Sr. Category manager Bronze, Copper

Our client is part of a publicly traded group of companies with 6 divisions, counting more than 14.000 employees, a turnover of more than € 3 billion and activities in more than 135 countries. The division concerned develops and supplies components and systems for HVAC and sanitary applications in buildings. It counts 13 factories in NL, Germany, Italy, France, UK, Poland and the US, has appr. 1.750 employees and a turnover of more than € 600 mio. Its head office is located in Almere.

The division’s CPO started in his position in Q1 2025. He now has direct responsibility for all procurement for the locations in NL, Germany, Italy, France and for the procurement office in China, a total spend of € 180 mio. It is foreseen that his responsibility will soon come to include the locations in UK, US and Poland, in which case total spend under his control will grow to € 210 mio. His team counts the following positions:

• Sr. Category manager Steel/Iron (vacancy) - spend of € 38 mio.; 86 suppliers
• Sr. Category manager Brass/Copper (vacancy) - spend of € 62 mio.; 146 suppliers
• Category manager Electrical, Electronics, Mechanical, Fasteners & Packaging (vacancy) - spend of € 20 mio.; 187 suppliers
• Category manager Plastics, Rubber, Foam - spend of € 39 mio.; 140 suppliers
• Local buyers: 3x in Germany, 2x in France, 1x in Italy, 1x in NL and 2x in China
• Procurement analyst
• Cost engineer

In addition there is a spend of € 11 mio. And 99 suppliers in Capex and MRO and of € 9 mio. With 657 suppliers in the category “other”. As of start of the category managers in their new position, procurement for their categories will become centralized. Operational procurement is positioned within Supply chain. There is a migration planned to implement one ERP system (SAP) in all factories, as several different ERP systems are used at the moment.

You will start in a strategic role as category manager for your category in the region, beside your role as buyer for NL for the same category. As said above it is foreseen that your responsibility will soon come to include the remaining locations within the division as well. Your category embraces: brass, copper, bronze as raw material plus forging, casting, machining. You are familiar dealing with engineering, reading technical drawings and being involved in NPD programs. It is a hands‑on role, where one needs to earn trust by tackling operational issues and getting results as of the very start.

The first months will be needed to get to know the organization, the stakeholders and supply base and to create your network within the organization. You will be the first one to integrate procurement for all factories in your area. You have a functional relation with all local buyers in your area and are expected to start by making a full analysis of the actual situation within your category, design the path forward in close cooperation with your stakeholders, based on your research/know‑how of the supplier market and describe this all in your category strategy, including actions, KPI’s, planning, etc. For this plan you will need to get buy‑in from all involved and thereafter use this as your basis for further actions. Again always in close cooperation with all stakeholders. Targets will need to be: rationalization of supply base, reduction of tail spend, contracting of the A and B suppliers, improving all QLTC conditions, centralizing and strengthening supplier management for these major suppliers. It is important that you improve processes along the way, e.g. For supplier management.

Once you are familiar with your new job, it is expected that you develop your suppliers, seeking new business with them, bringing innovation into the company, constantly thinking about the make/buy balance. You are always searching for new suppliers, in close cooperation with your stakeholders of course. In this role a clear growth path is set out, depending on the progress made and the success of the communication within the organization of this progress. Appr. 20% travel is expected in the role. You can work 2 – 3 days/week from home. Your base can be the head office in Almere or one of the manufacturing sites (the 2nd Dutch location is in the Deventer/Zwolle area).

• Academic working level
• Analytical and strategic yet hands‑on as well
• Sound international category management experience
• Ability to read technical drawings, sound experience with the mechanical category, e.g. Good knowledge of the cost components of outsourcing of mechanical spend
• Experience working within the manufacturing industry
• Strong communicator, likable person
• Excellent command of English, Dutch is NOT required.

• Your gross salary is up to € 125.000/yr, depending on experience and knowledge
• Performance based bonus of max. 15%
• Company car
• 27+13 vacation days
• Pension plan (50% employer contribution)
• Permanent contract