Category Manager

Country: Germany (DE) 
Location: Frankfurt, Düsseldorf, Wetter,  
Location details: Homeoffice 

At Konecranes, we believe that great customer experience is built on the people behind the Konecranes name – people committed to providing our customers with lifting equipment and services that lift their businesses. Everything we do, we do with passion and drive. 

We believe diversity drives business success and is the foundation for our growth. We welcome different backgrounds and skills that enrich our community and we promote a place where we can ALL be ourselves. This is what makes Konecranes a unique place to work.

Would you be interested in meaningful work in a global organization? Do you have experience in sourcing and the supply market? This might be what you are looking for!

Konecranes is seeking a dynamic Category Manager for the Procurement team which is part of our global procurement organization. The categories Steel and Structures are characterized by a large degree of fragmentation, a highly diverse portfolio of different types of components, and a large supplier base.

You will be responsible for working cross-functionally with businesses across Konecranes’
organization to understand business needs and opportunities, strategic imperatives, and tactical ways to implement cost reduction together with all relevant stakeholders. You will be reporting to the Head of the Category Group.

You will reach impactful targets set and implement strategic aims like supplier base consolidation. While consolidating for certain categories you need to introduce new cost-competitive suppliers to compete with the present supplier base. You will make sure we have a sufficient quantity of cost reduction opportunities in the pipeline to be verified. You will also act as a supplier manager and be accountable for the relationship of the selected supplier.

Your key responsibilities: 

• Create capable and cost-efficient supplier base and maintain supplier portfolio, category specific strategy and related tactical plans to consolidate and develop chosen suppliers according to common roadmap.
• Bring supplier managers together, facilitate related meetings and drive cooperation.
• Align with stakeholders of category specific requirements, targets and inform them of the activities within this category.
• Giving proposals for supplier segmentation to solid line manager or Procurement leadership team
• Drive and participate in the development of supplier agreements and contracts
• Aim to create demand-driven supply and constant material flow
• Create an understanding of our suppliers, their industry, their commodities, and their competition and in this way build our levers to be applied in well-prepared negotiations and category strategies.                                  

We also expect you to:

• Prepare and lead supplier annual negotiations and business meetings and communicate status and activities within categories internally
• Participate in make or buy analysis and decision-making accordingly
• Participate in annual planning and budgeting, and the development of procurement, especially sourcing-related, operating procedures
• Cooperate closely with product platform function and R&D.
• Identify new industrial operation capital efficiency opportunities for Konecranes Group

What you should bring

• University-level degree in Economics/Engineering or comparable competences
• Minimum 5 years of experience in a similar position
• strategies and tactical plans in collaboration with stakeholders
• Business acumen, experiences in sourcing and/or sales on the supplier side
• Excellent negotiation, communication, and presentation skills
• Confidence in analysing and evaluating a large amount of data
• Strong written and verbal communication skills in English
• Willingness and ability to travel
• Ability to cope with pressure

You will succeed in this role if you can convince people across the organization and understand business requirements and effectively engage senior management and build relationships. You know the supply market and understand our business needs. You also have knowledge of cultural differences and can adapt your communication style accordingly.

Why join us

You will have the opportunity to work in a multicultural environment with colleagues from different cultures. We offer you an interesting position where you can be part of a global procurement team and have the chance to contribute to the success of the organization.

At Konecranes, we want to foster an environment where people enjoy their work and feel respected and trusted. In addition to offering interesting career paths, we are constantly looking to improve the well-being of our employees. We offer our employees a flexible work environment tailored to their life situations.

Interested?

Please submit your application by XX.XX.2022, at the latest via the Apply -link. 

For further information about the role, please contact Jürgen Kehde via email: juergen.kehde[at]konecranes.com.

Konecranes is a world-leading group of Lifting Businesses™, serving a broad range of customers. We are truly a global company with 16,900 employees at 600 locations in 50 countries. For over 80 years, we have been dedicated to improving the efficiency and performance of businesses in all types of industries. We believe that sustainable growth is a result of a strong responsible performance. Konecranes is committed to ensuring that all employees and job applicants are treated fairly in an environment which is free from any form of discrimination.