Lead Category Manager

As a Lead Category Manager you will be responsible for the leadership of the General Goods and Services cluster and the daily management of the Category Managers in your team. You will translate the overall procurement strategy into a strategy and vision for your cluster. You will be in charge for sourcing, negotiation and overall supplier management for large volumes, complex categories and strategic suppliers.Your responsibilities

• Develop and deploy procurement vision and strategy of the clustered categories, among others ICT, Facility Management, HR, Travel, Car fleet, Consumables, Intellectual Service Providers, etc.;

• Follow up reporting and track KPI’s;

• Be responsible to deliver maximized total cost of ownership savings; 

• Build a high performing team;

• Play a sponsor role for the development of the relationship/partnership with strategic suppliers;

• Take the lead in managing relationships with internal stakeholders;

• Ensure compliance with sourcing procedures and contract management;

• Centralize category experience, methodology and category strategy;

• Perform root cause analysis towards reoccurring supply and quality issues and claim management;

• Identify end-to-end opportunities within the DEME supply chain and report these to the Group Procurement Director;

• Lead and support a team of Category Managers via development and implementation of the strategy for the different spend categories and assign priorities to the different sourcing projects; 

• Oversee high value / critical spot buys performed by Category Managers;

• Handle commercial supplier interaction with strategic key suppliers in key categories (in cooperation with Category Managers) & drive supplier performance improvement actions;

• Implementation of identified solutions for cross Activity Line procurement needs.
   

Your profile

• Hold a master’s degree with 10 to 15 years of relevant experience;

• Accountability: Responsible for category performance and results, ensuring targets are met and exceeded;

• Change Management & Communication: Proficient in managing and effectively communicating organizational changes to drive transformation and innovation;

• Integrity & Ethics: Upholds the highest standards of integrity and ethics in all professional endeavors;

• Quality & Detail Focus: Demonstrates meticulous attention to detail with a strong commitment to quality in all aspects of work;

• Openness for Change: Embraces and leads change initiatives, fostering a culture of innovation and continuous improvement;

• Conceptual Thinking: Capable of understanding and implementing complex concepts to drive strategic decisions and improvements;

• Internal Stakeholder Management: Expert in managing relationships with internal stakeholders, ensuring alignment and collaboration across the organization;

• Performance Monitoring & Measurement: Skilled in tracking and measuring performance to ensure continuous improvement and achievement of goals;

• Strategic Sourcing Process: Manages and optimizes the strategic sourcing process, ensuring efficiency and effectiveness;

• Industry / Category Expertise: Possesses in-depth knowledge of the industry and specific categories, leveraging this expertise to drive category performance;

• Category Profile Analysis: Proficient in analyzing and managing category profiles to optimize performance and strategic outcomes;

• TCO Mindset and Modelling: Applies a Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) approach and excels in TCO modeling to drive cost efficiencies;

• Supplier Selection: Expertly selects suppliers based on thorough analysis and strategic considerations to ensure the best fit for the organization;

• Supplier Negotiation: Skilled negotiator, securing the best terms and conditions with suppliers;

• Contract Management: Manages contracts meticulously to ensure compliance and optimal performance;

• Supplier Management & Development: Maintains and develops strong supplier relationships to foster sustainable collaboration and innovation;

• Benefit Tracking: Accurately tracks and reports the benefits of initiatives, ensuring transparency and accountability.

Our offer

• An extensive mobility program for a healthy work-life balance;

• A permanent training track which allows you to develop yourself personally and professionally;

• A stimulating, innovative workplace with numerous growth opportunities;

• A people-oriented environment with an interactive health program and a focus on employee wellbeing;

• A competitive salary package, including a company car and other extralegal benefits.