Category Manager - Direct Materials (Europe)

HRK S.A.; Warszawa; On-site; PLN 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

HRK S.A. is seeking a Category Manager for Direct Materials to oversee sourcing strategies across European markets from our Warsaw office.

You will manage supplier relationships, drive cost reductions, and ensure supply chain resilience for a multinational manufacturing environment. The role requires a strong background in strategic sourcing, supplier negotiations, and cross-functional collaboration with engineering and quality teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Engineering or a related discipline.
• At least 5 years of experience in strategic sourcing, procurement or supply chain management in an international manufacturing environment.
• Experience working with ERP systems and procurement tools.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement sourcing strategies for direct materials across Europe.
• Identify, evaluate and onboard new suppliers while ensuring quality and regulatory compliance.
• Lead commercial negotiations including pricing, contracts and payment terms.
• Build and maintain strong supplier relationships and drive performance improvements.
• Monitor supplier performance and assess risks within the supply chain.
• Collaborate with Engineering, Quality, Manufacturing and Operations to meet business needs.
• Analyze market trends and supplier capabilities to identify optimization opportunities.
• Support new product launches with cost-effective sourcing solutions.
• Contribute to sustainability and procurement transformation projects.
• Promote best procurement practices while complying with internal policies.

Skills

Strategic sourcing

Supplier management

Data analysis

Negotiation

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Engineering or related

Tools

ERP systems

Job description

Category Manager - Direct Materials (Europe)

Warsaw

Our Client is an international organization with a strong presence across Europe, delivering innovative solutions to the construction and industrial sectors. Due to continued growth and further development of its procurement function, we are currently seeking an experienced professional for the position of Category Manager (Europe).

In this role, you will be responsible for developing and executing sourcing strategies for direct materials across European markets. You will play a key role in strengthening supplier partnerships, driving cost optimisation initiatives, and ensuring a reliable and sustainable supply chain that supports the company's long-term business objectives.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement sourcing strategies for assigned direct material categories across European and Asian supplier markets.
• Identify, evaluate and onboard new suppliers while ensuring compliance with quality, service and regulatory requirements.
• Lead commercial negotiations, including pricing, contractual agreements, payment terms and supply conditions.
• Build and maintain strong supplier relationships, driving continuous improvement and performance management initiatives.
• Monitor supplier performance and assess potential risks within the supply chain.
• Collaborate closely with Engineering, Quality, Manufacturing and Operations teams to ensure business requirements are met.
• Analyze market trends, supplier capabilities and raw material developments to identify opportunities for optimization and savings.
• Support new product launches by securing efficient and cost-effective sourcing solutions.
• Contribute to supply chain resilience, sustainability initiatives and procurement transformation projects.
• Promote best procurement practices while ensuring compliance with internal policies and applicable regulations.

What We Are Looking For

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Engineering or a related discipline.
• At least 5 years of experience in strategic sourcing, procurement or supply chain management within an international manufacturing environment.
• Proven experience managing supplier relationships and delivering measurable cost-saving initiatives.
• Experience working with international supplier networks, including suppliers located in Asia, will be considered a strong advantage.
• Knowledge of supplier evaluation processes, contract negotiations and procurement best practices.
• Experience working with ERP systems and procurement tools.
• Advanced analytical skills and confidence working with data.
• Availability for regular business travel across Europe.

Personal Profile

• Strategic and commercially minded professional.
• Strong negotiator with excellent stakeholder management skills.
• Results-oriented with a focus on quality, cost and operational efficiency.
• Proactive, adaptable and comfortable working in a dynamic international environment.
• Collaborative team player who enjoys working across functions and cultures.

What Makes This Opportunity Attractive

• Opportunity to influence sourcing strategies across European markets.
• High level of autonomy and visibility within an international organisation.
• Exposure to complex procurement projects and cross-functional cooperation.
• Participation in initiatives focused on supply chain optimisation, sustainability and business growth.
• Dynamic and collaborative working environment with international stakeholders.