Category Manager Role - Indirect

Senior Category Manager – Indirect Procurement (EMEA)

We are working with an international medical technology organisation operating in a regulated, fast-growth environment. The business develops advanced medical solutions used in hospital and clinical settings worldwide, supported by a strong European footprint and global supply network.

They are now hiring an experienced Category Manager, Indirect Procurement to manage strategic sourcing activities across EMEA within a broad indirect-spend portfolio.

This is a newly created role with scope to grow as the procurement function evolves.

The Role

This position is responsible for driving strategic procurement across defined indirect categories across the EMEA region. You will work closely with senior internal stakeholders and external suppliers to deliver cost efficiency, supplier performance, compliance and risk reduction.

Key responsibilities include:

Sourcing & Category Management

• Lead and support sourcing initiatives across indirect spend categories to deliver cost savings and value creation.

• Manage medium-to-high complexity RFx processes and supplier negotiations.

• Develop and maintain category strategies aligned to business requirements and market dynamics.

• Monitor supplier markets, trends and risks to inform sourcing decisions.

• Support business transformation and growth initiatives through effective supplier engagement.

Supplier & Stakeholder Management

• Build and maintain strategic supplier partnerships across EMEA.

• Conduct supplier reviews, evaluate performance and deliver continuous improvement.

• Strengthen collaboration across functions including R&D, IT, Finance, HR, Sales & Marketing, Legal, Facilities and Operations.

• Ensure suppliers meet regulatory, quality and governance expectations.

Contracting & Governance

• Manage contracts from creation through to compliance and renewal.

• Ensure legal, commercial and operational risks are appropriately managed.

• Partner closely with Legal to ensure alignment with procurement frameworks.

Project Leadership & Collaboration

• Represent procurement in international supply chain and transformation initiatives.

• Lead and support projects tied to procurement KPIs and performance objectives.

• Proactively escalate risks impacting supply continuity or strategic priorities.

Your Profile

You will be a senior indirect-procurement professional with experience in complex, regulated environments.

Essential Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain, Finance, Operations or similar (Master’s / MBA advantageous).

• Minimum 5 years’ experience in indirect procurement or strategic sourcing.

• Demonstrated success delivering category strategies with measurable impact.

• Experience managing professional services, IT, facilities, operations or marketing spend.

• Excellent negotiation, stakeholder management and influencing skills.

• Confidence managing supplier relationships at a strategic level.

• Strong analytical capability and commercial acumen.

Desirable:

• Experience working in healthcare, life sciences or highly regulated industry.

• Knowledge of procurement platforms (e.g. SAP, Ariba, Coupa).

• Familiarity with analytics tools such as Power BI or Tableau.

• Experience across multi-country procurement environments.

• Knowledge of sustainability, supplier diversity or compliance programmes.

• German and English fluency preferred.

• Willingness to travel (up to 30%).

What’s on Offer

• Competitive salary and benefits package.

• Hybrid working model.

• High-impact role in a rapidly evolving business.

• Long-term progression opportunities in an international environment.

• Exposure to strategic procurement at regional level.