Category Manager It

Driven by the passion to improve quality of people’s lives, WS Audiology continues to grow as market leader in the hearing aid industry. With our commitment to increase penetration in an underserved hearing care market, we want to accelerate our business transformation in order to reach more people, more effectively.

The Category Manager develops the overall strategy for the purchasing of a product category and researches new product options to drive sales and achieve targets. He/she provides category insights and proposals by analyzing product lifecycle and monitoring relevant market conditions.

This person will support procurement and be responsible for driving strategic and operational elements and be accountable for the direction and performance delivery of the Procurement function for all IT related activities globally. He/She will act as a conduit between the business and the suppliers and should possess outstanding influencing and negotiating skills, for this EUR 70 million spend.

**What you will do**
***:

- Optimal selection of vendors and technologies in line with business expectations, category sourcing strategies and cost targets
- Effective engagement with a complex mix of senior stakeholders: IT, R&D, Legal, Operations, Finance, Marketing, Sales, Facilities... other Procurement leaders globally
- Identify and establish high value partnerships and alliances in various regions and support various IT functions (including outsource management) related topics globally
- Deliver Category benefits in the region through sourcing, demand management, supplier relationship management and supplier development
- Lead the discussion/negotiation with multiple international large suppliers
- Identification of alternative partners/vendors to optimize cost and or reduce risk
- Lead risk mitigation activities, matrix and report
- Maintain dashboard of key projects to report progress, savings and review pipeline
- Address Commercial alignment to organizational goal (ie payment term, shipping term, liability).

**What you bring**:

- Experience_
- Over 3 years’ experience in progressing IT procurement roles
- Technical and cost driver / value knowledge in hardware and software
- Program and process development to integrate cost savings strategy into IT roadmap context
- Personal competencies_
- Excellent communication skills both written and verbal - ability to clearly demonstrate and explain technical opportunities
- Ability to work and manage external vendors to deliver results within designated timelines
- Ability to handle senior internal and external stakeholders
- Drive, determination and high standards. Resilience, high energy and a ‘can-do’ attitude
- Strategic mind-set, results orientated, accountable, takes responsibility and leads by example, raising standards
- A people-oriented person who is always looking for solutions and bringing quality improvements.

**Who we are**:
At WS Audiology, we provide innovative hearing aids and hearing health services.

Together with our 12,000 colleagues in 130 countries, we invite you to help unlock human potential by bringing back hearing for millions of people around the world.

With us, you will become part of a truly global company where we care for one another, welcome diversity and celebrate our successes.

Sounds wonderful? We can't wait to hear from you.
- WS Audiology is an equal-opportunity employer and committed to creating an inclusive employee experience for all. Regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, medical condition, ancestry, disability, military or veteran status we firmly believe that our work is at its best when everyone feels free to be their most authentic self._