Role Purpose
The Global Category Manager – Process Utilities is responsible for developing, refining, and executing the global category strategy for high-purity utility systems and materials used across our manufacturing, semiconductor, and life sciences operations. This includes tubing, fittings, piping, valves, and engineered systems such as ultrapure water, chemical and exhaust gas handling packages. With a strong focus on supporting both manufacturing operations and high-tech EPC projects, the role will lead category management workshops, successful negotiations of global Master Framework Agreements with strategic suppliers, establish category foundations, and drive long-term value. The ideal candidate has proven experience in procuring high-purity materials and systems, with deep knowledge of technical requirements and supplier capabilities in cleanroom, regulated, or high-spec environments. A key focus of the role is leveraging the group's global buying power to achieve cost efficiency, secure supply, and scale supplier partnerships. Close collaboration with engineering, operations, and project teams is critical to ensure alignment with both technical and commercial objectives.
Job Responsibilities
- Develop, refine, and execute the global process utilities category strategy to meet the needs of our manufacturing, semiconductor, and life sciences operations, supporting long-term value creation and establishing foundational category structures.
- Negotiate and implement global Master Framework Agreements with key strategic suppliers of high-purity utility systems and materials to ensure cost efficiency, technical compliance, and scalable, reliable supply.
- Serve as the single point of accountability for the global process utilities category across the Exyte Group, managing strategic supplier relationships to drive project delivery, innovation, schedule compliance, and continuous improvement.
- Collaborate closely with engineering, operations, and project teams, including leading cross-functional category management workshops and stakeholder sessions to ensure category solutions align with technical specifications, cleanroom requirements, and operational performance standards.
- Leverage global buying power and market intelligence, standardizing UNSPSC coding classifications to structure and analyze spend data to identify cost-saving opportunities, mitigate supply risks, and advance category maturity through data-driven decision-making and supplier performance management.
- Monitor global market trends, technologies, and supply chain developments in high-purity process utilities (e.g., tubing, fittings, ultrapure water systems) to inform category strategy and maintain competitive advantage.
- Utilize procurement tools and platforms (e.g., SAP, Ariba, analytics dashboards) to manage supplier data, track performance, optimize spend visibility, and support data-driven decision-making.
- Partner with business units and project teams to align process utilities procurement with broader operational and project objectives, ensuring value delivery, risk mitigation, and stakeholder engagement
- Build and maintain strong relationships with internal stakeholders, including engineering, construction, operations, and finance, to ensure category strategies are fully integrated and supported across all business functions.
- Drive strategic make-or-buy decisions, lead technical standards development and harmonization, and implement innovative buying processes across goods and services to enhance efficiency, compliance, and total cost of ownership
Job Requirements
- 10+ years experience in procurement/category management for process utilities and high-purity materials (e.g., tubing, fittings, valves, gas, UPW, chemicals), with solid exposure to large-scale, project-driven environments and broad portfolios within EPC or manufacturing settings.
- Extensive experience negotiating and managing global framework agreements with strategic suppliers, driving commercial value, supplier performance, and establishing long-term category foundations.
- Strong technical and commercial understanding of process utility systems and materials, including relevant standards, cleanroom specifications, and compliance requirements in regulated or high-spec environments.
- Demonstrated success in building and executing procurement strategies that align with engineering, operational, and project delivery objectives across global business units.
- Advanced stakeholder management skills, with the ability to collaborate across engineering, operations, quality, and finance functions, and influence cross-functional decision-making.
- Experience with procurement systems and tools (e.g., SAP, Ariba), leveraging data-driven insights to support supplier performance, risk mitigation, and strategic decision-making.
- Bachelor's or Master's degree in Mechanical or Process Engineering, Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, or a related field.
- Professional certifications in procurement or supply chain management (e.g., CIPS, CPM, or equivalent) are strongly preferred
- Fluent in English; additional languages (such as German or Mandarin) are considered an advantage.
- Strong technical knowledge of high-purity process utility systems and materials, including tubing, fittings, valves, ultrapure water and waste systems, and relevant cleanroom or industry-specific standards (e.g., SEMI, ISO).
- In-depth understanding of global sourcing, category strategy development, and supplier relationship management within complex, multinational EPC and manufacturing environments.
- Proven ability to perform commercial analysis and evaluate supplier performance, identifying opportunities for cost savings, value creation, and risk mitigation.
- Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint, with experience creating data-driven presentations, reports, and cost models for stakeholder engagement.
- Familiarity with procurement and supply chain systems, such as SAP, SAP Ariba, and tools for supplier performance monitoring, spend analytics, and risk management
