Category Manager

Tenneco; Edenkoben; Hybrid; EUR 70.000 - 90.000; Vollzeit

Zusammenfassung

A leading automotive technology company is seeking a skilled procurement leader to optimize indirect spend and profitability improvement initiatives. Candidates should have a Bachelor's degree and at least 5 years of experience in Supply Chain Management or Procurement. Responsibilities include driving sourcing projects, supplier relationship management, and analyzing spend data. The role may require occasional travel and offers a dynamic working environment. An excellent opportunity for those looking to make an impact in the automotive sector.

Qualifikationen

• Minimum of 5 years of experience in Supply Chain Management, Procurement, or similar roles.
• In-depth experience with strategic sourcing and category management practices.
• Hands-on experience leading multi-regional or global initiatives.

Aufgaben

• Drive corporate indirect procurement and profit improvement.
• Lead sourcing projects and manage negotiation strategies.
• Foster performance-based supplier relationships.

Kenntnisse

Analytical skills

Problem-solving skills

Negotiation skills

Project management skills

Communication skills

Ausbildung

Bachelor’s Degree in business, engineering, or related field

MBA or other advanced degree

Tools

SAP

ERP programs

Jobbeschreibung

Tenneco is one of the world’s leading designer, manufacturers and marketers of automotive products for OEM and aftermarket customers, with approximately 78,000 team members working at more than 300 sites worldwide. Through our four business groups, Motorparts, Ride Performance, Clean Air and Powertrain, Tenneco is driving advancements in global mobility by delivering technology solutions for diversified global markets, including light vehicle, commercial truck, off‑highway, industrial, motorsport and the aftermarket.

This position is responsible for leading value generation, sourcing, and profitability improvement initiatives to optimize indirect and corporate spend, executing effective procurement strategies from initial identification of procurement needs for goods and services to sustaining results. Close interaction and coordination with internal partners and external suppliers is required. Success will be measured on spend addressed, savings achieved, and working capital impact. The central challenge of the position is to capture value from indirect spend categories while meeting key business objectives such as service, quality, timing, and security of supply. It requires assessing near‑term and long‑term plans to ensure supplier priorities are balanced with business needs; consulting with senior management and other subject matter experts to develop alternative solutions; advising on options, risks, total cost of ownership, and business impacts. The position may be based in any EMEA location, part of Tenneco Clean Air, Powertrain or Ignition Business Groups. The role reports directly to the Director of Indirect Materials & Services EMEA.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Help drive corporate indirect procurement and profit improvement, delivering:
  • Category Planning: Work with corporate team, business units and regional stakeholders to prioritize an evolving portfolio of high‑value process improvement and sourcing initiatives.
  • Serve as a full partner to the business in evaluating and challenging the status quo to surface value opportunities.
  • Lead aggregation, normalization and analysis of spend data to identify potential value opportunities.
  • Ensure proper sequencing and business support for value capture initiatives.
  • Research and provide information on industry category trends and best practices.
• Sourcing and Contracting:
  • Drive sourcing projects emerging from category planning.
  • Define goals, including roles and responsibilities of stakeholders.
  • Incorporate business requirements into sourcing plans and RFP strategies.
  • Manage planning and launch of RFx events, leveraging eSourcing tools as appropriate.
  • Enhance competition by leveraging spend and qualified new suppliers.
  • Deep dive current spend information to identify sourcing projects for individual subcategories, develop overall cost reduction plan, scorecards and continuous improvement plans.
  • Coordinate and lead negotiations; help stakeholders understand trade‑offs and benefits of negotiation strategies/outcomes.
  • Develop global/regional contracts that are commercially sound and provide optimum protection of company assets; develop comprehensive implementation with stakeholders and end users.
  • Quantify and report both identified and implemented sourcing project results.
  • Execute strategic sourcing best practices and initiatives that support improvements in supplier quality, total cost effectiveness, enhanced service levels, improved coordination, delivery, pricing, lead times, payment, risk compliance and other areas as identified.
• Process Improvement:
  • Identify and capture profit improvement opportunities beyond leveraged sourcing, e.g., demand management opportunities, in‑source versus outsource decisions, efficiencies in the company’s comprehensive supply chain, and other strategic and operational process improvements.
  • Ensure appropriate cross‑functional partnering on process improvement projects.
  • Track and work with corporate finance to report results for identified projects and replicate with other functions when applicable.
  • Actively seek ways to streamline business processes.
• Supplier Relationship Management:
  • Foster performance‑based supplier relationships to create short‑term and long‑term value for the company.
  • Lead global business reviews with strategic suppliers to ensure performance against contracted obligations and business unit expectations.
  • Anticipate and minimize performance issues via KPIs.
  • When performance issues emerge, identify root causes and drive efficient resolution by working across internal and external stakeholders.
  • Lead vendor risk assessments (information security, business continuity, physical) coordinating efforts across stakeholders.
  • Negotiate and develop contract terms & conditions, including SLAs and pricing.

Minimum Requirements

Education: Bachelor’s Degree in business, engineering, or related field. MBA or other advanced degree preferred.

Experience: Minimum of 5 years of experience in Supply Chain Management, Procurement, or similar roles.

Skills:

• Excellent analytical and problem‑solving skills; strong background in data collection & analysis.
• In‑depth experience with world‑class strategic sourcing and category management practices, including e‑Sourcing.
• Self‑confidence and clarity of expression to lead discussions with executive audiences and challenge current practices.
• Hands‑on experience leading multi‑regional or global initiatives.
• Proficient in relevant supply‑chain and business software such as SAP and ERP programs.
• Experience managing indirect spend categories using multi‑step strategic sourcing processes, especially Chemicals, Industrial Gases, MHE, MRO and equipment.
• Track record of managing change through influence; capable of driving major commercial decisions across a diverse set of stakeholders.
• Expert‑level financial and analytical skills; embraces fact‑based decision making; leverages market data, spend analytics and cost modeling.
• Strong project management skills, including stakeholder, timeline and meeting management.
• Strong negotiation skills; expert understanding of terms, conditions and contracting techniques for managing risk.
• Excellent communication skills, including written, verbal and presentation skills, and credible with internal and external audiences.
• Ability to work up, down, and across a large organization; connects at all levels (operations, management, executives).
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously under tight timeframes.
• Flexible, dynamic, self‑demanding and proactive; motivates self and others; accepts constructive input.
• Willing to travel up to 25% of the time for business purpose.

An Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.

We are committed to the safety and health of our employees. We adhere to social distancing recommendations and other protocols, ensuring a safe work environment for all.