Category Manager

We are seeking a strategic and people-driven leader to join our Category Management team as Category Project Manager (Supplier Ramp & Sourcing Manager). This role plays a critical part in shaping our long-term supply capability and competitiveness, driving supplier ramp-up, sourcing strategy, and supplier readiness to meet future business growth.

Reporting to the Head of Category Management, you will lead cross-functional and supplier teams to ensure manufacturing capacity, supplier capability, and operational excellence across our global supply base. You will also champion key initiatives such as VMI/VCS programs, supplier lead-time improvement, supplier forecast accuracy, and the Voice of Supplier program, all aimed at building a world-class, collaborative, and agile supply network.

This role is ideal for a highly motivated individual who thrives on strategic execution, leadership responsibility, and supplier partnership management — and who aspires to grow into a future leadership role in category or supply chain management.

Your
responsibilities
include, but not limited to:

Supplier Ramp & Readiness

• Lead and execute supplier ramp-up and sourcing projects from planning to implementation.
• Assess, evaluate, and execute capacity expansion programs and technology enablement with key suppliers.
• Drive Ramp Readiness by ensuring suppliers meet all technical, quality, and capacity milestones before production cut-in.
• Oversee seamless project transitions for Make–Buy and dual sourcing strategies, ensuring smooth ramp execution and business continuity.

Strategic Sourcing & Capacity Planning

• Identify 2–5-year supply chain capacity gaps and collaborate with Global/Regional Category Managers to develop long-term sourcing strategies.
• Conduct capability assessments and establish sourcing plans that align with business objectives and factory output.
• Develop and maintain supplier agreements that optimize cost, quality, and delivery performance.

Supplier Development & Collaboration

• Define and lead the Supplier Business Review (SBR) framework for structured performance and engagement management.
• Champion the Voice of Supplier (VoS) program to strengthen partnerships, collect actionable feedback, and co-create improvement initiatives.
• Drive supplier lead-time improvement programs to increase flexibility and responsiveness to customer needs.
• Oversee Supplier Forecast alignment to ensure visibility, accuracy, and synchronization between demand and supply.
• Implement and manage Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI) and Vendor Consignment Stock (VCS) programs to improve supply stability and working capital efficiency.

Project Management & Risk Control

• Develop comprehensive project management plans with clear timelines, deliverables, and risk mitigation actions.
• Monitor and control project progress, providing regular status updates to management and stakeholders.
• Create and enforce policies for supplier risk management, capacity agreements, and investment programs.
• Collaborate with Supplier Quality, Industrial Engineering, Product Management, and Operations teams to ensure alignment and on-time project delivery.

Leadership & Team Collaboration

• Lead and inspire a cross-functional team of internal stakeholders and supplier partners to achieve project milestones.
• Promote proactive communication, accountability, and problem-solving across all project teams.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, continuous improvement, and supplier excellence.

Key Competencies

• Leadership & Influence:
  Ability to lead teams, inspire collaboration, and build high-performance culture.
• Strategic Execution:
  Translate business strategy into actionable ramp and sourcing plans.
• Communication Excellence:
  Strong coordination skills with suppliers and internal stakeholders.
• Analytical & Problem-Solving:
  Data-driven approach to resolving challenges and improving processes.
• Technical Acumen:
  Understanding of manufacturing, machining, and capacity planning to assess supplier capability.
• Supplier Partnership Mindset:
  Build trust-based relationships and drive mutual growth.
• Organizational Agility:
  Manage multiple complex projects with discipline and efficiency.

Key Performance Areas

• Supplier capacity readiness and ramp success rate.
• Supplier lead-time and on-time delivery performance.
• Effectiveness of VMI/VCS and Supplier Forecast alignment.
• Quality and consistency of Supplier Business Reviews.
• Strength of supplier partnerships through Voice of Supplier feedback.
• Achievement of project milestones within budget and schedule.

Minimum Qualification:

• Bachelor's Degree in Project Management, Supply Chain, Mechanical Engineering, or a related discipline.
• Minimum 10 years of experience in manufacturing, sourcing, or category management within global organizations.
• Proven track record in supplier ramp-up, capacity management, and supplier development.
• Strong leadership, interpersonal, and communication skills with the ability to influence across all levels.
• Solid financial and analytical skills to assess cost, investment, and total value.
• Hands-on, proactive, and results-oriented, able to manage multiple priorities under tight timelines.
• Fluent in English; additional proficiency in German or Chinese is an advantage.

Preferred Qualification:

• Experience in high-precision machining, component manufacturing, or technology-based supply chain.
• Demonstrated success managing VMI/VCS programs, Supplier Forecast, and Lead-Time Improvement initiatives.
• Experience implementing Supplier Business Review and Voice of Supplier frameworks.
• Exposure to Asia and global sourcing environments with multicultural team management.
• Experience in product/tool transfer, assembly line setup, or facility expansion projects.