Category Purchaser

Damen Shipyards; Gorinchem; On-site; EUR 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Travel expense reimbursement

Pension scheme

27 vacation days + 13 ADV days

Job summary

Damen Workboats in the Netherlands seeks a Category Purchaser to drive procurement of engines, systems, windows and valves for ships built across Vietnam, Turkey, China and UAE.

You will manage day-to-day purchasing for a dedicated supplier group, monitor KPIs, keep contracts and pricing up to date, and seek opportunities to reduce total cost of ownership while collaborating with Material Planning and Category Management.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Logistics, Supply Chain, Industrial Engineering, or related field.
• At least 5 years of international procurement or supply chain experience.
• Fluent Dutch and English.
• Experience with ERP systems; SAP knowledge is a bonus.

Responsibilities

• Coordinating purchasing processes and ensuring timely delivery of materials for vessel production.
• Enhancing supplier performance through supplier development initiatives.
• Early identifying supply chain risks and disruptions and escalating them.
• Keeping ERP system up to date and maintaining accurate records.
• Contributing to improvement programs in the global supply chain.
• Aligning purchasing activities with Material Planning and international shipyards.

Skills

Dutch (mandatory)

English

Procurement experience

ERP systems knowledge

Education

Bachelor's degree in Logistics / Supply Chain

Tools

SAP (bonus)

Job description

We offer you an Ocean of Possibilities. Join our family.

About Damen

We’re made for ships. From design and construction to financing and lifecycle support, ships are at the core of everything we do. Guided by our values of stewardship, craftsmanship, fellowship, and entrepreneurship, we are committed to creating sustainable solutions for the maritime world.

We’re on a mission to help our clients harvest the oceans of possibilities presented by our waters – for the generations to come. To achieve our goal, we need people who share our vision and drive.

Damen Workboats

Within the Damen Shipyards Group, Damen Workboats focuses on the development, design, and construction of tugs, dredgers, and workboats. Our strength lies in series production of smart-customized standard designs, enabling us to deliver innovative, standardized solutions that respond to both current and emerging market demands. By maintaining a careful balance between quality, service, price, and delivery time, we provide our clients with reliable and competitive vessels worldwide.

The Category Purchaser position is part of the Supply Chain department within Damen Workboats, which brings together the teams of Procurement, Category Management, Supply Chain Engineering, Material Planning, and Standards & Documentation. Together, these teams ensure a reliable, efficient and high‑quality supply chain.

Your role as a Category Purchaser

As a Category Purchaser, you are responsible for the procurement of essential components such as engines, systems, windows, and valves. Playing a key role in the supply chain that supports the production of our workboats at shipyards in Vietnam, Turkey, China, and the United Arab Emirates.

In recent years, our procurement organization has evolved from a project‑based to a category‑based structure. The next phase focuses on further strengthening and maturing our supply chain. In this role, you manage the day‑to‑day purchasing activities for a dedicated group of suppliers and closely monitor performance through KPIs such as on‑time delivery, completeness of part data, and quality non‑conformities. In close alignment with Category Management and our suppliers, you ensure contracts and pricing remain accurate and up to date, while continuously identifying opportunities to optimize total cost of ownership.

You take ownership of placing purchase orders yourself where required, while also coordinating and delegating purchasing activities with operational buyers within our team and at our international shipyards. In addition, you actively contribute to supplier development and process improvement initiatives. Therefore, collaboration is key: you work closely with colleagues from Material Planning, Category Management, and other stakeholders to ensure a reliable, efficient, and high‑quality supply chain.

What will you do?

As a Category Purchaser, your responsibilities will include:

• Coordinating purchasing processes and ensuring timely delivery of materials for the production of our vessels.
• Enhancing supplier performance through the initiation and participation in supplier development initiatives.
• Early identifying supply chain risks and disruptions and escalating them when necessary.
• Keeping our ERP system up to date and ensuring accurate administrative records.
• Contributing to improvement programs in our global supply chain.
• Aligning purchasing activities with Material Planning and our international shipyards to support smooth production operations.

What do you bring?

• A bachelor’s degree in Logistics, Supply Chain, Industrial Engineering, or a related field.
• At least 5 years of experience in international procurement or supply chain role, preferably in a process‑driven industry.
• Strong communication skills in both Dutch (mandatory) and English.
• Experience with ERP systems (knowledge of SAP is a bonus).
• A proactive, hands‑on mentality with a service‑oriented attitude.

What we offer

At Damen, we invest today in the future of tomorrow—and we do this together. That’s why we continuously invest in your development, both professionally and personally, so that we keep learning and growing together. Damen offers (for a full‑time position):

• A dynamic international working environment focused on technology and innovation;
• A competitive salary (depending on knowledge and experience) and a profit‑sharing scheme;
• At least 27 vacation days and 13 additional ADV days;
• A strong focus on professional and personal development, among others through our Damen Academy;
• An active social network with events and sports activities within the Damen Group;
• Participation in a pension scheme;
• Travel expense reimbursement for commuting between home and work.

Why join Damen Workboats?

At Damen, you’ll have the opportunity to develop yourself in an international, dynamic work environment. We offer a workplace where innovation, teamwork, and personal growth are at the forefront. Together, we’re shaping the future of the maritime industry!

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