Category Manager (m/f/d) - Agricultural Machinery

Category Manager - Agricultural Machinery (m/f/d)

As our new Category Manager - Agricultural Machinery (m/f/d), you will be responsible for developing and implementing global procurement strategies while acting as the subject matter expert for agricultural machinery categories across the KWS Group. Working in a dynamic, multicultural environment, you will collaborate with international stakeholders and strategic suppliers to deliver innovative, sustainable, and cost-effective solutions that create long-term value and support the company’s growth ambitions. This is a permanent position to be filled full-time. The place of work is at KWS Berlin GmbH in Berlin, Germany.

Tasks & Responsibilities

Strategic Category Management

• Develop and execute global category strategies for agricultural machinery, farm equipment, spare parts, maintenance services, and related operational technologies
• Create spend transparency and identify opportunities for cost optimization, supplier consolidation, and value creation
• Lead the complete Source-to-Contract (S2C) process, including market analysis, RFx processes, supplier negotiations, contract management, and implementation
• Drive Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) and Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) approaches across the category portfolio
• Ensure compliance with legal, ESG, and internal procurement standards

Stakeholder & Supplier Management

• Build strong relationships with internal stakeholders across Business Units and Global Functions
• Develop strategic partnerships with key machinery manufacturers, distributors, service providers, and aftermarket suppliers
• Lead cross-functional sourcing projects in a complex global matrix organization
• Present sourcing strategies, business cases, and procurement recommendations to senior management and executive stakeholders

Procurement Excellence

• Guide and support tactical buyers in sourcing activities, negotiations, spend analysis, and supplier management
• Train and onboard procurement team members on category-specific knowledge and procurement tools
• Contribute to process improvement initiatives and procurement digitalization
• Lead procurement-related projects and change management initiatives

Profile & Skillset

• University degree in Industrial Engineering, Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Agricultural Engineering, Agricultural Economics, or comparable
• Several years of professional experience in strategic procurement or, category management, or sourcing
• Proven experience in procurement of machinery, ideally of heavy mobile machinery
• Strong understanding of machinery lifecycle management, maintenance requirements, and equipment investment processes.
• Experience in negotiating complex global supply agreements and managing strategic supplier relationships.
• Experience working in international and matrix organizations
• Knowledge of SAP, procurement suites, supplier management tools, and MS Office
• Strong analytical and strategic thinking capabilities
• Excellent negotiation and stakeholder management skills
• Ability to liaise with cross-departmental and cross-functional stakeholders on different managerial levels
• Strong communication and presentation skills with different target groups
• Passion for innovation, continuous improvement, and sustainable business development
• Excellent command of English; German language skills are highly desirable

Offer

• Interesting and varied job in a diverse international environment with the opportunity to contribute innovative ideas
• As a family business, we are guided by the values of closeness, reliability, vision and independence; this culture is lived in practice and ensures an open and friendly working atmosphere from day one
• Excellent work equipment and free car and bicycle parking spaces in our modern office in the heart of Berlin-Schöneberg
• We create the appropriate framework conditions for you: capital-forming benefits, Christmas and holiday pay, childcare allowance, 30d holidays, flexible working hours, holiday and Christmas bonuses, company pension scheme, JobRad and/or Jobticket
• True to our motto "Make yourself grow", we support the professional and personal development of our employees