Global Category Lead – Professional Services

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement effective category strategies aligned with organizational priorities and objectives.
• Analyze spending, market trends and supply risks to effectively manage procurement activities to ensure cost efficiency and optimal supplier performance.
• Provide strategic direction and operational support to Sourcing Managers to execute procurement activities.
• Define category roadmaps, sourcing pipelines, and performance metrics.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with suppliers to foster collaboration and drive innovation.
• Facilitate supplier business performance reviews and ensure alignment with contractual and CSL needs and priorities and establish supplier performance management (KPIs, scorecards, reviews) to improve performance.
• Lead supplier risk management and continuity planning.
• Lead Cross Functional Category Councils to ensure CSL and the Supply base are aligned.
• Engage with internal stakeholders across CSL to align procurement initiatives and saving opportunities.
• Ensure compliance with procurement policies and governance frameworks and ethical sourcing standards.
• Maintain accurate documentation and reporting of procurement activities and supplier engagements.
• Identify and manage procurement-related risks within assigned categories.
• Lead the Tendering process, negotiations, and contract awards for activities over $500K.
• Monitor category performance using key performance indicators (KPIs) and provide insights to the Category Director and key stakeholders across Commercial and Finance.
• Conduct detailed cost analysis and benchmarking to identify savings opportunities and ensure procurement activities align with financial objectives.
• Partner with internal stakeholders (Enabling Functions, Finance, Legal, etc.) to translate business requirements into sourcing and contracting strategies.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in business, Supply Chain, or related discipline; professional certification (e.g., CIPS) preferred.
• Minimum 5+ years’ experience in procurement, sourcing, or category management roles.
• Demonstrated success in developing category strategies and managing supplier relationships.
• Experience in performance monitoring, risk management, and cross-functional collaboration.
• Experience of multi-site organizations.
• Fluency in English and German.