Hybrid Regional Category Manager

at Solvay

• Job title: Regional Category Manager
• Job type: Full Time
• Experience level: Mid level, Senior
• Salary: €64,000 - €80,000 per year
• Degree requirement: Bachelor's Degree
• Tech skills: ERP
• Location requirements: Hybrid, Torrelavega, Spain

About the role

• Industrial Regional Category Manager at Solvay optimizing service costs and driving operational efficiency. Collaborating with stakeholders and leading supplier negotiations in the chemical sector.

Responsibilities

• Developing and implementing regional category strategies for goods and services.
• Conduct in-depth market analysis and supplier identification to locate highly qualified providers.
• Acting as a trusted advisor to the business on category-related matters.
• Lead the entire Request for Quotation (RFQ), and negotiation processes for complex contracts, focusing on scopes of work, service level agreements (SLAs), key performance indicators (KPIs), safety records, and total cost of ownership (TCO).
• Negotiate and manage master agreements (MAs), statements of work (SOWs), and performance-based contracts, ensuring robust terms, clear responsibilities.
• Building strong relationships with key stakeholders across different functions (Engineering, Excellence..) and regions.
• Ensuring compliance with all relevant regulations, ethical standards, and company policies.
• Fostering growth in the use of e-tools.
• Analysing supplier spend and savings trends; investigating trend variances; and propose, implement, and monitor cost savings initiatives.

Requirements

• Relevant education degree or equivalent in Business Administration, Engineering or a related field.
• 6+ years of experience in category management, preferably on service contracts, strategic sourcing, or procurement, in the chemical industry or a related sector.
• Proven track record of developing and executing successful category strategies in a transversal organization.
• Competencies: Strategic thinking and strong leadership skills, as well as strong understanding of procurement principles, best practices, and market dynamics.
• Analytical skills and technical knowledge of production facilities.
• ERP knowledge.
• Fluency in Spanish and English.

Benefits

• Solvay Cares program: minimum of 16 weeks of parenting leave for all employees and package with healthcare, disability and life insurance coverage.
• Prioritization of well-being: work-life balance promotion, flexible approach to work part-time or hybrid work arrangements (depending on the type of job), employee assistance program with access to physical and psychological support.
• Professional development: prioritization of internal talents for career progression, access to a training platform, opportunities to join Employee Resource Groups (ERG) for experience sharing and mentorship and free language courses.