Senior Category Manager

Do you want to establish close relationships within the global Grundfos organization and gain a broad network where you have touchpoints that go beyond Purchasing and your own categories? Then join the Domestic Building Services (DBS) & Electronics Purchasing team as a Senior Category Manager (CM).

”We are a great team and enjoy a good working atmosphere. A high level of trust, respect, and good relationships are some of the ingredients. We are a diverse team with team members across Europe and in Asia with a very high team spirit and high levels of collaboration globally. We meet on a regular basis in online meetings for project progress, to keep each other up to date and to foster team spirit. And now and then, we meet face to face in smaller groups or with the entire team - depending on the projects we are working on”, Paul Wijnen, Senior Purchasing Director for DBS & Electronics, explains.

What is the job about?

As our Senior Category Manager, you are responsible to deliver consistently high customer satisfaction on behalf of Group Purchasing and the Divisional performance units. You conduct Value Based Sourcing within the Category and TCO optimization in the industry and category. In this role you manage a group of suppliers in the area of Mechatronics which is a global category requiring close interaction with the senior category manager cable assemblies, all regions and global product management and development. In addition you act on Electronics level, supporting other regions & categories with specific accounts that can be part of a different category but require close interaction from within the region you are based. 15-20% of the role is dedicated to support Innovation Sourcing, a top 3 strategic initiative where we bring outside-in Innovation in close collaboration with key suppliers across the electronics portfolio to fuel the Grundfos innovation pipeline.

The key activities in that role are described in the following:

• Manage different categories for the Mechatronics portfolio (Cable Assemblies, Harnesses) and Motors (Motorsteppers) in close interaction with the category managers for Drives, Motors, the Category Manager for Cable Assemblies and the Chief Technology Sourcing to enable integrated technologies and full product solutions on end-product level
• Together with Product Marketing and Product Development scan the market for suppliers to have offerings that meet customer expectations
• Establish supplier agreements according to above and initiate business for this segment
• Support Operations and Scale in establishing attractive products and secure the daily operations towards Grundfos factories can run in an excellent way
• Take ownership of various purchasing programs such as VMI, Quality and Sustainability to make sure the respective categories are set up for success and support the Group Purchasing strategy towards value creation
• Align the supply base options with development teams and project managers to ensure regional requirements and the global strategy are aligned
• Work close together with category managers in the regions to align on the Global Strategies and drive regional suppliers in one approach.
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The senior category manager is expected to develop the long-term category and supplier relationship management strategy which includes:

• Tendering process (eRFI & RFQs and e-auctions) and executing negotiations
• Gain and maintain in-depth market knowledge
• Following up with suppliers on performance against target and agreed development activities
• Supporting supply chain improvements and initiatives in cooperation with local units
• Supporting product development by working very closely with Engineering to find the right technology.

Strategic sourcing related activities:

• Responsible to develop the purchasing strategy Product Management, other relevant category managers (eg Drives and Motors)
• Work close together with marketing, product management and product development to drive platform strategy and related supplier choices
• Drives performance reporting within purchasing and towards business stakeholders
• Accountable for value & savings delivery across the categories spend – whether sourced globally, regionally and/or locally
• Execution of category strategy by using the existing Purchasing Tools
• Facilitates/ensures benchmarking and knowledge exchange
• Lead negotiations on executive supplier level
• Responsible for the tendering process (eRFI & RFQs and e-auctions)
• Gain and establish in-depth market knowledge
• Responsible for the contract coverage
• Responsible for cost out activities.

Supplier Relationship Management related activities:

• Responsible for the performances of suppliers (e.g. on-time deliveries, quality).
• Global/ Regional Supplier Account Management
• Supplier negotiations and performance management
• Regular follow-up with suppliers on performance against target and agreed development activities
• Drive, arrange and participate in system audits, CSR audits etc
• Support supply chain improvements and initiatives in cooperation with local units
• Oversee suppliers' capacities and drives improvement initiatives
• Supports Product Development
• Secure deliverables on required VPC activities including approval of supply chain
• Ensure classification of suppliers
• Establish and drive a team of cross-functional key stakeholders
• Support Purchasing for Project sales with the right supplier portfolio.

Support the Innovation Sourcing program (15%):

• Actively participate in a small team with focus on Innovation Sourcing activities
• C0-define in close collaboration with the Chief Innovation Sourcing the strategy and program for Innovation Sourcing Electronics & Group Purchasing
• Support the key activities and track the performance and progress of various events
• Report out the results from Innovation Sourcing to the Relevant Senior Stakeholders
• Be an ambassador for Innovation Sourcing through 3rd parties    

Your main collaboration partners are Purchasing Management in Regions / Performance Units, Operations / Plants, Supply Chain, Quality, Group Purchasing, Product Development, Engineering, Finance, Operations Strategy, Legal and Product and Program Managers.

What do you need to apply?

• Relevant commercial/technical education
• At least 5 years of relevant experience within sourcing in a global organization.
• 5+ years of professional experience within sourcing in a global organization for specific categories within the cluster (Electronics, In/Outsourcing, Manufacturing, Operations)
• Experienced in communicating at senior executive level as well as other levels internally as well as externally (typical counterpart in relationships and strategic negotiations will be managing directors or senior executives);
• Experience in people management in a Global organisation
• English language skills on advance level in both in reading/writing and verbally
• Experience with SAP as ERP system

What’s in it for you?

Whether it’s developing leadership skills or advancing your expertise even further, we’ll support you with continuous learning and development opportunities, to help discuss and steer your long-term Grundfos career path. You’ll be welcomed from day one into an inclusive, trusting environment guided by six core values.

We’re an experienced and engaging team, that can make you understand overall data flows in Operations and involve you into some big decisions within Manufacturing.

In addition, your day-to-day benefits include:

• If you’ll be working from your home office, we’ll make sure you are well equipped with a good workstation. However, you are always welcome to our offices where you can engage, learn, and have fun with colleagues
• On top of it, flexible working hours and up to 3 days’ additional paid leave for volunteering of your choice
• Annual bonuses, health insurance, parental support, internal well-being consultants and programmes
• Access to the modern Grundfos Academy to pursue further both personal and professional development
• Diverse, inclusive environment with employee-led forums offering colleagues a safe place to connect and share openly

Do you want to learn more?

If this job sounds appealing, please send your resume and cover letter by clicking “Apply”.

We look forward to hearing from you.

If you want to dig deeper into the Grundfos universe, please visit us on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/5195 or our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwY54t455CU.