Category Group Manager
Posted on: 27/03/2026
Shanghai East China
Permanent
Industry and Manufacturing
Introduction
My client is seeking a Category Group Manager to drive strategic category management across our procurement activities globally. The Category Group will cover Contract Manufacturing, Components and Materials for the logistics automation equipment of company. You will be part of the Global Procurement Management Team and report directly into the CPO Global. In your role, you will be leading a team of Category Managers, located in different parts of the world, including China, the Netherlands and the United States.
Your role will be crucial in further developing the Global Procurement function and delivering impact to the sustainable, profitable growth objectives of the company.
Our global procurement organization enables our projects and business functions to maximize value and minimize risks thru the procurement of goods and services in the most smart, 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.
What will you be doing?
As Category Group Leader you, together with your team, will deliver value through strategic category and supplier management. This includes developing and implementing category strategies, managing supplier relations, ensuring governance and resilience, and driving sourcing excellence. You will coordinate cross-functional teams, aligns internal business needs with supply market opportunities, and leverages data-driven insights to optimize quality, availability, cost, innovation, sustainability and risk. Next to leading the team of Category Managers, your expected to further increase procurement competences in China in terms of local sourcing opportunities for subcontracting and component localization.
Responsibilities:
1. Lead and develop a global team of Category Managers in the area of Subcontracting, Mechanical & Electronical Components and Materials.
2. Procurement competence development in China, specifically in the area of Subcontracting and component localization.
3. Category Strategy Development and Execution. Develop and implement category strategies, by setting up and coordinating cross-functional category teams (e.g., with Technology, Operations), analyzing internal business needs, coordinating supply market research, identifying new suppliers, recognizing opportunities for cost savings in your assigned categories and commissioning detailed cost analysis if required
4. Supplier Relationship Management. Managing supplier relations of assigned suppliers, taking accountability for supplier performance. Including resolution of supplier claims.
5. Effective Sourcing and Contracting. Lead sourcing events, setting up cross functional sourcing event teams, overseeing the creation of RfX documents, setting selection and awarding criteria, validating the longlist of suppliers, evaluating proposals, shortlisting suppliers for further negotiations, conducting negotiations, and awarding contracts
6. Purchase Requisition Compliance and Accuracy. 'When required, review details within Purchase Requisitions (PR) for non-catalog items and request clarification from requester(s)
7. Accurate and Up-to-Date Master Data Management. Coordinate the modification of Item Master Data for assigned categories (suppliers, items, catalogs, prices, etc.) with support from MDM Specialists.
任职要求： What do we ask from you?
To be successful in this role, you should have:
1. A strong background (+ 15 Years) in Procurement for a global company, ideally in a Project Driven Professional Industry
2. Seasoned procurement professional with experience in Category Strategy Definition and leading complex sourcing events and negotiations
3. Knowledge of sourcing policies, ethical guidelines, and legal requirements to ensure compliance in all procurement activities
4. Proven track record in leading global teams
5. Excellent collaboration and influencing skills to work closely with internal stakeholders and external suppliers
6. Track record of delivering business results, improving company performance
7. Fluently in English and Chinese
8. Ability to travel up to 30% of the time
My client is seeking a Category Group Manager to drive strategic category management across our procurement activities globally. The Category Group will cover Contract Manufacturing, Components and Materials for the logistics automation equipment of company. You will be part of the Global Procurement Management Team and report directly into the CPO Global. In your role, you will be leading a team of Category Managers, located in different parts of the world, including China, the Netherlands and the United States.
Your role will be crucial in further developing the Global Procurement function and delivering impact to the sustainable, profitable growth objectives of the company.
Our global procurement organization enables our projects and business functions to maximize value and minimize risks thru the procurement of goods and services in the most smart, 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.
What will you be doing?
As Category Group Leader you, together with your team, will deliver value through strategic category and supplier management. This includes developing and implementing category strategies, managing supplier relations, ensuring governance and resilience, and driving sourcing excellence. You will coordinate cross-functional teams, aligns internal business needs with supply market opportunities, and leverages data-driven insights to optimize quality, availability, cost, innovation, sustainability and risk. Next to leading the team of Category Managers, your expected to further increase procurement competences in China in terms of local sourcing opportunities for subcontracting and component localization.
Responsibilities:
1. Lead and develop a global team of Category Managers in the area of Subcontracting, Mechanical & Electronical Components and Materials.
2. Procurement competence development in China, specifically in the area of Subcontracting and component localization.
3. Category Strategy Development and Execution. Develop and implement category strategies, by setting up and coordinating cross-functional category teams (e.g., with Technology, Operations), analyzing internal business needs, coordinating supply market research, identifying new suppliers, recognizing opportunities for cost savings in your assigned categories and commissioning detailed cost analysis if required
4. Supplier Relationship Management. Managing supplier relations of assigned suppliers, taking accountability for supplier performance. Including resolution of supplier claims.
5. Effective Sourcing and Contracting. Lead sourcing events, setting up cross functional sourcing event teams, overseeing the creation of RfX documents, setting selection and awarding criteria, validating the longlist of suppliers, evaluating proposals, shortlisting suppliers for further negotiations, conducting negotiations, and awarding contracts
6. Purchase Requisition Compliance and Accuracy. 'When required, review details within Purchase Requisitions (PR) for non-catalog items and request clarification from requester(s)
7. Accurate and Up-to-Date Master Data Management. Coordinate the modification of Item Master Data for assigned categories (suppliers, items, catalogs, prices, etc.) with support from MDM Specialists.
任职要求： What do we ask from you?
To be successful in this role, you should have:
1. A strong background (+ 15 Years) in Procurement for a global company, ideally in a Project Driven Professional Industry
2. Seasoned procurement professional with experience in Category Strategy Definition and leading complex sourcing events and negotiations
3. Knowledge of sourcing policies, ethical guidelines, and legal requirements to ensure compliance in all procurement activities
4. Proven track record in leading global teams
5. Excellent collaboration and influencing skills to work closely with internal stakeholders and external suppliers
6. Track record of delivering business results, improving company performance
7. Fluently in English and Chinese
8. Ability to travel up to 30% of the time