Global Category Manager

With a strong focus on sustainability, functional excellence, and a future-forward approach, Svitzer is seeking a Global Category Manager to take full end-to-end responsibility for global categories that impact our business, operations, and environmental goals. This is a rare opportunity to shape the future of procurement and sourcing strategies that drive sustainable business outcomes, while fostering a collaborative international environment.

Who we are

Svitzer is a Nasdaq Copenhagen-listed global leader in towage and marine services. Since 1833, we have played a key role in port and terminal operations, ensuring the safe and efficient movement of large seaborne vessels. With a fleet of over 450 vessels, we provide crucial support to more than 2,000 customers across 140 ports and 40 terminals in 37 countries. Our services form a vital part of global port infrastructure and as part of that we are determined to leave a better world for the future generations and taking a front-runner position in the green transition.

About the role:

As Global Category Manager, you will play an instrumental role in optimizing the performance of our business, our assets and supply chains to support safe, efficient and cost competitive operations. Your innovative strategies will not only enhance our operational capabilities but also contribute to our sustainability goals.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Design and implement short, medium, and long-term category strategies that align with our business goals, supporting growth, innovation, and cost optimization.
• Spearhead the sourcing and supplier development of alternative fuels and green technologies to meet both short and long-term sustainability targets.
• Lead and coordinate cross-functional teams across regions to implement category strategies. Work closely with stakeholders from technical, HSE (Health, Safety, Environment), operations, and decarbonization teams to ensure seamless execution of plans and specifications.
• Conduct market analysis, identify emerging trends, and mitigate risks related to supply chain and supplier portfolio management. You'll play a key role in managing global supplier relationships and ensuring they align with our strategic goals.
• Continuously optimize categories to drive cost efficiencies, enhance operational effectiveness, and ensure value for money.
• Take ownership of the source-to-contract process, collaborating with internal experts (legal, digital procurement teams) to ensure compliance, contractual integrity, and overall process effectiveness.
• Oversee category performance metrics, including cost, quality, and delivery, ensuring the highest standards across the organization.

You will report directly to the Head of Group Procurement and collaborate closely with regional and local teams to ensure category strategies are aligned with regional needs and operational targets. Your work will contribute directly to our business success and sustainability goals.

Who we are looking for

To succeed in this role, you will need a blend of strategic thinking and hands-on experience in procurement and category management. Key skills include:

• Category Strategy development and execution
• Risk and Opportunity Management
• Negotiation and Contract Management
• Supplier Relationship Management
• Procurement Analytics & Data-Driven Decision Making
• Experience with MRO category management is an advantage

Moreover, we are targeting 5-7 years of experience in global procurement or category management, preferably from a multinational and cross-cultural environment and looking for a colleague who comes with:

• An agile and innovative mindset: You thrive in dynamic, fast-paced environments and embrace change as an opportunity to innovate and drive improvement

• Excellent stakeholder management: You know how to build strong, collaborative relationships across functions and geographies
• Strong communication and facilitation skills: You can articulate complex ideas clearly, influence key stakeholders, and facilitate discussions to drive alignment and action

Join Us

If you have the expertise, drive, and passion for sustainable procurement and business excellence, we would love to hear from you latest 20 January 2025. For additional information, please reach out to Head of Group Procurement, Kasper Gottlieb at [email protected].

Building a Diverse Workplace

In Svitzer we value the diversity of our talent and will always strive to recruit the best person for the job – we value diversity in all its forms, including but not limited to gender, age, nationality, race, sexual orientation, disability, or religious beliefs. We are proud of our diversity and see it as a genuine source of strength for building high performing teams.

Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that members from some under-represented groups are less likely to apply for jobs if they don’t meet every single qualification. At Svitzer we are dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles, and we are excited about hearing from you!

How to Apply

To apply for this role, please click on the 'Apply Now' button and create a Candidate Home to manage your applications.