Category Manager - Direct (a)

Michael Page seeks a Senior Category Manager in Basel to lead strategic sourcing and supplier negotiations within a complex engineering environment, ensuring cost efficiency and supply continuity.

This position is responsible for driving strategic sourcing and category management across a project-based engineering setting. The role centers on developing supplier strategies, conducting commercial negotiations, and collaborating with cross-functional teams to maintain operational excellence, secure supply chains, and support high-value technical programs.

Responsibilities

• Create and implement category strategies for specific spend areas, aligning them with corporate goals and program requirements while establishing governance structures.
• Act as the primary procurement lead for MRO, RMU, and Completions project teams, applying specialized technical and commercial expertise.
• Manage the full supplier lifecycle, including selection, negotiation, contracting, and performance monitoring, while preparing business cases that analyze total cost of ownership and ROI.
• Achieve targets for cost reduction, quality improvement, and delivery reliability in accordance with business needs.
• Conduct market research, assess supplier capabilities, and perform cost benchmarking to support data-driven sourcing decisions.
• Advise on specifications to promote solutions that are both cost-effective and secure against supply disruptions.
• Execute supplier performance improvement plans to address gaps in quality, delivery timelines, and cost efficiency.
• Track and report on key performance indicators, including savings, on-time delivery rates, supplier quality, and risk metrics.
• Establish contingency sourcing plans and nurture long-term relationships with key suppliers.

Requirements

• A degree in Supply Chain, Procurement, Business, Engineering, or a closely related discipline.
• At least five years of progressive experience in procurement or category management within manufacturing or engineering sectors.
• Solid technical knowledge combined with strong commercial acumen, negotiation abilities, and a track record in contract management.
• Competence in using ERP systems, particularly SAP, along with other procurement and category management software.
• Fluent proficiency in English.
• Capacity to manage multiple high-value projects simultaneously in a rapid-paced setting.
• Excellent stakeholder management and influencing skills across all organizational levels.

Nice to have

• Knowledge of German or French is considered an advantage.
• Previous experience with MRO, RMU, or Completions projects in the aviation or aerospace sectors is highly desirable.
• Understanding of Lean Management principles.
• Professional certifications such as CIPS, Lean Six Sigma, or other operational excellence credentials are beneficial.

What the company offers

• A dynamic and challenging role within an innovative industry.
• Access to various professional and personal development opportunities.
• The chance to work with cutting-edge technologies and tools.
• A supportive and motivated team culture.

About the company

The hiring company is a client operating in the advanced engineering industry, based in Basel, Switzerland.

• Operates within the advanced engineering sector.
• Located in Basel, Switzerland.