Job Description
Group Category Manager
Posting Start Date: 7/2/26
Purchasing
France
Nexans France - Puteaux (Lightwell)
Full Time
Experienced - over 5 years
ID: 80334
Nexans is a leader in the design and manufacture of cable systems and services .
We’re not just making cables .
We drive the energy transition, by connecting where energy is made to where it’s needed.
We’re building the invisible yet essential infrastructure that electrifies tomorrow’s world: more sustainable, smarter, and stronger. With a clear vision to become the leading player in global electrification .
We are more than just cable manufacturers; we invent the solutions for a sustainable electric future. We are the pure player in electrification, focused on high value-added technologies.
From the most remote wind farms to economic hubs, from the depths of the ocean to the heart of local communities, from the most complex technologies, Nexans is there.
A purchasing organization is set-up with the ambition to:
strengthen the purchasing function performance aiming to a better alignment with the business needs
support the Business Groups organization on the management of their Purchasing activities
This organization encompasses among other things, a team of Category Managers at Group and BG levels.
Areas of Responsibilities :
CATEGORY MANAGEMENT
Define the Category Purchasing Company roadmap to meet business needs and E3 objectives, especially in term of security of supply, TCO competitiveness, cash, innovation and CSR
Define the Category objective and manage its activities in accordance with business needs and Group Purchasing objectives – Align targets and arbitrate priorities with BGs whenever needed
Monitor purchasing standards and indicators adapted to its Category (standard contractual models, performance dashboard, ...)
Supervise the purchasing risk analysis and mitigation plans implementation in the scope of his/her Category
Manage a network of Regional Category Managers to ensure full alignment with the global strategy
MARKET INTELLIGENCE
Analyzes market trends (products, suppliers and customers) and cost drivers globally
Establishes market benchmarks (customers, competitors, suppliers)
Ensure product cost structure analysis is built as part of the Category Plan
SUPPLIER MANAGEMENT
Secures a proper Supplier Panel is defined for the Category covering all BGs
Coordinate Supplier Relationship Management in order to leverage cross-BG synergies and common needs
Supports and/or manages supplier relationships at proper level
Promotes Suppliers engagement and deployment of framework or/and long-term agreements for the Category
Drives or/and supports Supplier negotiations as needed
Required skills & Qualifications :
Experience: minimum 10 years leadership experience in Purchasing within Industrial environments, including some experience in Plastic Raw Material Purchasing category management
Education: Engineering Master degree or equivalent, MBA a plus
Fluent in English, one to two other languages a plus
Leadership skills:
Very strong drive, ability to mobilize transversal and cross-functional teams
Transformation skills, developing internal stakeholders ways of working as well as make cross-business teams and other internal stakeholders work most efficiently together
Cross-functional, multi-sites and multicultural (global) leadership
Communication skills
Mastering the purchasing value chain, and specifically:
Category management, Direct Purchasing best practices knowledge & experience (all levers) in industrial environment.
Experience with plastic and steel related raw materials categories
Contract management
Supplier management and negotiation skills in complex and VUCA environments
Strategic mindset, ability to define, influence or / and validate global Category strategies
Ability to take decision based on available facts:
Makes prompt, clear decisions which may involve tough choices or considered risks
Take responsibility for actions, projects and people
Takes initiatives, acts with confidence and works under own direction
Continuously initiates and generates cost and cash optimization activity
Delivering results and meeting customer expectations:
Total Cost objective minded & value driven
Entrepreneurial and performing thinking:
Keeps up to date with supplier information and market trends
Identifies business opportunities for the organization
Analytic mindset
Internal Customer driven, with ability to challenge status-quo
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