Category Manager- Capex

Vacancy: Category Manager - Capex

Based in Northern Italy or Barcelona
Salary: €90,000 + benefits

Who will you be working with?

This role reports to the Global Procurement Manager - Indirect and collaborates with internal and external stakeholders across the organisation (Site Management, Site Procurement Teams, and functional specialists). You will help shape a future-ready supplier strategy, supporting all sites in developing and embedding effective procurement techniques for capital equipment purchases.

You'll be responsible for driving supplier performance, developing group-wide supplier strategies, and moving the organisation away from a fragmented, site-level selection approach. This includes managing relationships with strategic suppliers, driving cost optimisation, and owning performance improvement plans.

You will also support the creation of supplier strategies in collaboration with internal stakeholders. This includes building performance metrics, tracking key cost drivers, and contributing to budgets, sustainability objectives, and performance-related KPIs.

Your day-to-day responsibilities will include:

Taking procurement ownership of high-value, business-critical projects while gaining excellent exposure to senior stakeholders.

• Designing and embedding a Capex procurement policy and process aligned with global Capex guidelines and DOA requirements.
• Developing and implementing a Capex procurement toolkit for all future purchases.
• Leading end-to-end procurement of capital equipment, engineering services, and site projects from supplier selection to contract management.
• Supporting major investment programmes in production lines, automation systems, and site upgrades.
• Building strong supplier partnerships that deliver innovation, value, reliability, and total cost optimisation.
• Negotiating high-value, complex contracts with OEMs and service providers.
• Working closely with engineering and operations teams to anticipate needs and deliver best-in-class solutions.
• Supporting local buyers with negotiation strategies for supplier tooling and fostering cost-awareness and value-for-money practices.
• Providing guidance on best-practice asset management across procurement and finance.
• Developing preferred supplier lists with agreed terms, schedules, and performance criteria.
• Owning the supply strategy and cost-down plans for the Capex category.
• Establishing SLAs with stakeholders across sites.
• Monitoring supplier performance, escalating issues where necessary, and keeping stakeholders informed.
• Ensuring an ethical and sustainable supplier selection process aligned with organisational goals.
• Supporting annual budget planning, preferred supplier selection, timing, risk evaluation, and resource planning.

About you

To thrive in this role, you'll ideally bring:

• 5+ years' procurement experience in Capex, Site Services, MRO, or engineering services (manufacturing/engineering preferred).
• Strong commercial acumen with experience managing large contracts and complex supplier landscapes.
• Excellent communication and influencing skills across technical and operational teams.
• Understanding of capital projects such as machinery, production systems, site infrastructure, or supplier tooling.
• A proactive, practical mindset with the ability to adapt during periods of change.
• Strong collaboration skills across multi-functional, matrixed teams.
• Ability to collect, interpret, and present data effectively.

What we offer

• €90,000 + benefits
• Exposure to advanced, innovative technologies
• A collaborative, international team culture
• A vibrant working environment
• Travel reimbursement and wellbeing benefits