Senior Category Manager

Description Senior Category Manager (maritime industry) Senior Category Manager has a global scope where the successful candidate will oversee the development and strategy execution of various spend categories for Sea Sourcing’s growing fleet of vessels. He / She will oversee Strategic Sourcing and Contracting activities globally, participate in negotiations, develop strategy presentations, monitor performance and compliance across fleets and will drive day to day performance of the relevant category managers and categories. The Senior Procurement Manager is expected to build in-depth stakeholder relations across the companies supported by Sea‑Sourcing including enforcement of policies and regular reporting to senior leaders throughout the organization. Responsibilities Strategic Perspective: Responsible for OPEX procurement categories; develops and executes long‑term category strategies with and through the responsible category managers. Collaborates with peers on Capex areas to ensure alignment and shared strategy at vendor and category level. Category Performance Monitoring: Monitors contract performance while developing and driving structured supplier relationships through category managers and by own participations. Develops reporting methods and tools to track and benchmark purchase, savings and identify additional areas of opportunity. Establishes and manages favourable vendor relationships to ensure competitive pricing and effective service levels; addresses performance issues related to the vendors and acts as the main point of contact for general/ performance‑related communications with the vendors. Sourcing: Participates and oversees complex sourcing or cost optimisation projects through the strategic sourcing and project management processes. Includes demand mapping, creation of complex sourcing events, advanced total cost analyses, negotiations and contracting. Interprets data, collaborates with internal stakeholders, leads or co‑leads negotiations with vendors, makes fact‑based recommendations, and ensures thorough implementation of new contracts for use by purchasers of the Sea Sourcing partners. Maintenance & Development of Systems: Adheres to required workflows, maintains internal tools for contract and vendor management, purchasing support etc. Develops and/or improves reporting tools and dashboards related to spend management, vendor performance, contract compliance or other matters, in the pursuit of greater efficiency and scalability. Supply Management: Collaborates with Supply Chain and Operations to establish cohesive supply planning and distribution strategies globally. Proactively identifies areas of supply risk (demand, supply, environmental and business continuity) and works with stakeholders to develop and implement risk management strategies. Teamwork: Performs well in a complex organization where agility is required to serve all stakeholders in line with their requirements and expectations. Ensures procurement of goods and services match the quality required by the Sea Sourcing partners’ operations and technical functions. Stays generally aware of major development in all categories and involves himself/herself in the work of colleagues by driving and guiding category managers. Pro‑actively shares best practice across Sea‑Sourcing. Internal Compliance: Is familiar with Health, Safety, Environmental Protection and Quality Policies and understands the responsibilities and requirements included in Sea Sourcing partners’ policies including their ESG programs. Understands duty to report any environmental non‑compliance via the Sea Sourcing partners open reporting system as relevant guidelines. Qualifications Minimum ten years’ experience in a Procurement function, with preference for Category Management and/or Strategic Sourcing roles. Leadership experience in diverse and global teams. Experience in the maritime industry is a plus, preference for vessel‑owner or vessel‑operator experience. Formal education within Business, Economics, Finance, Logistics or related field. Strong relationship building and business acumen. Must be able to establish credibility with business stakeholders and influence where needed. Maturity to take ownership of assigned categories and projects, and the energy and confidence to drive a continuous development agenda. Ability to understand market dynamics within the procurement category and create own network for success; demonstrate entrepreneurial spirit. Ability to deal effectively with ambiguity and resolve multi‑party conflicts to get to the “right answer”. Fluent English with excellent verbal and written communication skills, including proficient presentation skills. Self‑starter who can work under pressure in a fast‑paced environment. Proven analytical and problem‑solving skills, with excellent attention to accuracy and detail. Proficiency in PowerPoint, Word and Excel. International travel will be required and may be on short notice. Must have mobility to attend vessels, suppliers, Sea Sourcing partners’ office locations and service providers. Availability via a mobile device outside of office hours. CV to Anne Thibault at Seniority level Mid‑Senior level Employment type Full‑time Job function Other Industries Maritime Transportation and Transportation, Logistics, Supply Chain and Storage #J-18808-Ljbffr Industry Other Category Management & Operations Sub Category Trade, Import & Export