Category Specialist📣 Job Ad

About the Role

Hitachi Energy is seeking a motivated Category Specialist to join its Supply Chain Management (SCM) team in Dammam, Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia. This full-time position is crucial for implementing and adhering to SCM strategies and processes, ensuring material availability, delivery performance, and cost competitiveness. The role involves leading the procurement process for defined material groups to achieve objectives related to timely availability, cost savings, quality, and service levels. This position also supports the development and implementation of regional and global sourcing strategies and actively manages supplier performance to ensure quality, delivery, cost, and sustainability.

Key Responsibilities

• Implement, maintain, and ensure compliance with SCM practices, including Strategic Sourcing, Process & Excellence, Risk Management, Supply Base Management, and Quality.
• Design and implement plans for local sourcing to achieve business targets, and support regional and global sourcing initiatives as required.
• Drive the implementation of global SCM initiatives and monitor the performance of global SCM Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).
• Support the development and implementation of regional/global sourcing strategies in alignment with regional/global Category Managers, including supplier and material identification and selection.
• Develop SCM sourcing concepts, encompassing the number and type of suppliers needed, make-or-buy comparisons, cost scenarios, and new material assessments.
• Share sourcing concepts with relevant stakeholders, establishing agreed-upon actions, responsibilities, and deadlines.
• Collaborate with Category Managers and Supplier Quality Engineers for supplier selection processes.
• Identify the need for new supplier development for critical materials.
• Coordinate and implement sourcing strategies to identify, analyze, evaluate, audit, and monitor suppliers.
• Conduct all SCM activities for goods and services in strict accordance with established policies and procedures.
• Adapt the corporate contractual framework to local business needs and manage contracts effectively.
• Recommend frame agreements to management and execute them upon approval.
• Provide relevant market information to bid and proposal teams.
• Plan, initialize, and monitor strategic sourcing activities for projects, new product developments, early involvement of key suppliers, and design-to-cost aspects.
• Leverage the Continuous Improvement Process Sourcing (CIPS) process to initiate and improve operational excellence and supplier performance.
• Manage Supplier Performance Evaluation (SPE) results and cost targets in new developments.
• Manage relationships with key suppliers to ensure timely delivery, quality, and compliance with contractual terms.
• Oversee supplier performance, including on-time delivery, quality, and lead time, and proactively resolve any performance issues.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders such as engineering, planning, and fulfillment to secure material availability for production.
• Apply standards on health, safety, environment, and business ethics within operational work, contract management, and negotiations.
• Ensure compliance with all applicable external and internal regulations, procedures, and guidelines.
• Uphold Hitachi Energy’s core values of safety and integrity by taking responsibility for personal actions and caring for colleagues and the business.

Qualifications and Requirements

• Bachelor's degree or above in Engineering, Economics, Business Administration, or Supply Chain Management, or equivalent work experience.
• Minimum of 6-8 years of working experience in Engineering, Purchasing, and Supply Chain Management.
• Flexibility to travel up to 15%.

Required Skills

• Proficiency in Supply Chain Management (SCM).
• Expertise in Strategic Sourcing.
• Strong understanding of Process & Excellence principles.
• Experience in Risk Management.
• Skilled in Supply Base Management.
• Focus on Quality assurance.
• Proven ability in Supplier Performance Management.
• Competence in Contract Management.
• Experience in Bid and Proposal Support.
• Familiarity with Continuous Improvement Process Sourcing (CIPS).
• Adept at Supplier Relationship Management.
• Excellent Collaboration skills.
• Solutions-oriented approach.
• Strong Communication skills.
• Demonstrated Results orientation with proven implementation skills.
• Effective Interpersonal skills.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks efficiently on a daily basis.
• Compliance and ethics oriented.
• Experience with SAP.
• Familiarity with Documentation Management Systems.
• Proficiency in Power BI.
• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite.
• Proficiency in both spoken and written English and Arabic languages is required.

Work Environment

This is a full-time role located in Dammam, Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia. Preferred qualifications include CPSM or PMP certifications, CIPP, and CIPM.