Global Category Leader – Customer Equipment (Chemicals)
WFA Digital Insight
As the demand for strategic procurement specialists grows, roles like this Global Category Leader position at Solenis are becoming increasingly important. With the global procurement market expected to reach
Job Description
About the Role
The Global Category Leader – Customer Equipment role at Solenis is a strategic position that will lead and optimize the company's global equipment category for customer installations and service delivery. This role will be instrumental in shaping and executing category strategy, driving value creation, and enabling competitive advantage across Solenis' global footprint. The ideal candidate will bring strong leadership, deep knowledge of procurement in a customer-facing industrial context, and a proven track record in managing complex categories across geographies.As a key member of the procurement team, the Global Category Leader will work closely with cross-functional teams, including Engineering & Technical Services, Sales, Operations, Quality, and Regulatory teams, to ensure equipment solutions meet customer requirements and internal standards. The role will also involve building and maintaining strategic partnerships with key global suppliers of customer equipment, driving robust commercial negotiations, and ensuring contractual compliance and performance.
The Global Category Leader will report to a senior manager and will be responsible for leading, mentoring, and developing regional category leads and sourcing professionals. The role will also involve managing supply risk through diversification, contingency planning, and robust supplier performance metrics, as well as promoting and embedding sustainability criteria in sourcing decisions.
What You Will Do
- Develop and implement a comprehensive global category strategy for customer equipment that aligns with corporate goals and supports growth
- Lead category strategy development, including segmentation, total cost of ownership (TCO) analysis, market intelligence, and supplier landscape assessment
- Establish and drive measurable category KPIs, ensuring performance tracking and continuous improvement
- Build and maintain strategic partnerships with key global suppliers of customer equipment
- Drive robust commercial negotiations, develop long-term agreements, and ensure contractual compliance and performance
- Identify and qualify new suppliers based on safety standards, quality, capability, and innovation
- Partner closely with cross-functional teams to ensure equipment solutions meet customer requirements and internal standards
- Act as the primary interface between Procurement and internal stakeholders for category requirements, project support, and execution
- Lead global sourcing initiatives, including RFPs, RFQs, bid analysis, and award recommendations
- Implement category sourcing plans that balance global leverage with local execution where necessary
What We Are Looking For
- Strong leadership skills, with experience in managing complex categories across geographies
- Deep knowledge of procurement in a customer-facing industrial context
- Proven track record in driving value creation and competitive advantage through strategic sourcing and supplier management
- Experience in managing cross-functional teams and building strategic partnerships with suppliers
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with ability to analyze complex data and drive insights
- Excellent communication and negotiation skills, with ability to influence stakeholders and drive results
- Eligibility to work in Europe, with no relocation or visa support provided
- Proficiency in Excel and other Microsoft Office tools
Nice to Have
- Experience in the chemicals or manufacturing industry
- Knowledge of sustainability criteria in sourcing decisions
- Certification in procurement or supply chain management
- Experience in managing supply risk and promoting diversity and inclusion in sourcing decisions
Benefits and Perks
- Competitive salary and benefits package
- Opportunity to work with a leading global producer of specialty chemicals
- Collaborative and dynamic work environment
- Professional development and growth opportunities
- Flexible working hours and remote work arrangements
- Access to cutting-edge technology and tools
- Recognition and reward for outstanding performance
How to Stand Out
- Make sure to highlight your experience in strategic procurement and supplier management, and be prepared to provide specific examples of how you have driven value creation and competitive advantage in previous roles.
- Be prepared to discuss your knowledge of the chemicals or manufacturing industry, and how you can apply this knowledge to drive insights and results in this role.
- Review the company's website and social media to get a sense of their values and culture, and be prepared to discuss how you can contribute to and align with these.
- Consider creating a portfolio or case studies of your previous work, to demonstrate your skills and experience and to stand out from other applicants.
- Be prepared to negotiate salary and benefits, and to discuss your expectations and requirements for the role.
- Research the company's competitors and market trends, to demonstrate your understanding of the industry and your ability to drive insights and results.
This is a remote position listed on WFA Digital, the platform for professionals who work from anywhere. Browse more remote jobs across all categories.