At least 5 years of experience in purchasing services.
• Mandatory logistics experience, preferably sea freight.
• Fluent English; local language knowledge is a plus.
• Commercial and technical insight; strong persuasion skills.

Responsibilities

• Negotiate global and regional freight agreements balancing cost and service.
• Contract depot services and manage agency agreements.
• Monitor supplier performance and drive improvements with strategic partners.
• Support tender processes and market analyses to identify cost savings.
• Maintain accurate contract administration and supplier data in internal systems.

Skills

Persuasion and influencing

Commercial and technical insight

English proficiency

Education

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Business Administration, Economics, Supply Chain Management, or comparable field

Job description

As a Procurement Category Manager you will be responsible for managing procurement activities related to ocean freight services with shipping lines and carriers.

• Negotiate global and regional freight agreements including service levels capacity commitments and commercial terms ensuring the best balance between cost service quality and network reliability.
• Contract depot services and manage agency agreements to support our global operations.
• Continuously monitor supplier performance and drive improvement initiatives with strategic partners while conducting market analyses and supporting tender processes to identify cost-saving opportunities and service enhancements.
• A strong focus on accuracy and attention to detail is essential in this role.
• Through correct contract administration supplier data management and document filing within our internal systems you will ensure reliable information is available across the organization enabling Commercial Operations Finance and other teams to work efficiently and make informed decisions.

Qualifications

• A completed bachelor's or master's degree in Business Administration, Economics, Supply Chain Management, or a comparable field;
• At least 5 years of experience in purchasing services;
• Mandatory experience in Logistics, preferably with focus on sea freight;
• Good command of English;
• knowledge of a local language is an advantage;
• Commercial and technical insight;
• Strong persuasion and influencing skills;