Location: Hengelo, Netherlands
About the team
The Thales Nederland Procurement team is part of the Thales Group global Procurement organization. The procurement of products and services within Thales Nederland and the Thales Group represents nearly 50% of the total turnover. The competitiveness and the supplier’s operational performance, and the quality of the interface between Thales and its suppliers, are key factors of competitiveness.
About the job
As Category Manager you are part of the Thales Netherlands Procurement team as well as the Global Category team. You are responsible for managing a dedicated Procurement Category portfolio within the segment B ‘System & Equipment’. You lead cross functional teams through the Category Technology Teams between Procurement, Engineering and Supply Chain in developing strategies, sourcing, contract execution and managing the supply base. Managing internal and external stakeholders is key in building close relations with your suppliers in order to make supplier knowledge and competitiveness available to the benefit of Thales products and services.
Pro-actively and in close alignment with the PPM (Procurement Project Manager) organization and GCM (Global Category Manager) organization you establish and maintain a local Category strategy in line with the business needs and coherent with the strategy defined by the GCM for the world-wide Category.
You lead cross functional teams through the full procurement process from requisition until end of contract under the coordination of the PPM (Procurement Project Manager). In the bid phase you determine the approach, prepare the sourcing strategy, negotiate and bridge gaps to satisfy the needs of your stakeholders and ensure competitiveness. In the contract execution phase, you manage the contract, deviations and risks ensuring stakeholder satisfaction, quality and timely delivery.
Collaboration with internal and external stakeholders is key. You build close relations with your suppliers in order to make supplier knowledge and competitiveness available to the benefit of Thales products and services. Through collaboration you are able to manage risks and opportunities and anticipate to changing circumstances.
As a Category Manager you are accountable for:
- Up-to-date knowledge of your supplier market, including innovations and key new emerging technologies relevant for your scope.
- Shape, communicate and steer implementation of the Category strategy.
- Supplier relationship management.
- Drive selection, negotiation and contracting of suppliers.
- End to end performance of the acquisition process.
- Identify and achieve cost reductions and improvements in cooperation with the suppliers and stakeholders.
- Strategic supplier performance management including quality, cost, delivery, contractual performance and innovation for all business activities.
- Ensuring collective and individual efficiency, working within cross functional teams to meet the challenges of the business.
- Reporting to the Category Team Lead Segments B of Regional (Netherlands) Procurement.
About you
We are in search for a colleague who has:
- excellent leadership skills with the ability to influence stakeholders and deliver business results.
- ability to oversee and value interests in a broad perspective
- ability to build solid trustworthy relationships with external and internal stakeholders
- an open mind (listen, share ideas etc.) and ability to bring added value and innovation.
- strong contractual skills and experience in complex negotiations
- experience with relational contracting is a strong plus
- experience in working in cross functional international teams
- good communication skills
- creative and solution oriented
- a degree in International Business, Procurement or related with professional and intellectual capacities at academic level
- multiple years relevant strategic Procurement or commercial experience
- fluent in English, German and/or French are a plus
- affinity with high tech business
What's in it for you
- Become part of a great team in a high tech, innovative international organization.
- (International) opportunities for growth in tech-, management- and commercial roles.
- Attention for personal development and own initiative.
- A nice workplace in a modern building, where we value a good work-life balance and flexibility.
- 40 leave days per year, travel expenses and a flexible benefits à la carte package with options like purchase/sale of leave hours, internet costs, bicycle plan, company fitness, trade union contribution or relocation costs.
LR 9 VKG 70
Interested?
Reach out for more information to our Talent Acquisition Partner Gerlof Jan Heck, via +31 (0) 638697390 or [email protected].
Or Apply directly. Then click on the button ‘Apply now’ to show your interest.
To ensure that we are a good match, we can ask you to participate in an assessment.
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What We Do
Thales is a global high technology leader investing in digital and “deep tech” innovations – connectivity, big data, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and quantum technology – to build a future we can all trust, which is vital to the development of our societies. The company provides solutions, services and products that help its customers – businesses, organisations and states – in the defence, aeronautics, space, transportation and digital identity and security markets to fulfil their critical missions, by placing humans at the heart of the decision-making process.
