Category Manager (Lisbon- Hybrid)

Claranet limited; Lisboa; On-site; EUR 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Make ModernHappen seeks a Category Manager to join our TalentTeam client. You will lead procurement strategy for assigned categories, conduct market analysis, define long-term roadmaps, and manage strategic suppliers to deliver cost, quality, and delivery improvements.

You will collaborate with Engineering, Programme Management, Supply Chain, Quality, Finance and Compliance, influence design-to-cost decisions, ensure regulatory compliance, and guide Commodity Specialists while driving continuous

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Engineering, Supply Chain Management, Business or related field.
• 5-8+ years of procurement experience, ideally within aerospace, defence or high-tech industries.
• Strong knowledge of direct procurement, supplier management and strategic sourcing processes.
• Proven experience in supplier negotiations, contract management and relationship management.
• Demonstrated ability to develop category strategies and execute complex procurement activities.
• Experience managing supplier performance, risk and compliance.
• Knowledge of Export Control regulations and compliance requirements.
• Strong analytical, strategic thinking and stakeholder management skills.
• Excellent communication and negotiation abilities.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute the procurement strategy for assigned categories in alignment with business objectives, programme requirements and global procurement guidelines.
• Conduct market analysis, supplier mapping and technology scouting to identify opportunities, risks and industry trends.
• Define and implement long-term category roadmaps, including cost reduction initiatives, supplier consolidation and dual-sourcing strategies.
• Select, negotiate with and manage strategic suppliers, ensuring performance across cost, quality, delivery and compliance metrics.
• Lead supplier evaluations, contract negotiations and long-term agreement management.
• Drive supplier development initiatives, risk mitigation plans and recovery actions when required.
• Support space programmes by ensuring the timely availability of critical materials, components and systems.
• Collaborate closely with Engineering, Programme Management, Supply Chain, Quality, Finance and Compliance teams.
• Influence design-to-cost and make-or-buy decisions to optimise value and competitiveness.
• Ensure procurement deliverables, including cost, planning, risk management and documentation, are achieved throughout programme lifecycles.
• Ensure compliance with applicable regulatory requirements, including Export Control frameworks.
• Provide guidance to Commodity Specialists and contribute to the continuous improvement of procurement processes, tools and best practices.
• Represent the category within governance forums and in interactions with senior leadership.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Stakeholder management

Negotiation abilities

Supplier management

Analytical

Communication skills

Education

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

Job description

We're fastlearners, hard workers, natural collaborators... and weMake ModernHappen!

Our ambitionis to unlock the potential of our digital world so that organisationseverywhere can innovate and thrive securely. We aim to achieve this goal bybringing together the world’s most talented people and the most powerfultechnologies, combining them to address our customers' challenges and to buildsomething stronger together.

Rightnow, we are looking for a Category Manager for a client on our TalentTeam.

Your responsibilities include:

• Develop and execute theprocurement strategy for assigned categories in alignment with businessobjectives, programme requirements and global procurement guidelines.
• Conduct market analysis,supplier mapping and technology scouting to identify opportunities, risks andindustry trends.
• Define and implement long-termcategory roadmaps, including cost reduction initiatives, supplier consolidationand dual-sourcing strategies.
• Select, negotiate with andmanage strategic suppliers, ensuring performance across cost, quality, deliveryand compliance metrics.
• Lead supplier evaluations,contract negotiations and long-term agreement management.
• Drive supplier developmentinitiatives, risk mitigation plans and recovery actions when required.
• Support space programmes byensuring the timely availability of critical materials, components and systems.
• Collaborate closely withEngineering, Programme Management, Supply Chain, Quality, Finance andCompliance teams.
• Influence design-to-cost andmake-or-buy decisions to optimise value and competitiveness.
• Ensure procurement deliverables,including cost, planning, risk management and documentation, are achievedthroughout programme lifecycles.
• Ensure compliance withapplicable regulatory requirements, including Export Control frameworks.
• Provide guidance to CommoditySpecialists and contribute to the continuous improvement of procurementprocesses, tools and best practices.
• Represent the category withingovernance forums and in interactions with senior leadership.

You must have:

• Bachelor's or Master's degree inEngineering, Supply Chain Management, Business or a related field.
• 5-8+ years of procurementexperience, ideally within aerospace, defence or high-tech industries.
• Strong knowledge of directprocurement, supplier management and strategic sourcing processes.
• Proven experience in suppliernegotiations, contract management and relationship management.
• Demonstrated ability to developcategory strategies and execute complex procurement activities.
• Experience managing supplierperformance, risk and compliance.
• Knowledge of Export Controlregulations and compliance requirements.
• Strong analytical, strategicthinking and stakeholder management skills.
• Excellent communication andnegotiation abilities.

We value:

• Experience within the space,aerospace or defence sectors.
• Familiarity with space systems,components and industrial supply chains.
• Experience managing long-cycle,high-technology procurement categories such as electronics, propulsion, opticsor composites.
• Experience in global sourcingand supplier development.
• Previous leadership experience,either within small teams or cross-functional/virtual teams.
• Ability to influence technicaland business stakeholders across international environments.
• Experience working within highlyregulated industries and complex supply chains.
• Additional language skillsbeyond English.
• Ability to thrive in fast-paced,evolving and ambiguous environments.

We offer:

• Integration into a dynamic and motivated team toperform the role.
  
• Additional training.
  
• Salary package in line with the responsibilitiesof the role.
  
• Professional growth and career developmentopportunities.