Category Specialist

About the Role

Hitachi Energy is seeking a Category Specialist to join their team in Dammam, Eastern Region, Saudi Arabia. This full-time role involves implementing and adhering to Supply Chain Management (SCM) strategies and processes, with a focus on ensuring material availability, delivery performance, and cost competitiveness within factories. The specialist will lead procurement processes for defined material groups, aiming to achieve timely availability, cost savings, quality, and service level objectives.

Key Responsibilities

• Implement and support SCM practices including Strategic Sourcing, Process & Excellence, Risk Management, and Supply Base Management & Quality.
• Design and execute plans for local sourcing to meet business targets and support regional/global sourcing initiatives.
• Drive global SCM initiatives and monitor performance against global SCM Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).
• Identify and select suppliers and materials, aligning with regional/global sourcing strategies and Category Managers.
• Develop SCM sourcing concepts, including supplier numbers, make-or-buy comparisons, cost scenarios, and new materials.
• Coordinate and implement sourcing strategies to identify, analyze, evaluate, audit, and monitor suppliers.
• Conduct all SCM activities for goods and services in compliance with established policies and procedures.
• Manage contracts, adapting corporate frameworks to local business needs and executing approved frame agreements.
• Support bid and proposal teams by providing relevant market information.
• Plan, initiate, and monitor strategic sourcing activities for projects, new product developments, and design-to-cost aspects.
• Leverage the Continuous Improvement Process Sourcing (CIPS) to enhance operational excellence and supplier performance.
• Manage Supplier Performance Evaluation (SPE) results and cost targets for new developments.
• Oversee supplier relationships to ensure timely delivery, quality, and compliance with contractual terms, resolving performance issues as needed.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders such as engineering, planning, and fulfillment to ensure material availability.
• Ensure compliance with health, safety, environment, and business ethics standards within operational work, contract management, and negotiations.

Required Qualifications and Experience

• A minimum of 10 years of experience in a relevant field.
• Demonstrated collaborative and solutions-oriented approach.
• Proven results orientation with strong implementation skills.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, including the ability to influence and persuade.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks efficiently.
• Strong commitment to compliance and ethics.
• Flexibility to travel up to 15% of the time.

Company Values

The Category Specialist is responsible for ensuring compliance with applicable external and internal regulations, procedures, and guidelines. This role requires living Hitachi Energy’s core values of safety and integrity, which includes taking responsibility for personal actions while caring for colleagues and the business.