Global Category Manager for travel, uniforms, protective equipment, and general services
Location: Madrid (Hybrid) - 3 days a week in the office
Reporting to: Global Head of Indirect Procurement
About Swissport
We are a global leader in sustainable airport services, committed to safety, operational excellence, and exceptional service. In 2023, Swissport employed over 60,000 colleagues, providing ground services for approximately 232 million airline passengers and handling around 4.7 million tons of air freight across 115 cargo centers.
Our extensive network spans 286 airports in 44 countries across six continents. Our corporate values—Show You Care, Doing the Right Things, and Win as a Team—guide our actions and decision-making, emphasizing safety, integrity, teamwork, and delivering value.
Job Summary
This role involves managing procurement activities globally, developing category-specific processes, and leading sustainability and diversity initiatives with key suppliers. The Global Category Manager collaborates closely with stakeholders and regional procurement teams.
Job Responsibilities
1. Define, drive, and implement sourcing strategies for travel, uniforms, protective equipment, and general services.
2. Identify stakeholders, collaborate, advise, and influence within a matrix organization.
3. Work with stakeholders to define supplier requirements and lead RFI/RFP/RFQ processes.
4. Negotiate contractual terms and support vendor qualification processes.
5. Conduct category spend, market, and product analyses for profiling.
6. Lead Category Councils globally and develop sourcing strategies.
7. Negotiate with suppliers and manage contractual discussions.
8. Ensure accuracy of spend data and assess supplier proposals using TCO and ESG considerations.
9. Set up KPIs, monitor service levels, and ensure compliance.
10. Build consensus with stakeholders and manage costs to achieve savings.
11. Support the Head of Indirect Procurement with category analysis.
Qualifications and Competencies
* Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Procurement, Business, Economics, Supply Chain, or related field.
* At least 5 years of experience as a Global Category or Vendor Manager, leading sourcing projects at regional or global levels.
* Preferred experience in airport and logistics applications.
* Proven track record of cost savings and transformation support.
* Strong negotiation, process, and project management skills.
* Leadership skills to manage cross-functional teams in a matrix environment.
* Ability to work with diverse stakeholders and communicate effectively in English; additional languages are a plus.
* Positive attitude, hands-on mentality, and team-oriented approach.
This description provides an overview of the role; additional duties may be assigned as needed.
What We Offer
A permanent position within a dynamic, international environment in air cargo and ground handling, with a friendly team.
Next Steps
If interested, apply with your resume in English via the Apply button. Due to high application volumes, responses may be limited. If you do not hear back, we appreciate your interest and wish you success.
Equal Opportunity Statement
Swissport is an equal opportunity employer. Employment decisions are based on business needs and candidate qualifications, without discrimination. Background checks may be required.
#J-18808-Ljbffr