Assistant Manager Category Buyer

Job Description

What we're looking for

We are seeking an Assistant Manager Category Buyer with a strong strategic mindset and proven experience in procurement within an international industrial setting. This role requires developing and implementing sourcing strategies, leading negotiations, managing supplier performance, and collaborating closely with project and engineering teams to ensure optimal procurement outcomes and cost-effective solutions.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Responsibilities (in close collaboration with Global Sourcing Manager):

• Develop and implement sourcing strategies for designated product/service categories, aligned with company priorities.
• Lead strategic sourcing initiatives to drive procurement objectives.
• Identify and evaluate new suppliers in collaboration with key internal stakeholders.
• Rationalize the existing supplier database for efficiency.
• Negotiate and establish long-term framework agreements with key suppliers in line with corporate procurement policies.
• Ensure supplier performance meets ISO 9001 standards and regularly assess their capabilities.
• Set up KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) to continuously monitor and evaluate supplier performance.

Project and Operational Responsibilities:

• Collaborate with project teams and engineering teams to develop tender packages, identify suppliers, and ensure alignment with technical specifications.
• Negotiate pricing, assess negotiation margins, and secure cost-effective solutions for materials, equipment, and services.
• Prepare and present comparative analysis for decision-making and initiate purchase orders.
• Renegotiate contracts during project execution to optimize costs (TCO/TCP).
• Oversee the issuance of purchase orders by local buyers, ensuring compliance with internal procedures.
• Monitor supplier performance to ensure adherence to delivery schedules and quality standards.
• Manage the close out of the POs (Purchase Orders).
• Highlight procurement gains at the end of each project to improve future performance.

Required Skills & Qualifications:

• Master's degree in Engineering and Procurement is mandatory.
• Experience: Minimum of 5 years of experience in procurement, preferably as a lead buyer or category manager in an international industrial environment.
• Strong knowledge of sourcing, supplier qualification, and strategic vendor management.
• Expertise in drafting and negotiating supplier agreements and framework contracts.
• Strong negotiation and analytical skills.
• High ethical standards and integrity.
• Excellent cross-functional leadership abilities, with the capacity to communicate effectively across all levels of the international organization.
• Team-oriented with strong interpersonal skills, adaptable, pragmatic, and assertive when necessary.
• Well organized, flexible, and stress-resistant.
• Proficient in English (oral and written), with the ability to negotiate complex agreements in English (level B2 to C1 is requested).
• Competent in SAP, MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, SharePoint), and Power BI.
• Experience in international project management is a plus.
• A good knowledge of Power conversion market, Automation and Electrical market is a plus.