Procurement Category Insights Team Lead

We are seeking a skilled Category Insights Expert to join our Global Procurement team in Elsbethen. If you are passionate about working in an international fast-paced environment and enjoy cross-functional collaboration, this role is for you.

 

As Category Insights Lead, you'll own and lead the category insights and market intelligence team for Indirect Procurement at group level. You'll enable fact-based decision-making across category strategy, sourcing, and supplier management by providing high-quality analytical insights and market intelligence. You'll have end-to-end ownership of spend, supplier, and category performance insights, including data collection, cleansing, structuring, analysis, and visualisation. You'll translate complex data into clear and actionable insights for Category Managers, Strategic Procurement Managers, and business category owners at both global and local level. In addition to your individual contribution, you'll lead and develop a small team of Category Insights Analysts, providing guidance, prioritisation, and quality assurance to ensure consistent and scalable delivery of category insights across the Indirect portfolio. As a senior group role, you'll act as a strategic partner to Procurement and Business stakeholders, strengthening transparency, improving category performance, and embedding data-driven decision-making across the organisation.

SPEND VISIBILITY AND MARKET INTELLIGENCE

You'll ensure the collection and consolidation of spend and contract data from internal systems (e.g. BI tools, Finance systems, SAP Ariba) and procurement stakeholders. You'll steer the consolidation, harmonisation, and structuring of spend and contract data across indirect categories in close collaboration with Category Insights Analysts, Global Data and Procurement Excellence. Finally, you'll ensure consistent data quality, traceability, and documentation in line with PRO standards, enabling reliable commercial baselines and fact-based decision-making.

 

CATEGORY PERFORMANCE DATA ANALYSIS

Ensure collection and structuring of category specific data from Category Managers and internal systems (e.g. savings tracking, KPI dashboards). You'll partner closely with Procurement Excellence to define, roll out, and continuously improve analytical standards, KPIs, and reporting frameworks. You'll support category strategy development, reviews, and prioritisation through structured, insight-driven analysis.

 

SUPPLIER PERFORMANCE DATA ANALYSIS

You'll ensure the collection and maintenance of supplier performance data from internal interfaces and documentation systems. You'll provide relevant insights on supplier performance, risks, and improvement opportunities to Category Managers and Strategic Procurement Managers. You'll drive the continuous development of supplier scorecards and performance reporting, ensuring consistency and scalability across regions and categories.

 

SUPPLIER MARKET INSIGHTS & DATA VISUALISATION

You'll lead the development of market and supplier intelligence across indirect categories, including pricing trends, benchmarks, value chain insights, supplier landscapes, and relevant risk factors. You'll translate complex datasets into clear, decision-ready dashboards and insights that support category strategy and sourcing decisions. You'll act as the single point of contact for Procurement data and insights, ensuring consistent interpretation and usage across global and local stakeholders.

 

PEOPLE LEADERSHIP & CAPABILITY BUILDING

You'll lead, develop, and coach a team of Category Insights Professionals, setting clear priorities, ensuring high-quality delivery, and fostering analytical excellence. You'll build scalable ways of working, tools, and knowledge assets to strengthen data-driven decision-making across the Procurement organisation.

5 years of relevant professional experience, including several years in senior or lead roles within Procurement, Analytics, or Category Management, preferably in a global environment.

Strong analytical and structured problem-solving skills with high attention to detail and data accuracy.

Advanced analytical capabilities, with strong expertise in data structuring, interpretation, and visualization (e.g., Power BI, Tableau or comparable solutions)

Strong understanding of procurement processes, category management concepts, and supplier performance management.

Experience with procurement systems and data sources (e.g. SAP Ariba, BI tools, ERP systems).

Strong communication and stakeholder interaction skills; Prior people leadership experience or clear readiness to lead and develop a small team.

Excellent interpersonal and communication skills to build effective relationships with diverse stakeholders.

Proactive and detail-oriented with a focus on continuous improvement.

Ability to set priorities, ensure quality standards, and scale insights through team leadership and clear ways of working.

Advanced proficiency in English (written and spoken) is required, German or other languages is considered a plus.

Due to legal reasons, we are obliged to disclose the minimum salary according to the collective agreement for this position, which is € 2986 gross per month. However, our attractive compensation package is based on market-oriented salaries and is therefore significantly above the stated minimum salary.

As an employer, we value diversity and support people in developing their potential and strengths, realizing their ideas and seizing opportunities. We believe passionately that employing a diverse workforce is central to our success. We welcome applications from all members of society irrespective of age, skin colour, religion, gender, sexual orientation or origin.