Category Manager & Global Sourcing Manager Site Services (all genders)

Merck Group; Weiterstadt; On-site; EUR 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Merck Group in Germany seeks a Global Category Manager for Site Services to shape procurement strategies underpinning capital and operational investments. You will lead end-to-end sourcing programs across Equipment, Construction, and Energy with a spend entrepreneurship mindset.

You will build and govern a high‑performing strategic supplier portfolio, establish KPI frameworks, and coordinate virtual global category teams across the Americas, Europe, and Asia to deliver sustained value to senior

Qualifications

• 8–12+ years of progressive experience in strategic sourcing and category management
• Strong track record in indirect, technical, or engineering‑related procurement
• Experience in multinational environments and complex supply chains
• Fluency in total cost of ownership modeling and advanced negotiation strategies

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute global category strategies for Site Services
• Lead end‑to‑end sourcing programs from market analysis to contract conclusion
• Govern supplier relationships and establish KPI frameworks across regions
• Collaborate with Manufacturing, Engineering, Operations, Finance, Legal and Compliance

Skills

Strategic sourcing

Category management

Negotiation

Spend analytics

Total cost of ownership

Stakeholder management

Governance

AI procurement awareness

English fluency

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Economics, Supply Chain Management, Engineering, Business Administration, or related field

Job description

Work Your Magic with us!

Ready to explore, break barriers, and discover more? We know you’ve got big plans – so do we! Our colleagues across the globe love innovating with science and technology to enrich people’s lives with our solutions in Healthcare, Life Science, and Electronics. Together, we dream big and are passionate about caring for our rich mix of people, customers, patients, and planet. That's why we are always looking for curious minds that see themselves imagining the unimaginable with us.

Your role

As a Global Category Manager for Site Services, you will sit at the heart of a worldwide Technical Sourcing organization, shaping the procurement strategies that underpin some of the most significant capital and operational investments across a global science and technology enterprise. This is a high-visibility, high-impact role for an experienced procurement professional who thrives on complexity, drives value at scale, and influences outcomes across organizational boundaries without relying on direct authority.

You will own and continuously evolve the global category strategy for Site Services – spanning Equipment and Components, Construction, and Energy – directly aligned to capital investment plans and long‑term business priorities. Applying a spend entrepreneurship mindset, you will lead rigorous end‑to‑end sourcing programs: from market analysis, supplier segmentation, and total cost of ownership modeling through to contract conclusion and claim management.

You will build and govern a high‑performing strategic supplier portfolio, establish structured supplier relationship management programs with clear key performance indicator frameworks and governance cadences, and ensure resilient, multi‑region supply continuity. Acting as a trusted counterpart to Manufacturing, Engineering, Operations, Finance, Legal, and Compliance stakeholders across all business sectors, you will coordinate virtual global category teams across the Americas, Europe, and Asia – generating cross‑project synergies and delivering quantifiable, sustained value improvements with full transparency to senior leadership

Who You Are

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Economics, Supply Chain Management, Engineering, Business Administration, or a related field; equivalent professional experience is equally valued.
• 8–12+ years of progressive experience in strategic sourcing and category management, with a strong track record in indirect, technical, or engineering‑related procurement within complex, multinational environments – ideally in life sciences, healthcare, or electronics.
• Demonstrated expertise in developing and executing global category strategies, including capital expenditure and operational expenditure procurement, supplier relationship management, contract negotiations, and multi‑region supplier governance.
• Exceptional analytical and commercial acumen: fluency in total cost of ownership modeling, spend analytics, should‑cost analysis, and advanced negotiation strategies, with the ability to translate technical requirements into compelling procurement solutions.
• Outstanding stakeholder management and influencing skills; proven ability to lead without formal authority in a matrixed global organization and to present data‑driven business cases to senior leadership.
• Solid understanding of compliance‑intensive environments, including Good Manufacturing Practice standards and sustainable procurement practices aligned to environmental, social, and governance principles.
• Demonstrated ability to engage with artificial intelligence tools and concepts – including their practical applications, limitations, and ethical implications – to support informed, responsible decision‑making in a procurement context.
• Business fluency in English is required; proficiency in German, French, Mandarin, or other languages is a distinct advantage.

What we offer:

We are curious minds that come from a broad range of backgrounds, perspectives, and life experiences. We believe that this variety drives excellence and innovation, strengthening our ability to lead in science and technology. We are committed to creating access and opportunities for all to develop and grow at your own pace. Join us in building a culture of inclusion and belonging that impacts millions and empowers everyone to work their magic and champion human progress!