General

Area of responsibility:         (Global) Category Buyer / Regional Category Manager

Reports to:                            Regional Category Manager / Global Category Director

Location:                                Various

Main objectives
Main objective is to achieve significant cost reductions in line with budget targets, while maintaining/ improving product quality and supplier service levels.

Main duties and responsibilities are (but not limited to):

Category Buyer:

• Map future needs and leverage KA spend to maximize benefit for KA
• Develop and propose Category Strategy for assigned (sub-)category and region
• Establish a base of preferred suppliers, and secure that suppliers from low cost regions are identified where possible.
• Supplier relationship management
• Capture savings
• Implement sourcing strategies for the categories
• Establish good contracting and acceptance practices
• Prepare and submit RFQs (based on input from Project Buyers related to NPI projects)
• Lead supplier negotiations and select suppliers in accordance with defined process and strategy
• Monitor adherence to commercial agreements, performance and capacity of suppliers
• Manage tooling cost improvements, orders and registration processes
• Perform PPV-/ Non PPV reporting for area of responsibility
• Updating ERP system with monthly / quarterly price changes
• Manage Supplier Feasibility Evaluation
• Ensure Supplier data is maintained in ERP system and Vendor Portal

Global Category Buyer

Same as for Category Buyer, but with a global scope for one or several (sub-)categories.

Regional Category Manager

Same as for Category Buyer with the additional tasks:

• Lead the team of category buyers in the region
• Ensure personal objectives for the team that are in line with the overall targets defined for the Purchasing function and KA
• Develop the right competencies within the team to deliver overall objectives

Main contacts

• Internal
  • Project Buyers
  • Category Buyers
  • Category SQDs
  • Engineering
  • Operations
  • Quality
• External
  • Suppliers

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree or master’s degree in Engineering and/or Business Management
• Successful, multi-year track record in Purchasing
• Strong negotiation skills
• Good problem-solving and analytical skills
• Production technology understanding, specifically in automotive 
• Strong communication skills
• Passion for reducing cost
• Excellent in technical English language, written and spoken.

Authority

Act independently and according to KAs Delegation of Authority (DoA) and within other company procedures, policies, instructions and targets.