Regional Category Manager – Europe (M/F)

The Search Company; Weert; On-site; EUR 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

The Search Company is seeking a Regional Category Manager to lead regional sourcing plans, tender follow-up and the smooth implementation of agreements across Europe, with a focus on MRO and CAPEX categories.

Based in Europe with assignments across France, Belgium and the Netherlands, you will lead regional negotiations, optimize resources, manage supplier relationships and drive cost reduction through TCO-based frameworks.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree supplemented by a purchase diploma (NEVI) or equivalent.
• Experience of 10+ years in procurement roles with category management focus.
• Strong skills in TCO, SRM and procurement transformation processes.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement regional procurement policies and procedures.
• Manage a strategic category portfolio across Europe and optimize resources.
• Lead negotiations and establish framework agreements with KPIs and SLAs.
• Monitor budgets, external spend and cost reduction targets monthly.
• Foster cross-functional collaboration and share best practices.

Skills

Negotiation skills

Contracting skills

Risk management

Communication

Conflict management

Team leadership

Coaching

Project management

Cross-functional teamwork

Problem solving

Result-oriented

SAP MM/PM

MS Office

Education

Master’s degree

NEVI level purchase diploma

Lean Six Sigma (level)

Tools

SAP MM/PM

MS Office

Job description

As Regional Category Manager you guarantee a proper sourcing plan, tender follow up and smooth implementation of the regional agreements.

You are responsible for leading regional negotiations across Europe between three smelters operations located in France, Belgium and the Netherlands and developing synergies and contracts in close collaboration with the local procurement teams within the sites.

As a member of the global Procurement Management Team, you will be actively involved in defining and implementing the global procurement strategy including procurement excellence and savings opportunities.

Depending on the company’s needs, you will be based either in Balen, Auby or Budel. You will be asked to travel regularly between the three locations.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

• You actively participate in the development and implementation of Group Procurement policies and procedures
• You are responsible for the management of a strategic category / of a set of strategic categories
• You are responsible for optimising the use of resources within the European region
• You set productivity and efficiency objectives within Procurement and monitor these goals on a monthly basis
• You manage costs, external spend and budget
• You stimulate networking, continuous improvements, exchange of best practices and benchmarking among all procuremen staff, local, regional and group level
• You manage the budget for all the contracts/suppliers and are actively looking for opportunities to pool expenditure regionally for the European branches to secure supply, generate savings and achieve cost reduction targets.
• Manage supplier’s database and negotiate framework agreements based on Total Cost of Ownership approach including SLA with KPIs

QUALIFICATIONS/EXPERIENCE

• You obtained a master’s degree supplemented by preferably a purchase diploma at NEVI level or equivalent. Preferably you also have a level in the lean six sigma.
• You have at least 10 – years of experience in a Procurement position and you have proven
  experience in category management preferably on MRO and CAPEX.
• You have experience in TCO, SRM and have Procurement Transformation Process Skills
• You are well-versed in transactional procurement environments
• You are good at negotiating and have good contracting skills and experience in risk management
• You are communicatively strong and have experience in conflict management
• You are result-oriented and have strong problem-solving skills
• You can manage a team, Coaching, motivating and getting involved
• You know how to get things done and have experience with project management and cross-functional teamwork – SAP (MM and PM) has no secrets for you and you also get along well with MS Office
• You speak and write Dutch and English very fluently, French and/or German is a plus
• You are willing to travel, especially within Europe but also worldwide and you want to be temporarily employed on other European sites if the work requires it.