Job Description

We are seeking an experienced International Procurement Category Manager to lead strategic sourcing and supplier management initiatives across our European operations. In this role, you will drive procurement excellence for our HVAC product portfolio, overseeing category strategy, vendor relationships, and market intelligence. You will serve as a strategic partner to regional teams across Europe, ensuring alignment between procurement activities and broader business objectives while maintaining a focus on value creation, sustainability, and operational efficiency. Your work will span contract negotiation, market analysis, cross-functional collaboration, and performance management against key procurement metrics.

Key Responsibilities:

• Establish and nurture strong, long-term partnerships with suppliers and vendors, fostering collaborative relationships that support mutual growth and reliability
• Negotiate contracts, pricing structures, and commercial terms to optimize value delivery while maintaining quality and service standards
• Develop, refine, and execute comprehensive procurement strategies aligned with business objectives and regional requirements
• Provide proactive strategic support to European regional teams in procurement planning, supplier selection, and relationship management
• Evaluate, update, and optimize category management strategies for designated product groups, ensuring competitive positioning and cost efficiency
• Conduct in-depth market analysis and monitor industry trends, emerging technologies, new products, and supplier capabilities to identify sourcing opportunities
• Collaborate with marketing and sales teams across diverse group companies to align procurement initiatives with promotional campaigns and market demands
• Contribute to cross-functional projects, including sustainability initiatives and process improvements
• Track, analyze, and report on key performance indicators aligned with procurement strategy and company targets

Candidate Profile

We are looking for candidates who combine deep procurement expertise with strategic business acumen and a genuine passion for building supplier partnerships. You bring a minimum of 8 years of hands-on experience in category management, buying, or related procurement roles, with proven success in HVAC or similar technical sectors. You are a data-driven professional comfortable with analytics tools and ERP systems, yet equally skilled at relationship management and cross-cultural communication. Your background demonstrates strong negotiation capabilities, analytical rigor, and the ability to thrive in dynamic, matrix-driven international environments. Above all, you are proactive, service-oriented, and committed to driving continuous improvement.

Experience & Expertise Required:

• Minimum 8 years of professional experience as a Category Manager, Buyer, or equivalent procurement role
• Demonstrated expertise in HVAC industry or comparable technical procurement sectors
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, Power BI, PowerPoint, ERP systems, and data analysis tools
• Vocational qualification in wholesale and foreign trade, or Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Procurement, Supply Chain Management, or related field
• Fluency in English; additional languages such as German, Spanish, or French are highly valued
• Proven track record of successful contract negotiation and supplier management in international settings

Qualities & Work Approach:

• Strong negotiation, analytical, and problem-solving capabilities with attention to detail
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to build trust across organizational levels and cultures
• Team-oriented mindset with a collaborative approach to cross-functional and international projects
• Proactive, driven attitude with a service-oriented approach to supporting business needs
• Adaptability and comfort working in dynamic, complex, and geographically dispersed environments
• Willingness to travel frequently across Europe; ideally based in the Hannover region (Germany) or Spain within an reasonable distance of a major airport

Role Impact & Success:

This position offers the opportunity to shape procurement strategy and supplier relationships across a dynamic European organization, directly influencing cost efficiency, quality, and sustainability outcomes. Success in this role is measured by strong vendor partnerships, strategic category performance, and the ability to drive continuous improvement across the product portfolio.