Category Buyer EMEA (IT & Telecommunication)

KION Business Services Polska; Kraków; Hybrid; PLN 180,000 - 280,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work

Private medical care

MyBenefit Cafeteria Platform

Group Life Insurance

Employee referral program

Professional trainings

Language courses

Health check-ups day

No dress code

Growth opportunities

Learning & development

Job summary

KION Business Services Polska is seeking a Category Buyer EMEA to own IT & Telecommunication sourcing across Europe. The role focuses on category strategy, supplier landscape, and savings through negotiations and contract management.

You will collaborate with global teams, ensure compliance with procurement standards, and drive scalable, value-adding solutions across intralogistics.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in business, engineering or a comparable field.
• Several years of professional experience in an international/global company.
• Procurement experience in IT & Telecommunication, including mobile tariffs, network and WAN.
• Experience working in cross-functional and international environments.
• Proven negotiations and contract management experience delivering cost savings.

Responsibilities

• Own the IT & Telecommunication category and its supplier base in Europe.
• Define and implement category strategies; optimize supplier base.
• Deliver indirect procurement savings and cost avoidance and lead negotiations.
• Report savings and pipeline using procurement templates and tools.
• Ensure spend transparency and data quality across procurement systems (e.g., SAP, eProcurement).
• Maintain governance and adherence to sourcing workflows and approvals.

Skills

English fluency

German language (advantage)

Negotiation & contract management

Analytical skills

Stakeholder management

Cross-functional teamwork

Education

Bachelor's or Master's degree in business/engineering or related field

Tools

SAP

eProcurement systems

MS Excel

Job description

KION Business Services Polska is part of the KION Group - a world-leading supplier of forklift trucks, warehouse technology and supply chain solutions. We already employ more than 42,000 people in over 100 countries and are thus significantly driving the future of intralogistics while pursuing a clear sustainability strategy. In Cracow we hire around 750 Employees.

For our procurement department we are currently looking for Category Buyer EMEA, who will be responsible for category strategy, supplier landscape and commercial performance across Europe.

You will drive savings and cost avoidance through structured sourcing, negotiation and contract management while ensuring compliance with KION policies and procurement standards. In close collaboration with internal stakeholders and global procurement teams, you enable scalable, transparent and value-adding IT & Telecommunication solutions for the KION Group. Join KION Business Services and shape the intelligent supply chain solutions that power everyday life!

We offer:

• Hybrid work & Flexible Working Hours


• Private medical care in LuxMed Group


• MyBenefit Cafeteria Platform (with Multisport card available)


• Group Life Insurance


• Employee referral program


• Professional trainings in your area of responsibility


• Sharing the costs of foreign language courses


• 4 hours off work per year for health check-ups ("Dzień na U")


• No dress code


• Possibility of growth inside of an organization


• Company co-sponsored learning & development opportunities

Tasks and Qualifications

Your Responsibility

• Own the assigned IT & Telecommunication category and its supplier base in Europe


• Define and implement category and sub-category strategies; review and optimize the supplier base


• Deliver Indirect Procurement savings and cost avoidance targets; benchmark category spend, identify value levers and lead supplier negotiations.


• Report savings, cost avoidance and pipeline using established procurement templates and tools.


• Analyze purchasing data and ensure spend transparency and high data quality across procurement systems (e.g., SAP, eProcurement).


• Ensure compliance with KION procedures and guidelines; collaborate closely with other category buyers, local site buyers and internal stakeholders.


• Establish and maintain stakeholder governance (e.g., regular reviews, decision forums, escalation paths).


• Ensure adherence to sourcing and contracting workflows, including documentation, approvals and use of preferred suppliers.


• Support supplier governance activities (e.g., qualification, risk assessments and performance reviews) in line with internal standards.


• Maintain audit-ready procurement documentation and ensure transparency of decisions, sourcing results and contract records.


• Drive standardization for the assigned category


• Manage contracts and supplier performance; ensure contract transparency and regularly review terms and validity.


• Continuously improve procedures and systems related to Indirect Purchasing.


• Align globally and collaborate to leverage synergies with KION APAC and Americas.

Your Skills and Expertise

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in business, engineering or a comparable field (technical background or purchasing-related discipline preferred).


• Several years of professional experience (8–10 years) in an international / global company.


• Hands‑on procurement experience in IT & Telecommunication, especially mobile tariffs, network and WAN, additional experience in related IT areas (e.g., hardware, software, licenses) is an advantage.


• Experience in working in cross‑functional teams and in an international environment.


• Proven experience leading negotiations and contract management with international and local suppliers, delivering cost savings and demonstrating strong analytical and strategic skills.


• Excellent stakeholder management, presentation and communication skills; well organized, structured and able to set priorities.


• High personal motivation and ability to develop practical and innovative approaches to meet objectives.


• Strong analytical skills and a results‑driven mindset in a team environment.


• Self‑motivated and independent; focused on results; committed team player with strong listening and observation skills.


• Fluent in English; German is an advantage but not mandatory.


• Demonstrates KION Core Values of Integrity, Excellence, Collaboration and Courage.

KION brands keep the world moving – globally, regionally, and locally. KION is the Supply Chain Solutions Company. With over 42,000 employees in more than 100 countries, we enable smart, sustainable, and reliable supply chains worldwide - wherever goods are stored, moved, or delivered. KION offers its customers the full spectrum of solutions to make their supply chains future-ready. Our international brands, Linde Material Handling, STILL, and Baoli and our regional brands, Fenwick and OM, stand for outstanding technological innovation, intelligent automation and service excellence in forklift trucks and warehouse equipment. Dematic complements this expertise with state‑of‑the‑art automation technology and AI‑supported software solutions that optimize intralogistics across warehousing, production, and distribution. Whether locally or globally – we offer exciting career opportunities in an innovative environment shaped by our core values: Integrity, Collaboration, Courage, and Excellence. Together, we create the magic of supply chain solutions.