Category Manager – Raw Material

About the role

We are seeking an experienced Category Manager – Raw Material to lead strategic procurement of direct production materials, ensuring cost competitiveness, quality, and supply continuity.

Key responsibilities

• Manage the raw material portfolio to guarantee uninterrupted supply while supporting manufacturing needs.
• Develop and execute category strategies that optimise cost, quality, service and supplier performance.
• Evaluate commodity markets, pricing trends and supply risks to inform procurement decisions.
• Lead commercial negotiations to secure competitive pricing and favourable contractual terms.
• Conduct spend analysis, cost benchmarking, should‑cost modelling and total cost of ownership assessments.
• Monitor commodity price fluctuations and implement mitigation measures.
• Build strategic supplier relationships and monitor performance against KPIs and contractual commitments.
• Collaborate with Production, Planning, Quality, Engineering, Warehouse and Finance to support schedules and inventory optimisation.

Required profile

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Procurement, Business Administration, Engineering, Finance or related field.
• 8–10 years of procurement/strategic sourcing experience, including 3–5 years in category management within a large industrial or multinational organisation.
• Proven track record in supplier negotiations, contract management and cost optimisation.
• Strong commercial acumen, analytical thinking and stakeholder management skills.

Required skills

• Supplier negotiations
• Spend analysis
• Contract management
• Strategic sourcing
• Cost optimisation
• Commodity risk management
• Total cost of ownership
• Cost benchmarking
• Governance frameworks
• Regulatory requirements