Group Category Manager

Nexans is a leader in the design and manufacture of cable systems and services.

Were not just making cables.

We drive the energy transition by connecting where energy is made to where its needed.

Were building the invisible yet essential infrastructure that electrifies tomorrows 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