Global Category Manager - Corporate Services

Saur Group; Netherlands; Hybrid; EUR 51,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Nijhuis Saur Industries, part of Saur, is seeking a Category Manager – Corporate Services to drive strategic sourcing for indirect spend globally. The role collaborates with finance, IT, HR, and operations to deliver cost efficiency, risk management, and value creation across regions.

The position offers a hybrid work model with on-site collaboration, reporting to the Global Supply Chain Director, and a path to influence procurement governance across NSI.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or master in supply chain or business administration.
• 8–10 years of procurement/category management experience in indirect, non-product related services.
• Strong negotiation and contract management skills (including TCO, SLAs, risk mitigation).
• Fluent in English; additional European languages are an advantage.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute global category strategies across indirect spend areas.
• Lead sourcing events (RFP/RFQ) and supplier selection processes.
• Utilize ERP, e-procurement, and analytics tools to drive spend visibility.
• Deliver measurable cost savings and apply TCO principles.
• Ensure compliance with procurement policies and delegated authority.
• Act as procurement partner for internal stakeholders and drive adoption of processes.

Skills

Strategic sourcing

Category management

Negotiation

Stakeholder management

Supplier relationship management

English fluency

Education

Bachelor’s/Master in supply chain or business administration

Tools

ERP

D365

E-sourcing

Analytics platforms

Job description

Join #MissionWater

At Nijhuis Saur Industries, part of Saur, you shape the future of water. As a global leader in sustainable solutions, we restore, reuse, and protect water-giving it the value it deserves. Join our driven team and make a real impact through innovation, collaboration, and passion. Your talent matters.

Ready to make a difference? Start your journey with us.

Job Summary

Drive Global Category Management for Corporate Services

We are looking for a strategic and hands-on Category Manager – Corporate Services to strengthen our Global Supply Chain team.

In this role, you will drive strategic sourcing and category management across key indirect spend areas, including Logistics, IT Equipment, Travel, Facilities, Fleet, Energy, Insurance, and other corporate services for all companies in the NSI Group. You will ensure that the indirect supply base is cost-efficient, resilient, compliant, and aligned with business priorities, operational requirements, and ESG commitments.

By leveraging market intelligence, supplier partnerships, and digital procurement tool, you will optimize total cost of ownership (TCO), service levels, and risk exposure. This position works closely with finance, IT, HR, operations, regional stakeholders and the global mother company to drive value creation and governance across indirect spend categories.

This role is preferably based in Doetinchem (Headquarter in the Netherlands), with flexibility across the Netherlands or other European locations. We offer a hybrid working model with regular on-site collaboration.

Reporting directly to the Global Supply Chain Director with close collaboration with international teams across NSI.

Job Description

Category strategy & management

• Develop and execute global category strategies across indirect spend areas (e.g. logistics, IT, travel, facilities, fleet, energy, insurance).
• Drive harmonization, suppliers, and processes across business units globally
• Conduct market analysis, benchmarking, and risk assessments to identify cost-saving and value creation opportunities.
• Align category strategies with business functions such as Finance, IT, HR, and Operations.
• Establish clear governance, including preferred supplier frameworks and delegated authority compliance.

Supplier relationship & development

• Lead sourcing events (RFP/RFQ) and supplier selection processes for indirect categories.
• Negotiate commercial terms, contracts, and service-level agreements (SLAs).
• Manage strategic supplier relationships to ensure performance, innovation, and continuous improvement.
• Implement and monitor supplier performance through KPIs
• Consolidate supplier base and leverage scale at regional/global level.

Digital & data-driven procurement

• Utilize ERP, e-procurement, and analytics tools to drive spend visibility and compliance.
• Monitor spend patterns and identify opportunities for consolidation and efficiency.
• Enable automation and digitization of indirect procurement processes.
• Support implementation and optimization of procurement tools (e.g. D365, SRM platforms).

Cost optimization & financial management

• Deliver measurable and sustained cost savings across indirect spend categories, meeting or exceeding annual savings targets.
• Apply Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) principles to drive sustainable cost reductions.
• Identify and execute cost reduction initiatives such as supplier consolidation, volume bundling, contract renegotiation, and process standardization.
• Lead strategic sourcing initiatives to unlock competitive pricing and improved commercial terms.
• Implement demand management levers (e.g. travel policies, fleet optimization, energy efficiency measures) to structurally reduce spend.
• Track, report, and validate savings in alignment with Finance, ensuring transparency and audit compliance.

Compliance, QHSE & ESG

• Ensure adherence to company procurement policies, delegated authority, and audit requirements.
• Manage contractual risk, including liability, insurance coverage, and service continuity.

Stakeholder Management & Collaboration

• Act as the key procurement business partner for internal stakeholders (e.g. Group, Finance, IT, HR, Facilities, Operations).
• Challenge demand, specifications, and supplier choices to drive best value.
• Provide category insights and recommendations to leadership.
• Support change management initiatives to improve compliance and adoption of procurement processes.

Job requirements

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in supply chain, or business administration.
• 8-10 years of procurement/category management experience in Indirect, non-product related and services spend
• Proven experience managing multiple indirect categories (e.g. logistics, IT, travel, facilities).
• Strong negotiation and contract management skills (including TCO, SLAs, risk mitigation).
• Experience with digital procurement tools (ERP, e-sourcing, analytics platforms).
• Proven experience in supplier contract establishment, supplier development, strategic sourcing, and cross-functional collaboration.
• Knowledge of digital procurement tools and supply chain analytics
• Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills in a matrix organization.
• Hands-on, practical, and results-driven approach
• Fluent in English; additional European languages are an advantage

Working for us means

• Work on impactful global water projects
• Shape and build global category strategies
• High visibility and influence across the business
• International and collaborative environment
• We offer a total annual compensation package of up to €85,000 gross (including holiday allowance) and yearly variable bonus (based on experience and skills)

Additional Information

This job description represents only the primary areas of responsibility; specific position assignments will vary depending on the needs of the department. Performs other duties of similar nature and level assigned.

To perform the job successfully, an individual must be able to execute each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable adjustments may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Our Commitment

At Nijhuis Saur Industries, we believe it is important for everyone to feel welcome. We believe that talent comes from everywhere and offer equal opportunities to all. Diversity, inclusion, and engagement are fundamental to us. Therefore, we do not tolerate any form of discrimination or harassment based on ethnic background, gender, age, origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or other legally protected characteristics. We want you to feel safe with us and be able to be your true self.