Lead Category Manager

This Lead Category Manager is responsible for developing, implementing, and executing sourcing strategies for assigned categories and suppliers. This includes supplier selection, supplier management and development, contract agreements and ensuring excellent purchasing operations. Additionally, this position constantly drives continuous improvement initiatives in the field of transformation, processes, quality, cost effectiveness and internal coordination/communication, hence is to be considered an important change agent across INNIO. Delivering quantitative and qualitative, measurable, and felt value across INNIO, managing its supply base and 3rd party costs, is the ultimate attribute of this role.   

  

Essential Responsibilities:  

• Developing and executing INNIO sourcing strategies for your area with focus on Strategic procurement actions on: Indirect, Balance of Plant (Project Sourcing), Maintenance/Repair and Overhauls for our NES-WES business in the US.
• Leading together with cross-functional teams the technical evaluation, supplier selection, development and overall supplier management.
• Developing negotiation strategies and leading price and contract negotiations to achieve stated goals and objectives for lifecycle cost out.
• Driving Sourcing initiatives including lifecycle productivity, sole source reduction, on-time delivery, quality and cash flow improvements.
• Partnering with the business Stakeholders, the regional and global Sales and Service teams to ensure execution and Readiness for global projects as well as supporting the Service growth strategy.
• Working with operational Sourcing team to ensure on time order placement and a smooth buy to pay process.
• Understand business compliance requirements and drive opportunities to eliminate/minimize supply chain risks.
• Proactive engagement and interface with business stakeholders to lay out strategies, ensure business buy-in and ensure optimized internal coordination and communication; active facilitation of solution identification and implementation.
• Own, drive and report progress/bottlenecks on Value Creation Plan (VCP)-initiatives

Qualifications/Requirements:  

• 5 years working experience in strategic sourcing, supply chain or equivalent, ideally within a comparable industry.
• Proven experience in project management and strategy development
• Strong business acumen as well as influencing and negotiating skills.
• Knowledge/skills in Microsoft, Excel and PowerPoint
• Solid communication and presentation skills at all levels
• Strong customer service mindset with ability to improve internal customer relationships.
• Entrepreneurial, intrinsically motivated mindset with demonstrated ownership of responsibilities.
• Fluent communication in English, other languages like German as an asset (verbal and written).
• Willingness to travel at least 25% of the time to our supply base.
• Team player mentality and continuous improvement mindset