Category Manager

Are you ready to make a global impact?  

As our new Category Manager - Agricultural Machinery (m/f/d), you will be responsible for developing and implementing a global procurement strategy while acting as the subject matter expert for agricultural machinery categories across the KWS Group. 

Working in a dynamic, multicultural environment, you will collaborate with international stakeholders and strategic suppliers to deliver innovative, sustainable, and cost-effective solutions that create long-term value and support the company’s growth ambitions  

This is a permanent position to be filled full-time.  

The place of work is at KWS Berlin GmbH in Berlin, Germany. 

Tasks & Responsibilities:

Strategic Category Management 

• Develop and execute a global category strategy for agricultural machinery - including farm equipment, spare parts, maintenance services, and related operational technologies 

• Create spend transparency and identify opportunities for cost optimization, supplier consolidation, and value creation 

• Lead the complete Source-to-Contract (S2C) process, including market analysis, RFx processes, supplier negotiations, contract management, and implementation 

• Drive Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) and Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) approaches across the category portfolio 

• Ensure compliance with legal, ESG, and internal procurement standards 

Stakeholder & Supplier Management 

• Build strong relationships with internal stakeholders across Business Units and Global Functions 

• Develop strategic partnerships with key machinery manufacturers, distributors, service providers, and aftermarket suppliers 

• Lead cross-functional sourcing projects in a complex global matrix organization 

• Present sourcing strategies, business cases, and procurement recommendations to senior management and executive stakeholders 

Procurement Excellence 

• Guide and support tactical buyers in sourcing activities, negotiations, spend analysis, and supplier management 

• Train and onboard procurement team members on category-specific knowledge and procurement tools 

• Contribute to process improvement initiatives and procurement digitalization 

• Lead procurement-related projects and change management initiatives 

Profile & Skillset:

• University degree in Industrial Engineering, Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Agricultural Engineering, Agricultural Economics, or comparable 

• Several years of professional experience in strategic procurement or, category management, or sourcing 

• Proven experience in procurement of machinery, ideally of heavy mobile machinery   

• Strong understanding of machinery lifecycle management, maintenance requirements, and equipment investment processes. 

• Experience in negotiating complex global supply agreements and managing strategic supplier relationships. 

• Experience working in international and matrix organizations 

• Knowledge of SAP, procurement suites, supplier management tools, and MS Office 

• Strong analytical and strategic thinking capabilities 

• Excellent negotiation and stakeholder management skills 

• Ability to liaise with cross-departmental and cross-functional stakeholders on different managerial levels 

• Strong communication and presentation skills with different target groups  

• Passion for innovation, continuous improvement, and sustainable business development

• Excellent command of English; German language skills are highly desirable

Offer:

• Interesting and varied job in a diverse international environment with the opportunity to contribute innovative ideas
• As a family business, we are guided by the values of closeness, reliability, vision and independence; this culture is lived in practice and ensures an open and friendly working atmosphere from day one
• Excellent work equipment and free car and bicycle parking spaces in our modern office in the heart of Berlin-Schöneberg
• We create the appropriate framework conditions for you: capital-forming benefits, Christmas and holiday pay, childcare allowance, 30d holidays, flexible working hours, holiday and Christmas bonuses, company pension scheme, JobRad and/or Jobticket
• True to our motto 'Make yourself grow', we support the professional and personal development of our employees
   

We are looking forward to receiving your application using our online application system SuccessFactors! Please click the “Apply” button which you can find in the online ad. 

Sharing is caring - if you know someone who might be interested - please feel free to share this job-opening.