Strategic Procurement Category Manager EMEA | Düsseldorf | Global Leading Manufacturer (25,000+ employees)
A globally leading organisation in industrial manufacturing is looking for an experienced Strategic Category Manager to drive category strategy, supplier excellence, and sourcing transformation across EMEA .
The Opportunity:
Based in Düsseldorf, you’ll join a multinational group investing heavily in advanced manufacturing and sustainable supply chain practices. As part of the EMEA Supply Chain leadership team, you will define, develop, and execute sourcing strategies for steel and forgings used in a diverse portfolio of industrial products.
The prerequisite for success in this role is genuine steel sourcing experience - be it coils, tubes, wires, steel rods, your deep understanding of the market and experience in raw material steel sourcing across EMEA or Globally will position you as a leading candidate.
You’ll collaborate closely with Operational Procurement, Engineering, and Operations to optimise total cost of ownership, strengthen supplier partnerships, and deliver measurable value across the network.
Your Key Responsibilities
* Lead strategic sourcing initiatives for the Steel category.
* Partner with engineering, production, and operations teams to align commercial and technical requirements.
* Build and manage long-term supplier relationships across EMEA to ensure resilience, quality, and cost competitiveness.
* Track market trends, cost drivers, and supply chain risks to guide strategic decisions.
* Champion supplier innovation, sustainability, and continuous improvement within the regional supply base.
* Contribute to the global sourcing strategy and its implementation.
What You Bring
* Degree-qualified (Master’s preferred) in Supply Chain, Engineering, Business, or a related discipline .
* At least 5-10 years’ experience in Category Management, Procurement, or Strategic Sourcing within a manufacturing environment .
* Strong sourcing/commercial expertise in steel, forgings and similar commodites.
* Excellent negotiation, stakeholder management, and influencing skills at senior level.
* Proven ability to operate effectively in a matrixed, international organisation .
* Fluent German and English (C1) are essential.
* Willingness to travel occasionally (approx. 25%).
What’s on Offer
* Competitive salary of €90,000-€110,000 (depending on experience).
* Global exposure within a respected, growing industrial group .
* Hybrid working from Düsseldorf (3 days per week) and international collaboration opportunities.
* Strong career progression and development pathways.
Bramwith is a specialist Procurement and Supply Chain recruiting firm. For more information, please see our website or email enquiries@bramwithconsulting.com
Keywords: Commodity Manager, Commodity Buyer, Commodity Management, Category Management, Category Buyer, Strategic Sourcing, Supplier Relationship Management, German, Castings, Forgings, Steel, Engineered Parts, Mechanics, Manufacturing, Global Category Manager, Procurement, Purchasing