Head of Category Management – Direct Non-CAT Materials (m/f/d)

Zeppelin Group: Procurement

Location: Steinhausen (Schweiz)

Reporting Line: Head of Procurement

Direct Reports: Category Managers Direct Non-CAT Materials

About The Role

As Head of Category Management – Direct Non-CAT Materials, you will lead Zeppelin’s strategic category management for direct Non-CAT material categories across the Group, define category strategies, playbooks, savings contribution, supplier evaluation and risk management, while enabling Category Managers to deliver measurable value and impact to the business as well as sustainable supplier relationships. You will act as the interface to SBUs and other business stakeholders, agreeing demand forecasts and specifications, validating business requirements and aligning category roadmaps with SBU priorities. In this role, you will own the direct-materials savings pipeline governance, sponsor strategic supplier management and drive continuous improvement in procurement processes, reporting and data quality.

Your Tasks & Responsibilities

• Responsible for the further development of global strategic procurement activities, including defining a tiered supplier portfolio in alignment with the requirements of internal stakeholders
• Analyze markets, manage key suppliers, oversee tenders and the organization of pitches, and prepare and communicate the results in a format suitable for management
• Develop, refine and implement category strategies and standards in Group’s procurement - always with a focus on efficiency, transparency, and sustainability
• Define and implement analyses of opportunities and risks, as well as the current and future supply of materials & services, with regard to sustainability, technology, quality, and costs
• Establishing targeted sourcing guidelines for direct materials and developing a KPI-based risk management system for the managed categories
• Prepare for and conduct negotiations with suppliers, including finalizing respective contracts
• Last but not least, you will be responsible for the technical and disciplinary leadership, as well as the continuous development and training of our employees (m/f/d) in your area, including all associated tasks

What We Are Looking For

• A degree (Bachelor’s or Master’s) in Business, Engineering, Economics or equivalent qualification
• 10+ years of professional experience, including 5 years of leadership experience in a senior management position. Experience in the disciplinary management of executives is required
• Extensive expertise and a proven track record in global strategic procurement, supply chain management, and/or project or product management.
• Extensive expertise in procurement processes, systems, and structures
• An entrepreneurial mindset and approach, combined with your strong communication skills, enable you to interact on an equal footing with individuals at various hierarchical levels -both nationally and internationally - in a dynamic environment
• A strong service orientation and an awareness of working as a procurement professional within a highly interdependent organization
• Leadership skills, empathy, negotiation skills, assertiveness, and quick comprehension set you apart, as do your analytical and conceptual skills
• Business-level proficiency in spoken and written English and very good German skills
• A willingness to undertake regular, global business travel rounds out your profile

Why Join Zeppelin Procurement?

We are creating a procurement organization that moves beyond transactional purchasing, becomes a strategic business partner delivering measurable competitive advantage and generates measurable value and impact to our business. If you want to lead a team, shape the strategic direction for direct-materials category management and drive lasting value creation across an international organization, we would like to hear from you.

Please note that the exact title of this role may change in the following.