Global Category Manager – Merchandise Goods

About the role

The Global Category Manager for Merchandise Goods owns the global category strategy and value-delivery agenda, based in Asia. The role defines category direction, leads strategic supplier relationships, governs complex negotiations and sets portfolio and sourcing standards, ensuring a competitive, resilient and sustainable supplier base across regions. It is a global category role, not a general buyer or operational purchasing role.

Key responsibilities

• Develop and maintain the global category strategy and multi-year roadmap, defining objectives, sourcing models, supplier architecture and regional priorities.
• Establish a global fact base by supplier, product family, SKU, country, region and channel, and lead demand and portfolio governance, including assortment rationalization and SKU reduction.
• Define supplier segmentation, build executive relationships with strategic suppliers and distributors, and monitor supplier competitiveness, quality, sustainability and supply risk.
• Lead the annual negotiation agenda, govern sourcing recommendations and supplier awards, and define the global strategy for private-label and white-label products.
• Own the category value-creation pipeline, validate savings and cost avoidance with Finance or Controlling, and communicate category developments to leadership.
• Maintain a global risk view, ensure compliance with procurement policies and sustainability expectations, and coach category-team members.

Required profile

• Degree in Procurement, Supply Chain, Business, Engineering, Chemistry, Materials or a related discipline; an advanced qualification is advantageous.
• Substantial experience in procurement, category management, strategic sourcing, supplier relationship management and complex commercial negotiations.
• Demonstrated experience developing category strategies in a global or multi-regional matrix environment.
• Experience with merchandise goods, consumables, equipment, distribution or private-label portfolios is advantageous.
• Excellent written and spoken English; additional Asian or regional languages are an advantage.

Required skills

• Working knowledge of procurement governance, contracting, supplier risk and sustainability.
• SAP processes, Excel, PowerPoint and relevant analytics or reporting tools.
• Strong analytical capability and commercial judgment.

What we offer

• A global category leadership role based in Asia with exposure to business leadership, strategic suppliers and regional procurement teams.
• An international, collaborative environment focused on strategy, negotiation excellence and professional growth.
• Continuous development through global procurement communities, market analytics, supplier innovation, category strategy and digitalization.