Category Manager

Hitachi; Vadodara; On-site; INR 4,000,000 - 6,500,000; Full time

Job summary

Hitachi Energy seeks a senior procurement and category management leader to drive HBU strategy across a global supplier base in India. You will oversee supplier qualification, risk assessments and contract negotiations to secure value, quality and timely delivery.

With 14+ years in supply chain and strong negotiation skills, you will collaborate across functions, lead RFx processes and push cost-saving initiatives while traveling up to 25–50% as needed.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, or related field.
• 14+ years in Supply Chain Management, preferably Category Management or Strategic Sourcing.
• Strong understanding of procurement principles and best practices.
• Proven ability to develop and execute procurement strategies.
• Excellent negotiation and communication skills.
• CIPS or ISM CPSM certification is an advantage.
• Excellent analytical skills with data-driven planning.
• Fluent in English; travel up to 25–50%.

Responsibilities

• Analyze commodity spend, market dynamics, and price developments.
• Assess, define, adjust, and improve HBU category strategy using CIPS methodology.
• Align strategy with stakeholders and communicate regularly.
• Execute strategy deployment actions and monitor KPIs (cost, quality, delivery).
• Oversee supplier relationships and contract performance with regular reviews.
• Lead supplier qualification, risk assessments, audits, and improvement measures.
• Run tender/RFx processes, negotiations, and contract sign-off.
• Provide input on price trends to commodity managers and ERP usage.

Skills

Negotiation

Communication

Procurement principles

Strategic sourcing

Analytical skills

Travel flexibility

English fluency

Education

Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering

Supply Chain Management

Job description

Location: Maneja, Gujarat, India

Job Schedule: Full time

Remote: No

The opportunity:

Hitachi Energy uses a very high-end system for its control, protection and monitoring. This system is called as MACH. This computerized system is built with the state-of-the-art electronics, microprocessors and digital signal processors, connected by high performance industry standard busses and fiber optic communication links. They operate on very high standard application software designed by the control design team for which there is a need for experienced control system engineers.The system being continuously evolving, becoming more complex and customized, great deal of test & verification are required.

How you’ll make an impact:

• Analyze commodity spend, market dynamics, and price developments.
• Compare spend cost development versus market development on a total cost of ownership basis.
• As a spend owner, assess, define, adjust, and improve the HBU category strategy and plan using CIPS methodology, aligning with business needs and Hitachi Energy procedures and regulations.
• Align the strategy with key stakeholders and communicate regularly.
• Execute and deliver on agreed strategy deployment actions, following up with responsible functions and other stakeholders.
• Align and deliver on HBU category targets for KPIs, focusing on cost, quality, and timely delivery.
• Regularly report on financial and supply performance.
• Regularly review the balance of demand versus supply for critical materials, taking measures to secure supply and anticipate changes or new requirements.
• Promote emerging market sourcing activities where they bring additional value.
• Mandate the Supply Quality & Development team in resolving supplier issues and hot topics.
• Collect detailed factory requirements.
• Run tender/order-specific RFx and negotiations as applicable.
• Negotiate spend for selected suppliers, allocate volume, and sign and monitor contracts, frame agreements, and service level agreements (SLAs)
• Provide input on price trends to BU Commodity Managers for commodity guidelines and HBU sales bidding processes.
• Distribute market allocation, pricing, lead times, MOQ (if applicable), and Terms & Conditions information to factories and relevant responsible persons, controlling its usage in local ERP systems.
• Improve tender and project material costing on demand or where appropriate.
• Promote cost breakdown analysis, should costing, and regular benchmarks.
• Approve contracts and purchase orders as per applicable CAT/LAT.

Supply Base Management

• Oversee supplier relationships with regular reviews of contract execution, supply performance, improvement activities, and future plans. Assign supplier account owners for the majority of the spend in the HBU.
• Lead supplier qualification, perform risk assessments, plan and assign audits to Supply Quality & Development Engineers.
• Evaluate, define, and monitor improvement measures for selected suppliers based on performance data, organizing or requesting resources accordingly.
• Act as the resolution owner for escalated topics as mapped in the escalation matrix.
• Identify and address performance hot spots, escalating with corrective and preventive measures.
• Manage claims to maximize compensation for Hitachi Energy.
• Research and scout new suppliers in collaboration with other functions (e.g., SQ, Engineering)
• Work closely with other functions to initiate, promote, and support project execution to bring value in total cost of ownership, risk mitigation, quality, cash, lead time, and material availability.
• Implement material cost-cutting and risk mitigation projects, preferably using the Dynamic Evolution methodology.
• Execute forward sourcing activities for R&D, DtV, New Product Introduction, product cost improvement projects, support technology transfer projects, footprint changes, and other agreed

Your background:

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, Supply Chain Management, or a related field.
• 14+ years in Supply Chain Management, preferably in Category Management or Strategic Sourcing in multinational companies.
• Strong understanding of procurement principles and best practices.
• Proven ability to develop and execute procurement strategies.
• Excellent negotiation and communication skills.
• CIPS or ISM CPSM certification is an advantage.
• Excellent analytical skills with the ability to transform data into short and long-term plans.
• Fluent in English, with other languages being an advantage.
• Flexibility to travel up to 25~50%

Accessibility and reasonable accommodation

Qualified individuals with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation if you are unable or limited in your ability to use or access the Hitachi Energy career site as a result of your disability. You may request reasonable accommodations by completing a general inquiry form on our website. Please include your contact information and specific details about your required accommodation to support you during the job application process.

This is solely for job seekers with disabilities requiring accessibility assistance or an accommodation in the job application process. Messages left for other purposes will not receive a response.

Use of Al and automated tools in recruitment

As part of our recruitment process, Hitachi Energy uses digital and automated tools, including Al-supported solutions, to assist with activities such as application screening, job matching, and interview scheduling. These tools are designed to support our recruiters and do not replace human decision-making. Candidate data is processed in accordance with applicable data protection and employment laws as well as Hitachi’s Global Data Privacy Notice.

Background Screening and Security Checks

As part of the hiring process, Hitachi Energy conducts pre-employment background checks that may include verification of employment history, education, criminal records, and other relevant information, in accordance with applicable laws.

For certain roles—particularly those involving access to sensitive information, financial responsibilities, client data, regulated environments, or security-sensitive functions—additional or more comprehensive background or security screenings may be required. These may include, but are not limited to, enhanced criminal history checks, credit history reviews (where legally permissible), sanctions screening, or other due diligence measures aligned with the responsibilities of the position.

The scope and depth of any background or security review will be determined based on the nature of the role and business necessity, and will always be conducted in compliance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. Candidates will be notified and, where required, asked to provide consent prior to the initiation of any such checks.