Category Manager

The Category Manager role is a strategic procurement position responsible for managing the end-to-end lifecycle of a specific category within Nokia. The primary focus is on developing and implementing category strategies, managing supplier relationships, and ensuring compliance with procurement processes.

This role requires strong strategic, analytical, and negotiation skills, as well as the ability to collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to drive value and efficiency.

Responsibilities

• E2E accountability for defining the category strategy with stakeholders to meet the procurement deliverables/targets
• Ensures a strong internal and external stakeholder management
• Strategic interface towards supplier and accountable for building strong supplier relationship
• Drives supplier performance
• Understands supplier market dynamics/intelligence and drives activities based on supply market changes
• Drives supplier selection according to strategy, supplier base development, and identification of new suppliers
• Responsible for efficient RFx process from supplier selection through onboarding according to the agreed strategies
• Leading contract and price negotiations with suppliers to secure best T&Cs/contracting for Nokia competitiveness
• Executes periodic price/cost (re)negotiations to achieve the savings targets
• Manage that all contractual agreements including NDA’s and required appendices are in place for all products
• Drives the supplier development activities (e.g., supplier audits/assessments) to establish suppliers’ delivery capability/quality
• Ensures compliance with procurement process, SOX and other statutory requirements within own category
• Ensures that Nokia performs according to its contractual obligations and other commitments towards its suppliers
• Owns and drives regular business review meetings with suppliers
• Drives for minimizing supplier risks e.g., propose/ensure multiple source qualifications, financial checks
• Supports Nokia’s ESG strategy and implementation at our suppliers
• Accountable for agreed KPIs and their reporting

Qualifications

• Category Strategy Development: Ability to define and implement E2E category strategies aligned with procurement deliverables and targets.
• Market Intelligence: Proficiency in analyzing supplier market dynamics and leveraging insights to drive procurement activities.
• Supplier Selection and Development: Expertise in identifying, evaluating, and onboarding new suppliers while developing the existing supplier base.
• Internal and External Collaboration: Strong stakeholder management skills to maintain relationships with internal teams and external suppliers.
• Supplier Relationship Management: Capability to build and sustain strategic supplier relationships.
• Contract Negotiation: Proven experience in leading contract and price negotiations to secure favorable terms and conditions.
• RFx Process Management: Ability to efficiently manage RFx processes, from supplier selection to onboarding.
• Supplier Performance Monitoring: Skills to drive supplier performance and conduct periodic reviews.
• Risk Mitigation: Competence in minimizing supplier risks through multiple source qualifications, financial checks, and other measures.
• Regulatory Compliance: Knowledge of procurement processes, SOX, and other statutory requirements.
• Contractual Obligations: Ensure Nokia's compliance with contractual agreements and commitments.
• Cost Management: Ability to execute periodic price/cost renegotiations to achieve savings targets.
• Supplier Development: Experience in conducting supplier audits/assessments to enhance delivery capability and quality.
• ESG Strategy Implementation: Support Nokia’s ESG strategy and ensure its implementation at supplier levels.
• KPI Accountability: Ownership of agreed KPIs and ability to report on them effectively.
• Business Review Meetings: Proficiency in organizing and driving regular business review meetings with suppliers.