Category Manager

Rotterdam Innovation City; Den Haag; On-site; EUR 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension plan

Commuting allowance

Training and certifications

30 days holiday plus 3 extra days

High-quality equipment

Job summary

Robin Radar in The Netherlands is seeking a Procurement Category Manager - Mechatronic Parts to own sourcing strategies for high-tech mechatronics and ensure reliable supplier capacity for rapid growth. You’ll collaborate with design engineers, negotiate long-term contracts, and monitor OTIF and quality across global suppliers.

You will work with ERP systems like SAP or Odoo, travel internationally for audits, and lead critical Make vs Buy analyses while safeguarding IP and supplier relations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Supply Chain Management, Mechanical Engineering, or Mechatronics.
• 5+ years of strategic procurement or category management in high-tech manufacturing.
• Strong technical baseline in CNC machining, casting, injection molding, and tolerances.
• Proven RFQ management and long-term framework contracts.
• Hands-on experience with ERP platforms like Odoo or SAP.
• Professional fluency in written and spoken English.
• Dutch or German proficiency is a strong asset.
• Ability to move between high-level strategy and supplier escalation.
• Willingness to travel internationally for audits/site visits.

Responsibilities

• Sourcing strategy and execution for mechatronics, precision metals, and assemblies.
• Early design collaboration on DFM, lead times, and cost structures.
• Develop supplier relationships and implement SLAs for OTIF and quality.
• Identify material shortages and single-source risks before downtimes.
• Lead Make vs Buy analyses and draft Statements of Work with IP protection.
• Negotiate framework contracts and manage BOMs, lead times, and pricing in SAP/Odoo.

Skills

Sourcing strategy

DFM collaboration

Supplier development

Risk mitigation

Make vs Buy

ERP data

English fluency

Dutch/German asset

Strategic procurement

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in SCM/Engineering/Mechatronics

Tools

Odoo

SAP

Job description

Bridge engineering and supply chain. Keep our high-tech mechatronics scaled – so every radar delivers top performance.

As our Procurement Category Manager - Mechatronic Parts, you act as the strategic link between Innovation & Development, Assembly, and global suppliers. You own the long-term capacity and technical reliability of our precision metals, electromechanical assemblies, and complex components. You work directly with Product Engineers during early design phases, leading DFM insights and Make vs Buy analyses to support rapid scale-up. Reporting to the Head of Procurement, you ensure our production lines keep moving without single-source bottlenecks.

What you'll do

• Sourcing strategy and execution: Own and execute sourcing strategies for mechatronics, precision metals, and electromechanical assemblies. Secure reliable supplier capacity to back our rapid growth.

• Early design and DFM collaboration: Partner with Mechanical and Electromechanical Engineers during early design phases. Advise directly on Design-for-Manufacturing, lead times, and realistic cost structures.

• Supplier development and SLAs: Build deep, trust-based relationships with key global suppliers and European partners. Implement SLAs to monitor OTIF and quality metrics constantly.

• Risk mitigation and bottlenecks: Identify potential material shortages and single-source risks well in advance. Take action to protect the production line from unexpected downtime.

• Make vs Buy and outsourcing: Lead Make vs Buy analyses for complex mechatronic sub-assemblies. Draft clear Statements of Work and manage knowledge transfer roadmaps with robust IP protection.

• Commercial negotiation and ERP data: Negotiate framework contracts, pricing structures, and tooling agreements to lower Total Cost of Ownership. Maintain clean BOM configurations, lead times, and pricing inside SAP or Odoo.

What you bring

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Supply Chain Management, Mechanical Engineering, or Mechatronics

• 5+ years of strategic procurement or category management experience in high-tech manufacturing

• Strong technical baseline in CNC machining, casting, injection molding, and tolerances

• Proven track record of managing RFQ processes and negotiating long-term framework contracts

• Hands‑on experience navigating modern ERP platforms like Odoo or SAP

• Professional fluency in written and spoken English

• Fluency or professional proficiency in Dutch or German is a strong asset

• Agility to move fluidly between high-level strategy and hands‑on supplier escalation

• Occasional availability for international travel to conduct supplier audits and site visits

N.B. Don't worry if you don't tick every box. Our mission is a journey, and there's plenty to learn along the way. If most of this fits, we'd love to hear from you.

A Certificate of Conduct (VOG) and a background check are part of our screening process. We appreciate your understanding.

What we offer

• Working for a Great Place to Work® certified company;

• Comprehensive pension plan;

• Commuting allowance;

• 30 days of paid holiday leave (with the possibility to buy 3 additional days);

• Opportunities to develop your skills even further through training and certifications;

• High quality laptop/desktop, monitor, headphones, and any other equipment necessary for your role;

• An international team of 30+ nationalities, full of high performance colleagues you can exchange experiences with and learn from. As well as having a lot of fun in our social events and Friday drinks!

Robin Radar is a technology leader in tracking and classifying small objects. Our radars and software help prevent bird strikes in aviation, reduce the impact of wind farms on wildlife, and protect critical infrastructure from drone threats. Our work shows up at airports, wind farms, military sites and nature reserves around the world.

We're one of the top 10 fastest-growing companies in the Netherlands, with a crew of bright minds across 30+ nationalities. Growth doesn't mean we lose the plot – eyes on the skies, feet on the ground. Our values keep us grounded: WE TRUST. WE OWN IT. WE AIM HIGH.

Want to work on next-level radar tech, solve real problems, and never have to pretend your job has meaning?

You'll fit right in – we're saving you a seat.