Head of Global Category Management (f/m/d)

The opportunity

We are looking for a Head of Global Category Management to define, own and drive global category strategies across a diverse supplier landscape supporting manufacturing, installation, retrofit, testing and commissioning activities at Hitachi Energy. In this enterprise-level role, you provide strategic direction, governance and end-to-end ownership of global categories, ensuring alignment with business priorities and enabling competitive advantage through cost leadership, resilience, sustainability and innovation. You act as a functional authority for regional category managers and strategic buyers, steering execution through regional and local teams. This role carries global accountability and strong leadership expectations, requiring the ability to lead through influence.  You also drive responsible sourcing, sustainability actions, and risk mitigation plans.

How you’ll make an impact

• You define, own and drive global category strategies aligned with business, market and technology roadmaps.
• You act as the global functional lead for category management within your scope, setting direction, frameworks and standards.
• You orchestrate collaboration across regions, business units and functions to ensure aligned sourcing decisions and execution.
• You provide strategic oversight of cost structures, pricing trends and market dynamics, supporting business planning and competitiveness.
• You lead and govern complex, global RFx processes and high-impact supplier negotiations.
• You oversee supplier lifecycle management.
• You build and maintain executive-level relationships with strategic and critical suppliers, fostering long-term partnerships.
• You apply and contribute to improve SCM tools, policies and governance to ensure business continuity and supply resilience.
• You contribute to budget setting, target deployment and sourcing performance management at a global level.
• You identify structural supply chain risks and ensure robust risk mitigation and contingency strategies are in place.
• You drive sustainability, responsible sourcing and compliance actions across your categories in line with company commitments.
• You lead through influence, guiding and empowering regional and local sourcing teams to elevate performance and maturity.

Your background

• You hold a degree in Business Administration, Engineering, Supply Chain Management or a related field, or possess equivalent professional experience.
• You bring 10+ years of experience in strategic sourcing and/or global category management within a complex, international environment.
• You have a proven track record of shaping and executing global sourcing strategies with measurable business impact.
• You demonstrate strong capability in leading complex negotiations, contractual frameworks and supplier partnerships at senior level.
• You are highly analytical, able to translate complex data, market insights and risks into clear strategic recommendations.
• You communicate with clarity and credibility and are comfortable engaging with senior stakeholders across functions and regions.
• You have experience operating successfully in matrix organizations, leading without formal authority.
• You are willing and able to travel internationally to engage with suppliers and stakeholders as required.