Category Manager-Indirect

W Talent; Amsterdam; Hybrid; EUR 51,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits

Hybrid work environment

Global exposure

Career development

Sustainability initiatives

Job summary

W Talent is seeking a Global Category Manager - Indirect Procurement to lead strategic sourcing across indirect spend in a multinational setting based in Amsterdam. You will develop global category strategies, manage supplier relationships, negotiate complex contracts and drive cost savings while supporting sustainability and risk management.

The role collaborates with Operations, Engineering, Finance and HR across Europe and beyond, reporting to the Head of Global Indirect Procurement.

Qualifications

• Experience in strategic procurement or category management.
• Proven success in indirect procurement with measurable value.
• Strong negotiation and contract management with global suppliers.
• Excellent stakeholder management across levels of the business.
• Experience developing category strategies across multiple locations.
• Fluent English; additional European languages beneficial.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement global category strategies across indirect spend categories.
• Lead strategic sourcing initiatives from market analysis through to contract award and supplier implementation.
• Manage strategic supplier relationships, driving performance, innovation and continuous improvement.
• Deliver measurable cost savings while maintaining quality, service and supply continuity.
• Negotiate complex commercial agreements with international suppliers.
• Partner with stakeholders across Operations, Engineering, Manufacturing, Finance, HR, IT and other business functions to understand requirements and deliver procurement solutions.
• Build and maintain supplier performance scorecards and KPI frameworks.
• Identify opportunities to standardise suppliers, specifications and procurement processes across the organisation.
• Support budget planning, forecasting and long-term category roadmaps.
• Monitor market trends, supplier risks and emerging technologies to ensure competitive advantage.
• Drive sustainability, compliance and ethical sourcing initiatives throughout the supply base.
• Champion procurement best practice and support the continued development of procurement capability across the business.

Skills

Strategic procurement

Category management

Supplier negotiation

Stakeholder management

Contract management

Spend analysis

Sustainability

Cross-functional

Forecasting

Global sourcing

Education

Degree qualified

CIPS qualification

Job description

Global Category Manager - Indirect Procurement

Location: Amsterdam, Netherlands
Salary: Circa €85,000 + comprehensive benefits package

Shape the Future of Global Indirect Procurement

We are looking for an experienced Global Category Manager - Indirect Procurement to join a dynamic international procurement function based in Amsterdam.

Reporting to the Head of Global Indirect Procurement, you will play a key role in developing and implementing category strategies across multiple indirect spend areas, working closely with senior stakeholders and suppliers across Europe and the wider global business.

This is an exciting opportunity for a commercially driven procurement professional who enjoys building supplier partnerships, delivering strategic sourcing initiatives and driving continuous improvement within a fast-paced, international manufacturing environment.

The Role

As Global Category Manager, you will take ownership of strategic indirect procurement categories, delivering value through supplier optimisation, cost reduction, innovation and risk management.

Working across multiple business units and manufacturing sites, you will develop global sourcing strategies, strengthen supplier relationships and ensure procurement activities support the organisation's wider commercial and sustainability objectives.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement global category strategies across indirect spend categories.
• Lead strategic sourcing initiatives from market analysis through to contract award and supplier implementation.
• Manage strategic supplier relationships, driving performance, innovation and continuous improvement.
• Deliver measurable cost savings while maintaining quality, service and supply continuity.
• Negotiate complex commercial agreements with international suppliers.
• Partner with stakeholders across Operations, Engineering, Manufacturing, Finance, HR, IT and other business functions to understand requirements and deliver procurement solutions.
• Build and maintain supplier performance scorecards and KPI frameworks.
• Identify opportunities to standardise suppliers, specifications and procurement processes across the organisation.
• Support budget planning, forecasting and long-term category roadmaps.
• Monitor market trends, supplier risks and emerging technologies to ensure competitive advantage.
• Drive sustainability, compliance and ethical sourcing initiatives throughout the supply base.
• Champion procurement best practice and support the continued development of procurement capability across the business.

About You

We're looking for someone who combines strong commercial expertise with the ability to influence stakeholders across an international organisation.

You will ideally have:

• Significant experience in strategic procurement or category management within an international manufacturing or industrial environment.
• Proven success managing indirect procurement categories and delivering measurable commercial value.
• Strong negotiation and contract management experience with global suppliers.
• Excellent stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence at all levels of the business.
• Experience developing and implementing category strategies across multiple locations.
• Strong analytical and financial acumen with the ability to interpret spend data and market intelligence.
• A collaborative, proactive approach with excellent communication skills.
• Experience working within a matrix organisation and managing competing priorities.
• Degree qualified or equivalent, with CIPS qualification (or working towards) considered advantageous.
• Fluent English is essential; additional European languages would be beneficial.

What\'s on Offer?

• Circa €85,000 salary
• Comprehensive benefits package
• Hybrid working environment based in Amsterdam
• Opportunity to influence global procurement strategy
• International career development opportunities
• Exposure to senior leadership and global stakeholders
• Collaborative, high-performing procurement team
• A business committed to innovation, sustainability and continuous improvement

If you're looking to make a real impact within a global procurement organisation, we'd love to hear from you.