Global Indirect Procurement Category Director – Industrial (m/f/d)

We are Fresenius Kabi –  We are committed to life.  

As part of our global procurement organization, we are seeking an experienced and visionary leader to take ownership of one of our key indirect procurement categories: Industrial categories. This is a unique opportunity to shape and implement global sourcing strategies, drive innovation, and strengthen strategic supplier relationships across a complex, international environment. 

Your Role: 

As Global Indirect Procurement Category Director – Industrial, you will be accountable for the strategic development, execution, and continuous improvement of your category, while ensuring alignment with broader procurement and business strategies. You will lead and inspire cross-functional teams and act as a strong partner to both internal and external stakeholders. 

Your Key Responsibilities: 

Strategic Category Leadership 

• Develop, implement, and steer global and hybrid category strategies within Industrial categories, aligned with overall procurement objectives.

• Industrial categories include operating consumables and Maintenance, Repair and Operations (MRO)

• Serve as the primary representative of procurement to external business partners and internal stakeholders for your category. 

• Identify and realize synergy and bundling opportunities across regions and business units. 

Plan-to-Strategy 

• Conduct thorough spend analyses and maintain a clear understanding of the supplier portfolio. 

• Monitor market developments, technology trends, and innovations to translate insights into actionable strategies. 

• Lead cross-functional category working groups and facilitate stakeholder alignment through category councils. 

Source-to-Contract 

• Define and execute strategic sourcing approaches for global categories, including tendering, negotiation, and contracting processes. 

• Ensure effective contract management, implementation of global sourcing initiatives, and realization of cost and quality improvements. 

Supplier Management 

• Define category-specific supplier strategies and actively manage performance, development, and compliance of suppliers. 

• Drive supplier evaluations and initiate improvement or disqualification actions based on key performance indicators. 

• Manage supplier escalations, ensuring consistent and professional resolution. 

Your Profile: 

• Extensive experience in indirect procurement within a complex, multinational environment—preferably within the pharmaceutical, healthcare, or comparable regulated industry. 

• Deep knowledge of the Industrial categories such as lab consumables and MRO, including market trends, innovations, and supplier landscape. 

• Strong proficiency across the end-to-end procurement process: Plan-to-Strategy and Source-to-Contract. 

• Proven ability to lead cross-functional initiatives and influence internal stakeholders at various levels of seniority. 

• Fluent negotiation skills and confidence in managing high-value, high-impact supplier relationships. 

• Experience applying procurement governance, standards, and policies (e.g., SOPs, compliance frameworks). 

• Solid understanding of legal, regulatory, and compliance requirements in a global setting. 

• Strategic mindset paired with strong analytical thinking, business acumen, and decision-making skills. 

• High resilience and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a dynamic, international business context. 

• Change management awareness and willingness to foster a culture of performance, ethics, and collaboration. 

• Advanced skills in MS Office and sourcing tools (e.g., SAP Ariba – Sourcing & Supplier Management). 

• Fluent English is a must; additional languages are an asset.