Category Manager

Category Manager

At Nouryon , our global team takes positive action every day to reach higher goals collectively and individually. We create innovative and sustainable solutions for our customers to answer society’s needs today and in the future.

We are looking for a Category Manager Raw Materials who can drive strategic sourcing initiatives, ensure security of supply, optimize procurement costs, strengthen supplier partnerships, and contribute to the sustainable growth of Nouryon's manufacturing operations across Europe and global markets.

In your future role as Category Manager Raw Materials, you will:

• Develop and execute category strategies for a broad portfolio of raw materials to support Nouryon’s manufacturing sites.
• Lead sourcing and contract negotiations with global and regional suppliers to achieve optimal commercial and operational outcomes.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with key suppliers while driving supplier performance, innovation, and sustainability initiatives.
• Collaborate closely with Business Lines, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Product Management, R&D, Sustainability, and Finance teams to align procurement strategies with business objectives.
• Monitor raw material markets, industry trends, supplier landscapes, and cost drivers to identify opportunities and mitigate risks.
• Drive initiatives related to supply security, risk management, sustainability, and continuous improvement within the category portfolio.
• Lead competitive bidding processes, contract renewals, supplier evaluations, and sourcing projects.
• Support strategic business initiatives through market intelligence, spend analysis, and supplier development programs.
• Participate in cross-functional procurement projects and contribute to the continuous improvement of procurement processes, systems, and policies.
• Prepare and present category performance reports, savings initiatives, market insights, and strategic recommendations to key stakeholders.
• Ensure compliance with procurement governance, ethical sourcing standards, and company policies.

Great if you have

• Strong understanding of strategic sourcing, procurement, supplier management, and contract negotiations.
• Experience managing raw materials, chemicals, industrial products, or related procurement categories.
• Strong analytical capabilities with the ability to evaluate market trends, supplier performance, and cost structures.
• Experience in risk management, sustainability initiatives, and supply chain optimization.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills across multiple organizational levels.
• Ability to manage multiple strategic projects in a fast-paced and dynamic business environment.
• Experience working in an international and matrix organization.

We believe you are...

• Commercially minded and results-driven.
• Analytical and data-oriented in your decision-making.
• Proactive and capable of identifying opportunities for growth and improvement.
• Skilled at building and maintaining strong stakeholder and supplier relationships.
• Self-driven, independent, and accountable.
• An effective collaborator who thrives in cross-functional teams.
• Adaptable and comfortable working in a rapidly changing market environment.

We believe you bring

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Business, Supply Chain, Procurement, Engineering, Science, or a related field.
• Minimum 3-5 years of experience in Procurement, Strategic Sourcing, Supply Chain, Sales, Planning, Commercial Analytics, or Project Management.
• Proven experience in supplier negotiations and contract management.
• Strong analytical and project management capabilities.
• Experience working with procurement tools, ERP systems, and data analysis platforms.
• Professional proficiency in English, both written and verbal.
• Experience within the Chemical, Manufacturing, Industrial, or Specialty Chemicals industry is preferred.

We offer you

At Nouryon, we not only offer an exciting role and great colleagues, but also benefits in addition to your salary.

Are you passionate about logistics excellence, operational efficiency, safety, and collaboration? Do you want to grow together with a company that is forward-looking and continuously improving how it works? Our employees have ideas on how to build a sustainable future and the drive and passion to realize them. If that describes you, we will gladly make way for your ambitions. From day one, we support your personal growth through challenging positions and comprehensive learning and development opportunities in a dynamic, international, diverse, and proactive working environment.

Good to know

This is a permanent full-time position within the Procurement organization. The role may require periodic travel to supplier locations, production sites, and stakeholder meetings within Europe and globally. The successful candidate will work closely with global procurement teams and cross-functional stakeholders to support Nouryon’s strategic sourcing objectives.