Category Manager (Indirect Procurement)

About the role

Beyond Gravity, a space company based in Zurich with about 1,800 employees across six countries, is looking for a Category Manager within its Global Supply Chain organisation. You will shape and execute the global indirect procurement strategy, working with Corporate Functions, Engineering, People & Culture, Finance, Legal, Compliance, IT and international sites so that external service providers meet commercial and compliance requirements. You will take global ownership of assigned indirect procurement categories, primarily Corporate & Engineering Services, Travel and Contingent Workforce.

Key responsibilities

• Develop and execute global category strategies for Corporate & Engineering Services, Travel, Contingent Workforce and other assigned indirect categories.
• Analyse spend, demand, supplier markets, benchmarks and business requirements to find savings, cost avoidance, consolidation, standardisation and risk-reduction opportunities.
• Lead end-to-end strategic sourcing: market engagement, RFI/RFP, bid evaluation, business cases, negotiations and award recommendations.
• Negotiate commercial terms, pricing models, service levels and framework agreements with Legal, Finance, Compliance and business stakeholders.
• Govern consultants, contractors, interim managers, staffing agencies and other external providers, ensuring compliance with policies and country requirements.
• Manage strategic suppliers through KPIs, SLAs and regular performance reviews, and drive continuous improvement.
• Ensure compliance with procurement policies, approval authorities, contracts, purchase-to-pay, information security, export control and sustainability standards.
• Monitor and report savings, cost avoidance, contract coverage, sourcing pipelines, supplier performance and category risks, and drive process improvements and stakeholder training.

Required profile

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Supply Chain Management, Procurement, Business Administration, Engineering, Finance, Law or a related field.
• 5-8+ years of experience in indirect procurement, strategic sourcing, category management or supplier and contract management in an international environment.
• Proven experience sourcing complex services such as Corporate Services, Engineering Services, Professional Services, Travel or Contingent Workforce.
• Fluency in English and German, able to negotiate, draft documents, present recommendations and lead cross-functional discussions in both languages.

Required skills

• Sourcing, tendering, contract lifecycle management, supplier performance and stakeholder management.
• Spend analysis, business case development and quantifying savings and cost avoidance.
• Working knowledge of procurement governance, approval controls, purchase-to-pay and compliance for external service engagements.
• Nice to have: SAP Ariba or similar source-to-pay tools, experience in contingent workforce governance or aerospace/defence, and a professional procurement certification such as CIPS or CPSM.

What we offer

• International environment with high-tech products and a highly specialised team.
• Flexible and mobile working, at least 5 weeks of vacation with the option to buy more.
• Contribution to public transport, training and development opportunities, and full paid maternity/paternity leave.