Strategic Category Lead - Fibers & Paper

Etex Group; Zaventem; Sur place; EUR 90 000 - 130 000; Plein temps

Résumé du poste

Etex Group in Zaventem, Belgium, seeks an Associate Category Manager for Fibers & Paper to shape category strategies and lead end-to-end sourcing programs across regions. You will partner with Global Category Manager and functional stakeholders to drive value, resilience and sustainable procurement practices.

The role requires several years in strategic procurement, strong analytical and leadership skills, and the ability to influence without direct reporting.

Qualifications

• Several years of experience in strategic procurement, category management, sourcing or supplier management.
• 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.

Responsabilités

• 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 optimisation, 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.

Connaissances

Strategic procurement

Category management

Sourcing

Supplier management

Stakeholder management

Analytical capability

Cross-functional collaboration

Description du poste

Etex Group in Zaventem, Belgium, seeks an Associate Category Manager for Fibers & Paper to shape category strategies and lead end-to-end sourcing programs across regions. You will partner with Global Category Manager and functional stakeholders to drive value, resilience and sustainable procurement practices.

The role requires several years in strategic procurement, strong analytical and leadership skills, and the ability to influence without direct reporting.