Global Category Manager Mechanical Equipment

Job Title

Job Description

Are you a strategic procurement professional who knows how to turn market insights and business needs into impactful category strategies? Do you enjoy working in an international environment where you can influence supplier partnerships, sourcing decisions, and business performance on a global scale?

Vanderlande is looking for a Global Category Manager to develop and execute category strategies and lead strategic sourcing initiatives for assigned spend areas. As part of the global Procurement organization, you will work closely with business stakeholders to understand requirements, identify sourcing opportunities, and implement sustainable procurement solutions that support Vanderlande's business goals. You will ensure alignment of category strategies across regions and projects while driving cost, quality, innovation, and supplier performance.

Our global procurement organization enables our projects and business functions by maximizing value and minimizing risks via the procurement of goods and services in the smartest, cost-effective and sustainable way. We ensure a resilient and competitive supplier ecosystem and aim to advance towards best-in-class practices, and ensure the organization is efficient, effective, and future-proof. Furthermore, our procurement organization plays an important role in Vanderlande's transformation from an Engineer-to-Order (ETO) to a Configure-to-Order (CTO) business model. This new model aims at enhancing value for its customers through increased standardization, scalability, and more competitive solutions.

What will you be doing?

As a Global Category Manager, you will be responsible for managing assigned categories on a global scale, translating business requirements into sourcing strategies, and leading end-to-end strategic sourcing initiatives. This includes developing sourcing and RfX documents, evaluating supplier proposals, leading commercial negotiations, conducting auctions, and managing supplier communications throughout the sourcing process.

In this role, you will define and drive category strategies, ensuring their effective implementation across regions and projects. You will collaborate closely with stakeholders to deliver value, mitigate risk, and support business objectives. Additionally, you will serve as the Supplier Relationship Manager for a designated portfolio of strategic suppliers, fostering long-term partnerships and driving continuous performance improvement.

Responsibilities

• Managing assigned categories, including gathering business requirements, creating/modifying project charters and plans within the Category Management tool, support the contract creation process, support the supplier onboarding process, etc.

• Lead and/or support in strategic and complex sourcing events, with tasks such as the creation of the sourcing projects within the S2P Suite, creation of RfX documents, evaluation of proposal based on pre-defined criteria, support the negotiation process, etc.

• Develop and implement strategies to mitigate supplier-related risks, ensuring business continuity and minimizing potential disruptions

• Serve as the primary point of contact for all supplier performance-related activities, facilitating deep channels of communication between suppliers and internal stakeholders

• Support supplier segmentation to categorize suppliers based on strategic importance and develop tailored supplier performance management strategies

• Identify performance gaps and initiate and oversee supplier improvement programs to enhance performance and address deficiencies

• When required, review details within Purchase Requisitions (PR) for non-catalog items and request clarification from requester(s)

• Coordinate the modification of Item Master Data for assigned categories (suppliers, items, catalogs, prices, etc.) with support from MDM Specialists

What do we ask from you?

To be successful in this role, you should have:

• University degree in economics or technical degree with business background

• Fluent in English, spoken and written (mandatory)

• Experience (+3 years) in procurement or supply chain management, with a strong understanding of category management processes

• Knowledge and practical experience with sourcing methodologies and tools, with familiarity with S2P suites being a plus

• Proven ability to support the establishment and management of sourcing events, including stakeholder communication, documentation, and process execution

• Experience in developing and maintaining documentation to ensure high-quality and standardized category coordination activities

• Excellent communication and collaboration skills to work effectively with cross-functional teams and stakeholders

• Ability to travel internationally up to 30% of the time

About the team

Our Supply Management team in Procurement is a dynamic and collaborative group of procurement professionals dedicated to optimizing both direct and indirect spend across the organization. Our team comprises of category experts and supplier relationship managers who develop and implement tailored procurement strategies that align with local market dynamics while supporting global objectives. We cultivate robust supplier partnerships, negotiate competitive contracts, and identify opportunities for cost savings, always enhancing efficiency and value. By working closely with demand management, procurement centers of excellence, and external suppliers, we ensure all procurement activities comply with regulations and support overall business goals. Through strong relationships and effective communication across regional and global teams, we drive sustainable procurement performance and support the organization in achieving its strategic objectives.

About Vanderlande

Vanderlande is the global market leader for future-proof logistic process automation at airports and in the parcel market. Furthermore, we are also a leading supplier of process automation solutions for warehouses, which seamlessly integrate innovative systems, intelligent software and life-cycle services.

At Vanderlande, you can develop your career, satisfy your ambitions, aspire to new heights, while enjoying personal growth and thriving on achievement.

What we offer

In the challenging and responsible position of Global Category Manager, you will have the chance to make a significant contribution to industry-leading projects and be connected to our dedicated people and customers. We offer a position in an informal, international and professional working environment with a lot of scope for personal development. By joining our profitable and growing company you will be able to reach your goals and focus on your future.

This position offers a competitive salary range of €5.700,- to €7.000,- gross per month (excluding 8% holiday allowance). Through exceeding performance expectations, you even have the possibility to grow outside this scale.

On top of your fixed salary you’ll receive the following secondary benefits:

· 40 vacation days (20 statutory days and a flexible budget worth 20 days).

· Flexible working hours.

· A hybrid workplace (40% working from home and 60% in the office)

· A Health & Wellbeing budget worth €300,- per calendar year

· Commuting allowance, including full reimbursement of travel by public transport.

· Working from home allowance.

· Collective pension scheme and discount on additional health insurance

· On-site company health centres with a gym, physiotherapists and occupational therapists

· Vanderlande Academy and training facilities to boost your skills

· A variety in Vanderlande Network communities and initiatives

· And a great company restaurant and coffee bar with barista

Contact

Are you interested in this position? Apply directly via our careers page with your CV. Questions about this role? Contact Carlijn Kneepkens (Recruiter) at [email protected].

Diversity & Inclusion

Vanderlande is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. Qualified applicants will be considered without regards to race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, or disability status.