Associate Category Manager - Fibers & Paper

Etex; Zaventem; Sur place; EUR 85 000 - 110 000; Plein temps

Résumé du poste

Etex seeks an Associate Category Manager - Fibers & Paper to shape and deploy category strategies within a global manufacturing context. You will own subcategories, lead sourcing programs, and drive supplier performance across cost, quality and delivery, partnering with regional teams to deliver measurable value.

As a strategic business partner, you’ll influence senior stakeholders, conduct market analysis and optimize total cost of ownership while advancing sustainability and innovation

Qualifications

• Several years of experience in strategic procurement and category management.
• Experience shaping category strategies and leading sourcing programs.
• Ability to translate business priorities into actionable procurement plans.

Responsabilités

• Co-leads development and governance of global category strategies.
• Owns defined subcategories and end-to-end category initiatives.
• Delivers defined value targets including savings and cost improvements.
• Leads supplier performance across quality, cost, and delivery.
• Partners with stakeholders to translate insights into execution plans.

Connaissances

Strategic procurement

Category management

Sourcing

Supplier management

Cross-functional leadership

Stakeholder management

Analytical skills

Cost analysis

Negotiation

Description du poste

At Etex, our purpose is building better together. We are an international leader in sustainable construction, driven by a passion for excellence, but it's our people that are our top priority. We connect, collaborate, and champion the well-being of our employees, forming partnerships and pioneering change in our ever-evolving industry.

At Etex, we seek to make a meaningful impact in the lives of our customers and our communities. Are you looking for a company where you can learn, grow & lead? Join us as Associate Category Manager - Fibers & Paper and play a pivotal role in procurement strategy of Etex!

The Associate Category Manager is a senior individual contributor within the global category team, working closely with the Global Category Manager to shape, deploy and execute category strategies across Etex. The role owns defined subcategories, strategic suppliers, sourcing programs and transformation workstreams with a level of strategic scope and business impact comparable to a Global Category Manager, while operating as part of the category leadership structure. It contributes directly to enterprise value creation, cost competitiveness, supply resilience, supplier performance, innovation, sustainability and the implementation of the future procurement operating model across regions and divisions.

Key Responsibilities:

• Co-leads the development, deployment and governance of global category strategies with the Global Category Manager, translating enterprise priorities into actionable category roadmaps.
• Owns defined subcategories, category workstreams and strategic initiatives end to end, including market analysis, sourcing strategy, supplier selection, negotiation and implementation.
• Owns the delivery of defined value creation targets, including savings, cost avoidance, working capital improvements, contract coverage and cash-impacting initiatives.
• Leads TCO optimization, should-cost analysis, cost benchmarking, demand challenge and design-to-cost opportunities in partnership with business and functional stakeholders.
• Manages strategic supplier relationships within the category team, including supplier segmentation, performance governance, QBRs, improvement plans and escalation management.
• Drives supplier performance across quality, cost, delivery, service, innovation, ESG and risk, using scorecards and fact-based reviews to improve outcomes.
• Leads market, geopolitical, regulatory and supplier risk monitoring for assigned subcategories and translates insights into mitigation roadmaps.
• Acts as a strategic business partner to divisional, regional and functional stakeholders, ensuring category strategies reflect business needs and are translated into clear execution plans.
• Influences senior stakeholders without formal authority by providing market insight, commercial challenge, risk perspective and clear recommendations for decision making.

Key Requirements:

• Several years of experience in strategic procurement, category management, sourcing or supplier management, preferably within a global manufacturing or industrial environment.
• Proven track record in strategic category management, including shaping category strategies, leading complex sourcing programs and driving supplier strategies to deliver measurable business value.
• Strong matrix leadership experience with the ability to lead cross-functional teams, supplier forums and transformation initiatives without direct reporting authority.
• Experience operating in complex, international manufacturing or industrial environments with exposure to global supply markets, cross-border stakeholders and operational execution challenges.
• Advanced analytical capability with expertise in spend analysis, market intelligence, supplier performance data, cost models and digital tools to support decision making.
• Ability to translate business priorities into actionable procurement strategies that optimize value, manage risk and support enterprise objectives.
• Enterprise-wide mindset with the ability to connect priorities across divisions and functions, ensuring alignment and driving business outcomes.
• Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills, including the ability to build trust, secure commitment and influence senior leaders through data-driven recommendations.
• Excellent communication, presentation and interpersonal skills, with the ability to clearly convey complex ideas, adapt messaging to different audiences and drive alignment across stakeholders.

Why Join Us?

• Etex's strong purpose 'Building Better together' is shaping a new future for the construction industry and helping to build a better future for all.
• Our culture – we connect & care about those around us. We nurture teamwork, communities, partnerships and new ways of working, placing the highest importance on the safety and working environment of our people.
• Our ‘Road to Sustainability 2030’ is our plan to help build a better, sustainable future. We work towards this vision by caring about our social and environmental impacts and developing innovative solutions.
• We have a strong conviction that diversity of thinking helps us to deliver a strong and sustainable performance. It is also essential for us that everyone feels part of the team. In this spirit, we are committed to equal opportunities and zero tolerance towards discrimination.