Global Category Manager - Direct Procurement

Fisher & Paykel Appliances Ltd; Auckland; On-site; NZD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Discounts on Fisher & Paykel and Haier

Life and disability insurance

Discounted medical cover

Superannuation scheme

Job summary

Fisher & Paykel Appliances Ltd in New Zealand seeks a senior procurement leader to drive category strategy and direct material value. You will manage global supplier relationships, negotiate major contracts, and align cross-functional teams to deliver strategic outcomes.

You will influence senior stakeholders, lead complex negotiations, and mentor the next generation of procurement leaders in a fast‑moving luxury appliance environment.

Qualifications

• Commercial leader: think like a business owner, act with urgency and entrepreneurial instinct.
• Senior and credible: operate at senior category manager level with demanding stakeholders.
• Structured and delivery-focused: manage complex workloads with strong follow-through.
• Proven track record of leading cross-functional, high-value work in global manufacturing or direct materials.
• Strong business acumen: cost/value analysis, contracts, and data-driven direction.
• Exceptional stakeholder management and communication, especially with executives.
• Experience managing supplier relationships across Asia, including Mandarin-speaking environments.
• Experience in electronics, PCBA, or tech-direct material categories.

Responsibilities

• Build and own 3–5 year category strategies grounded in market intelligence and product roadmap.
• Lead supplier negotiations, deliver cost out and avoidance at a strategic level.
• Align category strategy with cross-functional teams and deliver business cases.
• Own full supplier relationship management from qualification to performance.
• Interface with senior internal stakeholders to influence decisions.
• Mentor and develop procurement talent within the team.

Skills

Commercial leadership

Cross-functional leadership

Strategic sourcing

Stakeholder management

Negotiation

Job description

Overview

Fisher & Paykel is one of the world's most respected luxury appliance brands – designed and engineered in New Zealand, sold in over 50 countries, and backed by the global scale of the Haier Group.

The Global Direct Procurement team is not a back‑office function. It is a commercial engine managing NZ$250M of direct material spend across a complex, globally distributed supply base, directly shaping the cost, resilience, and long‑term competitiveness of our products.

Responsibilities

Category Strategy and Planning

Build and own 3–5 year category strategies grounded in market intelligence, total cost of ownership, and product roadmap alignment – translating insights into strategic direction and tangible sourcing outcomes.

Commercial Leadership and Value Creation

Lead complex supplier negotiations, deliver cost out and cost avoidance at a strategic level, and drive synergy opportunities across the Haier Group – defending and recovering the cost position across volatile commodity markets.

Own the cross‑functional alignment of category strategy into action – building business cases, aligning stakeholders, and leading initiatives through to delivery.

Supplier and Stakeholder Leadership

Own the full commercial supplier relationship – from qualification and contracting through to performance management and co‑innovation with key partners globally.

Act as the primary procurement interface for senior internal stakeholders – influencing decisions at the right level and at the right time.

Coach and mentor emerging procurement talent – helping build the next generation of leaders while continuing your own growth.

Qualifications

• Commercial leader: Think like a business owner, act with urgency, and bring entrepreneurial instinct to every category and supplier relationship.
• Senior and credible: Already operating at senior category manager or equivalent commercial leadership level, comfortable with demanding supplier counterparts and executive stakeholders.
• Structured and delivery‑focused: Hold a complex workload, manage competing priorities, and be known for follow‑through. When you say something will be done, it gets done.
• Proven track record of leading complex, cross‑functional, high‑value work and delivering measurable results in a global manufacturing or direct materials environment.
• Strong business and commercial acumen – cost and value analysis, negotiation, contracts, and the ability to translate data into clear strategic direction.
• Exceptional stakeholder management, influencing and communication skills – particularly when presenting plans and business cases to senior leadership and executives.
• Experience managing supplier relationships across Asia – with an understanding of the cultural, commercial, and operational dynamics of working with supply chains across China and South East Asia (Mandarin language capability).
• Experience in electronics, PCBA, or technology‑linked direct material categories.

Benefits

Along with a competitive salary, flexible working, and excellent growth and progression opportunities, you will enjoy generous discounts on Fisher & Paykel and Haier products, life and disability insurance, discounted medical cover, access to our superannuation scheme, our subsidised staff café, and free car parking when on‑site.

Why This Role

The scale is real. You will manage meaningful spend across a globally distributed supply base – with direct commercial impact on a brand that is growing fast and competing at the highest level of the luxury appliance market. The platform is exceptional. Backed by the Haier Group – the world’s largest appliance manufacturer – you will have access to Group‑scale purchasing leverage, a global sourcing network, and joint negotiation opportunities that few procurement professionals in New Zealand will ever experience. The work is hard and interesting. You will have the autonomy to build your own strategies, make your own calls, and be measured on real outcomes – in a genuinely complex and commercially demanding environment.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Fisher & Paykel is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, colour, religion, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, or other characteristics protected by law.