Category Manager - Services - hybrid

About our client: 

Our client, a prominent international professional services provider headquartered in Western Europe, is seeking a seasoned and adept Senior Category Manager - Services to augment their existing team. We are seeking an individual with exceptional expertise in services procurement. The organization boasts a multicultural purchasing team proficient in cutting-edge IT applications.

Role Overview:

As a Senior Category Manager - Services, you will be entrusted with overseeing expenditure, sourcing, and participating in cross-functional commodity teams to formulate strategies and initiatives for a focused spectrum of service commodities. Your objective is to ensure optimal value acquisition for the company. This role will involve active participation in the Purchasing Team, which is marked by its proactive, business-driven orientation. This is a unique opportunity to contribute to and evolve within one of Western Europe's most competitive and accomplished procurement teams.

Responsibilities:

• Formulate and execute Supplier Strategies including engagement with the Sourcing Committee, introduction of new suppliers, bid list management, and benchmarking activities.
• Develop Commodity Annual Operating Plans (AOP) and forecasts, maintain updated commodity market index drivers, and provide support to project purchasing and sales units for market cost analysis.
• Lead commodity cost-saving initiatives, devise strategies, and manage new program bid lists.
• Enhance purchasing efficiency in alignment with the company's overarching strategy.
• Facilitate and manage supplier escalations as required.
• Obtain quotes from suppliers to support strategic objectives and benchmarking efforts.
• Provide sourcing recommendations to the Commodity Manager.
• Contribute to improving supplier performance metrics related to quality, delivery, service, and cost.
• Collaborate on supplier Value Analysis / Value Engineering (VA / VE) initiatives aimed at cost reduction and control; adept in handling billing and purchase order systems.
• Adhere to and contribute to the enhancement of Purchasing policies and procedures.
• Generate and maintain purchase orders for both local and global supply bases, following the directives of the Commodity Manager.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree in Business, Technical, or Economic discipline, or any other similar field.
• 3-5 years of international buyer experience (services)
• Proficiency in PC applications
• SAP Proficiency or other proprietary ERPs
• Exceptional communication skills.
• Proficient understanding of Bills of Materials (BOMs), Material Requirements Planning (MRP), QS9000, and associated AIAG practices and standards.
• Proficient in English; fluency in an additional international language is a plus.
• A collaborative team player capable of effective engagement in cross-functional teams.
• Proficient negotiation skills.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks concurrently.
• Strong problem-solving capabilities and a proactive attitude.
• Agile, accurate, and optimistic approach to tasks.