Category Manager - Machining & Sheet Metal Components

Location: Pécs, Hungary. Options for mobile working are available, with regular travel required for supplier visits, audits, negotiations, and market scouting.

Company

hirify.global is an international technology group operating across Pharma, Supply Chain, and Technologies, with products, solutions, and services for industrial customers.

What you will do

• Develop, implement, and continuously improve category strategies for direct materials and assemblies, including turned and milled parts, sheet metal parts, and welded assemblies.
• Analyze supplier markets, manufacturing capabilities, innovations, cost drivers, capacity, and best-cost-country opportunities, especially in Eastern Europe.
• Identify, evaluate, qualify, and onboard suppliers while improving competitiveness, delivery reliability, flexibility, and supply resilience.
• Negotiate pricing models, framework agreements, terms, and contracts with strategic suppliers.
• Lead sourcing projects from requests for proposals and cost analysis through negotiations, contract conclusion, and follow-up.
• Support make-or-buy decisions, localization projects, and sourcing initiatives with Engineering, Quality, Logistics, Operations, and Procurement.

Requirements

• At least 5 years of experience in strategic procurement, category management, supplier scouting, or strategic sourcing in industrial manufacturing.
• Strong experience with direct materials, preferably machining, sheet metal, welded constructions, or mechanical components.
• Understanding of CNC machining, milling, turning, laser cutting, bending, welding, surface treatment, and mechanical assembly.
• Ability to read technical drawings, specifications, and manufacturing requirements.
• Strong negotiation, cost breakdown analysis, TCO evaluation, supplier development, and stakeholder management skills.
• Business-proficient English required; German is advantageous.

Nice to have

• Experience with best-cost-country sourcing, particularly in Eastern Europe.
• Experience with SAP or similar ERP and procurement systems.
• Proficiency in Microsoft 365, especially Excel, Teams, SharePoint, Word, Outlook, and PowerPoint.

Culture & Benefits

• International collaboration across the company and procurement organization.
• Open and communicative corporate culture.
• Support for professional development.
• Performance-based compensation.
• Flexible working hours adjusted to workload and options for mobile working.

Hiring process

• Applications must be submitted through the “Apply now” button.