Category Manager Strategic Procurement

About the job

You work 100% – at one of our locations in Zug or Sulgen, complemented by the possibility to work partially remotely

• You develop and implement the category and supplier strategy for your categories – not as an administrative task, but as a genuine design task: You decide which suppliers will accompany V-ZUG in the long term, where new sources are developed, and how material supply remains stable even in a volatile market

• You manage your supplier portfolio throughout the entire lifecycle – from selecting new partners through targeted development to phase-out. Together with Supplier Quality Management, you ensure that expectations and reality align – through regular evaluations and audits that are more than just a mandatory programme

• You are responsible for contract management in your assigned categories in the mechanical area – from creation through negotiation to ongoing maintenance. You know what really matters in a contract and bring internal stakeholders to a common understanding

• You conduct tenders, compare offers, and develop well-founded award recommendations and decisions together with the specialist departments that optimally combine economic and technical requirements

• You have control over the cost development of your pre-series and series articles: You identify potentials early, use them consistently, and implement measures that have a sustainable effect

• You are an integral part of projects, coordinate material requirements with suppliers, and ensure that samples, prototypes, and series materials are available when needed

• You have a degree in industrial engineering, business administration, supply chain management, or a comparable discipline

• You bring several years of experience in purchasing and know how to confidently position yourself towards suppliers – with negotiation skills that do not have to be loud to be effective, and communication that resonates both internally and externally

• You think strategically and analytically: You recognise market dynamics, derive concrete measures from them, and develop purchasing strategies that are sustainable not only for today but also for tomorrow

• You know what you stand for and bring clarity, assertiveness, and persuasiveness to demonstrate this: both in the internal project environment and in discussions with external partners

• Confident use of ERP systems, especially SAP, as well as digital tools is natural for you – not an effort, but a working basis

• You communicate confidently in German and English – both written and spoken, clearly and with the right sensitivity to what your counterpart needs

The Procurement department is responsible for the strategic sourcing of materials, components, and services along the entire value chain. As a Swiss premium manufacturer with in-house production at the headquarters in Zug, we place high demands on our suppliers – and on ourselves. Our purchasing department is correspondingly professional: with clear category structures, an international supplier network, and the aim not only to optimise costs but to shape partnerships that are sustainable in the long term.