Freelance Category Manager (ZZP)

We are looking for a driven Category Manager for a temporary position to strengthen our team during a peak workload period and to cover for a colleague on paternity leave. As a Category Manager, you are responsible for developing, implementing, monitoring, and realizing the sourcing strategy for your category within the company's guidelines and requirements. You ensure that all agreed goals with the Business Units and group functions are met and contribute to the overall result of our client.

Top Skills:

• Stakeholder Management: Effectively manage and align with both internal and external stakeholders.

• Experience in Procurement Logistics: Proven experience in procurement and logistics.

• Road Transportation (FTL/LTL): Expertise in full truckload (FTL) and less-than-truckload (LTL) transportation of packed goods.

• Communication: Fluent in English, both spoken and written.

• Data-Driven and Results-Oriented: Analytical mindset with a focus on achieving results.

• Hands-On and Proactive: A doer who gets things done with a proactive approach.

Responsibilities:

• Lead the implementation of the category strategy and assign priorities for procurement initiatives.

• Manage procurement initiatives in close collaboration with involved stakeholders and procurement colleagues.

• Collect data, conduct market research, define terms and conditions, negotiate proposals, and finalize contracts.

• Prepare and execute tenders for the relevant categories (e.g., warehousing, road transportation of packed goods and/or bulk).

• Lead fact-based negotiations, supplier selection, and contracting processes.

• Implement purchasing policies and best practices.

• Manage relationships with key suppliers and monitor their performance.

• Promote knowledge sharing and collaboration between category managers and buyers within and across categories.

• Contribute to the development of the dsm-firmenich indirect procurement strategy.

• Enhance the profile and recognition of indirect procurement within the internal stakeholder community.

Financial Metrics:

• Manage a spending budget of 20-100 million euros and 10-40 suppliers.

Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field; a Master's degree is preferred.

• At least 5 years of experience in procurement and/or logistics.

• Familiarity with strategic category management and delivering value on costs, supplier performance, and sustainability.

• Fluent in the local language and English; proficiency in other languages is a plus.