Global ETO Category Manager, Stamping, Machining & Die Casting

Global ETO Category Manager: Stamping, Machining, Die Casting Procurement

This Category Manager Stamping, Machining, Die casting (K2, K5, K6) is a key strategic leadership role within Schneider Electric's Global Engineering-To-Order (ETO) Procurement organization, covering both Europe and the International Region and reporting to the Europe Procurement Director. You will lead the procurement strategy for one of the most critical and fastest-growing categories within the Global ETO business. The category scope includes traditional stamping, machining, die casting, hot forging with ferrous and non-ferrous material, representing a procurement portfolio of €160M annual business and directly supporting SE growth ambitions across 10 European plants and 9 International plants.

Your mission is to build and deploy a future-ready category strategy tailored to Global ETO business needs and market dynamics; coordinate plant and regional buyers, align local needs with regional and global priorities; develop a competitive and resilient supplier base through robust supplier mapping, long-term agreements, and capacity planning; ensure supply security, cost competitiveness, and operational excellence across the full value chain; act as Strategic Supplier Leader for selected global suppliers, driving performance, partnership, and long-term capability development.

Essential Responsibilities

• Category Strategy & Planning
  • Build and deploy 3–5 year category strategy and the APOP (Annual Productivity Operation Plan).
  • Define category strategies that reflect plant level, product level, local, and global requirements, ensuring alignment with COE, Category management and G ETO priorities.
  • Conduct comprehensive demand and risk assessments to anticipate capacity needs and supplier readiness.
  • Guide & orient strategic suppliers to customer project buyer for project-based business development.
• Deployment & Execution
  • Deploy category strategy through buyers management and ensure consistent execution across G ETO plants.
  • Partner with cross-functional teams (Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, Tendering, industrialization, product owner) for strategy execution.
  • Lead critical supplier-related escalations (supplier capacity, pricing, lead time improvement) and secure resolution on supply, quality, or service issues.
• Strategic Supplier Management
  • Lead negotiations for MSAs, capacity agreements, long-term commitments, innovations and performance roadmaps.
  • Drive supplier engagement through SRM and executive business reviews.
• Cost, Productivity & Competitiveness
  • Drive YoY productivity through Negotiation, COS (Change of supplier), QVE (Quality Value Engineering) and improve payment terms with +3 days/year.
  • Support resiliency actions such as PO2 (power of two) programs and effective regionalization.
  • Set up multi-year agreements to secure competitiveness and future supply stability.
• Supply Base Optimization & Growth Enablement
  • Lead SBO (supply base optimization) projects to ensure the right balance of strategic partners, challengers, and local players.
  • Refresh category strategy to confirm end-game players for business growth.
  • Develop suppliers to meet future technology, capacity, and sustainability requirements.
  • Build a 3-year SBO ambition on supplier concentration & execution.
• Sustainability & Compliance
  • Coordinate sustainability initiatives within the category (carbon reduction, circularity, decent work program, etc.).
  • Ensure supplier compliance with Schneider Electric procurement policies, quality standards, and operational requirements.
• Support Upskilling category buyer competency & knowledge
  • Enhance category buyers’ technical understanding and strategic thinking to improve sourcing decisions and cost optimization.
  • Introduce digital procurement tools and AI-based should-cost methods to increase efficiency and data-driven decisions.
  • Coach buyers to work more independently, optimize processes, and deliver higher quality, faster output.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Engineering, Supply Chain, Procurement, Business, or a related field.
• 10+ years of strategic procurement and category management experience in a complex industrial or ETO environment.
• Strong capability to define and execute short- and long-term categories and supplier strategies.
• Proven business acumen with the ability to drive growth, competitiveness, and profitability.
• Strong analytical mindset with expertise in market intelligence, cost analysis, risk management, and data-driven decision making.
• Ability to translate complex data into clear business insights and actions.
• Excellent negotiation and influencing skills across all organizational levels.
• Exceptional communication and executive presentation skills.
• Proven leadership in matrix organizations and cross-functional environments.
• Strong stakeholder management and relationship-building capabilities.
• Advanced digital and AI proficiency, including GenAI, analytics, automation, and AI-enabled procurement solutions.
• Passion for innovation and adoption of new technologies to improve business performance.
• Strong customer focus with an end-to-end supply chain perspective.
• High adaptability, learning agility, and resilience.
• Structured, results-oriented, and execution-focused attitude.

Benefits

• Competitive compensation package including annual bonus.
• Company car, cafeteria, life insurance, health care, and pension fund contribution.
• Medicover package and additional benefits.
• WESOP (World Employee Share Option Program) opportunity to become a shareholder.
• Inclusive environment and global family leave package.
• Hybrid work setup and continuous development and learning possibilities.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Schneider Electric is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is our policy to provide equal employment and advancement opportunities in recruiting, hiring, training, transferring, and promoting all qualified individuals regardless of race, religion, color, gender, disability, national origin, ancestry, age, military status, sexual orientation, marital status, or any other legally protected characteristic or conduct.