Global Category Manager - Electronics (Direct Materials)

Your Challenges:

As a Global Category Manager – Electronics (Direct Materials) at Eppendorf, you will play a key role in shaping and executing global sourcing strategies for electronic components and systems. You will be responsible for managing supplier relationships, driving innovation and sustainability, and ensuring regulatory compliance in a highly technical and regulated environment. This role offers a high level of strategic impact and international collaboration across a matrix organization.

Responsibilities:

• Develop and implement global category strategies for electronics to support business objectives.
• Build, manage, and continuously develop a high-performing supplier portfolio.
• Lead the tendering and awarding process for direct materials in the electronics category.
• Standardize and regularly update contract templates and commercial terms.
• Ensure alignment with quality, regulatory, and sustainability standards.

Key Tasks:

• Define and execute sourcing strategies for electronic components and systems.
• Conduct market analyses to identify trends, pricing developments, and innovation opportunities.
• Independently lead negotiations and contract finalizations.
• Manage tenders and award processes in close collaboration with internal stakeholders.
• Identify and evaluate innovations and sustainability aspects relevant to the category.
• Support supplier audits in close cooperation with the Quality Management team.
• Strategically align, optimize, and maintain the supplier portfolio.
• Conduct business reviews and initiate improvement measures.
• Coordinate and execute the annual supplier evaluation process.
• Ensure and improve all relevant qualitative procurement parameters.
• Advise internal departments on all procurement-related topics and processes.
• Monitor compliance with regulatory requirements, acting as an interface between suppliers and Quality Management.

Your Expertise:

• University degree in business administration, engineering, or a related field. Alternatively, equivalent commercial training with a focus on procurement.
• Several years of professional experience in a similar role, ideally within an international company or matrix organization.
• Solid experience in category management, preferably in a regulated industry.
• Strong technical understanding, especially in electronics and direct materials.
• Excellent analytical and negotiation skills.
• Independent, structured, and results-oriented working style.
• Proficient in relevant ERP systems (e.g., SAP Ariba) and MS Office applications.
• Fluent in English, both written and spoken; Mandarin, German, and additional languages are a plus.
• Willingness to travel and strong intercultural competence.

Your benefits at Eppendorf:

• We truly appreciate our employees and their performance
• We offer a wide range of learning and development opportunities to allow you to deepen your technical knowledge and for continuous growth
• By working with us, you will make a meaningful contribution to improving human living conditions
• Attractive salary, employee benefits and performance bonus