Category Buyer
Schneider Electric
A complete application in a minute
Tailored resume and cover letter, ready to send.
Job summary
Schneider Electric is seeking a Category Buyer to lead supplier strategy, cost optimization, and productivity initiatives across manufacturing operations and strategic projects. You will negotiate with suppliers, manage sourcing initiatives, and develop category strategies to drive measurable business impact.
The role requires collaboration with Operations, Engineering, Quality, and Finance teams, with a focus on delivering savings, improving supplier performance, and sustaining enterprise-wide
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in one of the listed fields.
- Minimum 5 years of experience in Procurement, Purchasing, Sourcing, or Supply Chain.
- Experience managing supplier negotiations and commercial agreements.
- Experience in manufacturing/industrial environments.
- Proven track record of delivering cost savings and productivity improvements.
Responsibilities
- Develop and execute sourcing strategies for assigned categories.
- Lead supplier negotiations, commercial discussions, and contract management.
- Build strong relationships with strategic suppliers and drive long-term partnerships.
- Conduct supplier visits and business reviews to improve performance.
- Support supplier selection, qualification, and onboarding activities.
- Identify and implement cost reduction and productivity opportunities.
- Lead value analysis and continuous improvement initiatives.
- Manage savings pipelines and ensure annual productivity targets.
- Review pricing, contracts, invoices, and commercial agreements.
- Maintain accurate purchasing information within SAP and related systems.
- Ensure compliance with procurement policies and processes.
- Partner with Operations, Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, Finance, and Project teams.
- Align sourcing decisions with business objectives.
- Influence key decisions using data, market intelligence, and commercial expertise.
Skills
Education
Tools
Job description
We are looking for a Category Buyer to join our procurement team and play a key role in driving supplier performance, productivity initiatives, and cost optimization across manufacturing operations and strategic projects.
This position offers the opportunity to work with key stakeholders across Operations, Quality, Engineering, Supply Chain, Finance, and Project Management while leading supplier negotiations, sourcing initiatives, and category strategies that directly impact business results.
- Develop and execute sourcing strategies for assigned categories.
- Lead supplier negotiations, commercial discussions, and contract management.
- Build strong relationships with strategic suppliers and drive long-term partnerships.
- Conduct supplier visits and business reviews to improve performance and strengthen collaboration.
- Support supplier selection, qualification, and onboarding activities.
- Identify and implement cost reduction and productivity opportunities.
- Lead value analysis and continuous improvement initiatives.
- Manage savings pipelines and ensure delivery of annual productivity targets.
- Support projects focused on improving supplier competitiveness and operational efficiency.
- Manage RFQs and supplier quotation processes.
- Review pricing, contracts, invoices, and commercial agreements.
- Maintain accurate purchasing information within SAP and related systems.
- Ensure compliance with procurement policies and processes.
- Partner with Operations, Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, Finance, and Project teams.
- Align sourcing decisions with business objectives.
- Influence key decisions using data, market intelligence, and commercial expertise.
- Successfully manage key suppliers and sourcing activities independently.
- Deliver measurable productivity and cost savings results.
- Become a trusted business partner for manufacturing and project teams.
- Strengthen supplier performance in quality, delivery, and cost.
- Take ownership of larger, more strategic supplier relationships.
Bachelor's degree in:
- Industrial Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering
- Supply Chain Management
- Business Administration
- Economics
- Related fields
Required
- Minimum of 5 years of experience in Procurement, Purchasing, Strategic Sourcing, or Supply Chain.
- Experience managing supplier negotiations and commercial agreements.
- Experience supporting manufacturing, industrial, or plant operations environments.
- Proven track record delivering cost savings and productivity projects.
Preferred
- Category management experience within manufacturing environments.
- Experience working with strategic suppliers and cross-functional teams.
Required
- Advanced English proficiency (written and verbal).
- Advanced Microsoft Excel skills.
- SAP experience.
- Strong analytical and data management capabilities.
Preferred
- Tableau or other business intelligence tools.
- APICS, CPIM, CSCP, or equivalent certifications.
- Strong negotiation and influencing skills.
- Strategic sourcing mindset.
- Excellent stakeholder management capabilities.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
- Results-oriented with a strong focus on productivity and continuous improvement.
- Effective communication and collaboration skills.
You will work closely with:
- Supply Chain Managers
- Quality Managers
- Regional Category Managers
- Project Managers
- Engineering Teams
- Finance Teams
- Manufacturing Leadership Teams
We are specifically looking for professionals who:
Have at least 5 years of procurement or sourcing experience.
Have worked in a manufacturing, industrial, or plant environment.
Have direct experience negotiating with suppliers and managing commercial relationships.
Are comfortable working with SAP and advanced Excel.
Can communicate effectively in English with global stakeholders.
Have a strong track record of achieving savings, productivity improvements, or sourcing results.
If you enjoy negotiating, building supplier partnerships, influencing business decisions, and driving measurable results, this is an excellent opportunity to make a significant impact within a dynamic manufacturing environment.
- High-impact role where your decisions directly influence business outcomes
- Opportunity to lead strategic initiatives and drive meaningful change
- Collaborative culture that values expertise and invests in your development
- Autonomy to manage priorities and shape your work approach
Our Total Rewards is our way of saying: We see you and we value you. It’s more than just pay and benefits—it’s a meaningful investment in you. It is designed to help you perform, grow, feel safe, and elevate your potential. The package helps you care for yourself and your family, plan your future, grow your skills and career, collaborate in an inclusive workplace, and contribute to your community. At Schneider Electric, we’re here for what matters most to you. Discover more at our Career Page.
* Country-specific programs and initiatives may be available.
When you are thinking about joining a new team, culture matters. At Schneider Electric, our values and behaviors are the foundation for creating a great culture to support business success. We believe that our IMPACT values – Inclusion, Mastery, Purpose, Action, Curiosity, Teamwork – starts with us.
IMPACT is also your invitation to join Schneider Electric where you can contribute to turning sustainability ambition into actions, no matter what role you play. It is a call to connect your career with the ambition of achieving a more resilient, efficient, and sustainable world.
We are looking for IMPACT Makers; exceptional people who turn sustainability ambitions into actions at the intersection of automation, electrification, and digitization. We celebrate IMPACT Makers and believe everyone has the potential to be one.
€40 billion global revenue
+9% organic growth
150 000+ employees in 100+ countries
At Schneider Electric aspires to be the most inclusive and caring company in the world, by providing equitable opportunities to everyone, everywhere, and ensuring all employees feel uniquely valued and safe to contribute their best. We mirror the diversity of the communities in which we operate, and ‘inclusion’ is one of our core values. We believe our differences make us stronger as a company and as individuals and we are committed to championing inclusivity in everything we do.
Schneider Electric is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is our policy to provide equal employment and advancement opportunities in the areas of recruiting, hiring, training, transferring, and promoting all qualified individuals regardless of race, religion, color, gender, disability, national origin, ancestry, age, military status, sexual orientation, marital status, or any other legally protected characteristic or conduct.
We uphold the highest standards of ethics and compliance, and we believe that trust is a foundational value. Our Trust Charter is our Code of Conduct and demonstrates our commitment to ethics, safety, sustainability, quality and cybersecurity, underpinning every aspect of our business and our willingness to behave and respond respectfully and in good faith to all our stakeholders. You can find out more about our Trust Charter here
'/%3e%3cpath%20d='M101.744%2012.4726L102.894%2016.1947L99.0021%2013.2201L101.744%2012.4726ZM105.3%208.40937H100.488L99.0026%203.59473L97.5116%208.41047L92.7%208.40385L96.5965%2011.3834L95.1055%2016.1942L99.0021%2013.2196L101.408%2011.3834L105.3%208.40992V8.40937Z'%20fill='white'/%3e%3cdefs%3e%3clinearGradient%20id='paint0_linear_5593_1381'%20x1='90'%20y1='9.44471'%20x2='99'%20y2='9.44471'%20gradientUnits='userSpaceOnUse'%3e%3cstop%20stop-color='%2300AD70'/%3e%3cstop%20offset='0.998594'%20stop-color='%2300B67A'/%3e%3cstop%20offset='1'%20stop-color='%23DCDCE6'/%3e%3c/linearGradient%3e%3c/defs%3e%3c/svg%3e){kind=small}
