Global Tooling Category Manager — Hybrid & Flexible Hours

Knauf Industries Group; Polska; Hybrid; PLN 180,000 - 280,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Permanent contract

26 days annual leave

Flexible working hours

Remote work on select days

Private medical care

Life insurance

Sports card

Company pension

Job summary

Knauf Industries seeks a Global Category Manager (Tools) to lead tooling category strategy, supplier selection and cross‑functional collaboration across plants, projects and suppliers. The role drives cost transparency, standardisation and supplier performance improvements in a complex international environment.

You will coordinate with sales, project management, and industrial teams to define tooling requirements, manage RFI/RFQ processes, and ensure governance and timelines are met.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Procurement, Supply Chain Management, Engineering, Business Administration or a related discipline.
• Minimum 3 years of experience in a comparable role in strategic procurement, category management, sourcing or supplier management within an international industrial environment.
• Demonstrated experience of leading RFI/RFQ processes, supplier selection, commercial negotiations and supplier-performance management.
• Experience in tooling, moulds, EPP/EPS processing or injection-moulding technologies is an advantage.
• Experience in the automotive industry is an advantage.
• CIPS qualification, or a comparable professional procurement certification, is an advantage.
• Professional working proficiency in English, both written and spoken; additional languages are an advantage.
• Experience working with cross-functional, international and remote stakeholder groups is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate and align Sales, Project Management, plants, Industrialisation teams and suppliers on tooling requirements, priorities, timelines and decisions.
• Act as a change agent, driving improvements in tooling sourcing, supplier management, cost transparency and cross-functional ways of working.
• Develop and implement the global tooling category strategy in line with business needs, stakeholder priorities and Knauf Industries' objectives.
• Lead RFI/RFQ processes, commercial negotiations and supplier selection, ensuring compliance with procurement governance and project timelines.
• Build, manage and develop a competitive global tooling supplier panel, including supplier relationships, performance reviews and risk management.
• Drive supplier performance and continuous improvement against QCD targets, including quality, cost, delivery, innovation and sustainability.
• Identify and deliver cost-reduction, standardisation and value-improvement opportunities across the tooling category.
• Monitor market developments, supplier capabilities and commercial risks to secure continuity of supply and support informed business decisions.

Skills

Category management

Strategic procurement

Supplier management

RFI/RFQ

Negotiations

Cost reduction

Cross-functional teams

English language

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s in Procurement/Supply Chain/Engineering/Business

Job description

Knauf Industries seeks a Global Category Manager (Tools) to lead tooling category strategy, supplier selection and cross‑functional collaboration across plants, projects and suppliers. The role drives cost transparency, standardisation and supplier performance improvements in a complex international environment.

You will coordinate with sales, project management, and industrial teams to define tooling requirements, manage RFI/RFQ processes, and ensure governance and timelines are met.