Global Category Manager – Chemicals

About the role

We are looking for a Global Category Manager – Chemicals to join the Procurement Global Center of Excellence in Root, Switzerland. Reporting to the Global Category Director, you will shape and execute worldwide category strategies for a broad range of specialty chemicals, turning procurement into a strategic value‑creation engine.

Key responsibilities

• Develop and implement scalable global strategies for chemicals such as fiberglass, PVC, plasticizers, resins, additives, adhesives, colorants and fibers.
• Lead value‑engineering initiatives using should‑cost modelling, competitive benchmarking and market analysis to drive specification harmonisation and cost optimisation.
• Manage global supplier relationships, segmentation and strategic partnerships while monitoring market trends and conducting risk assessments.
• Own end‑to‑end sourcing events, from RFx preparation and multi‑region bid analysis to high‑leverage negotiations.
• Partner with senior stakeholders across Operations, R&D, Legal and ESG to enforce category standards and drive cross‑functional governance.

Required profile

• Master’s degree in Science, Engineering, Supply Chain or a related field.
• Minimum 5 years of progressive procurement experience, preferably within the chemical industry.
• Proven ability to influence senior leaders in a matrix‑driven organisation.
• Track record of delivering end‑to‑end procurement projects, margin protection and complexity reduction.
• Fluent in English; additional Spanish or Italian is an advantage.

Required skills

• Advanced Excel
• e‑Sourcing tools
• Data analytics
• Should‑cost modelling
• Competitive benchmarking