Procurement Category Manager Logistics

Procurement Category Manager - Logistics

Location – Krakow

PL – 14 

Why is this job for you:

The Category Manager, Logistics will play a key role in developing and executing category strategies and commercial procurement solutions that deliver sustainable value and a competitive supply base across DS Smith's Logistics spend. As part of the Logistics Category Team, this position is responsible for supporting business growth, driving innovation, advancing ESG objectives and enabling the successful deployment of the end-to-end supply chain strategy.

Reporting to the Head of Logistics Procurement, the successful candidate will lead procurement activities within the Logistics category, partnering closely with stakeholders across the business to ensure logistics services are strategically sourced, cost-effective and aligned with operational requirements.

Working collaboratively with DS Smith’s Supply Chain and Logistics teams, the Logistics Procurement Centre of Excellence and key suppliers, this role will contribute to the development of innovative, sustainable, and customer-focused supply chain solutions.

You will be:

Category Strategy

·       Provide commercial thought leadership to mature the Logistics alongside business stakeholders

·       Develop and implement with stakeholders, 1-3 year category strategies

·       Adopt an enterprise mindset to unlock synergies

·       Collaborate with business stakeholders to develop a comprehensive wave plan

·       Utilize tools like Porters Five Forces and Kraljic

·       Develop procurement strategies and a pipeline of projects to deliver value in Logistics

Stakeholder Engagement

·       Communicate with business stakeholders

·       Engage and influence stakeholders at all levels

·       Lead change management and communications

·       Build relationships across the procurement community

·       Support building close ties across the Packaging, Paper and Recycling divisions

Markets and Risk

·       Understand and respond to market intelligence

·       Develop deep understanding of supplier capabilities

·       Deliver supplier strategies which reduce supplier risk

·       Build benchmarking and index insights to forecast spend

Contracting

·       Ensure appropriate tendering, sourcing and contracting strategies

·       Partner with legal and stakeholders

·       Embed and monitor relevant supplier KPIs

·       Deliver commercial and contractual solutions

·       Ensure aligned contract management responsibilities

·       Save contracts in a contract management system

Initiative Management

·       Deliver priority procurement initiatives

·       Manage supplier market tenders and negotiations

·       Manage commercial negotiations for complex deals

·       Project manage procurement initiatives

·       Share procurement best practice

Procure to Pay Collaboration

·       Communicate preferred supplier arrangements

Supplier Relationship and Performance Management

·       Ensure SRM processes are aligned

·       Drive continuous improvement initiatives

·       Manage and optimize the Logistics supplier base

·       Ensure strategic supplier governance

·       Ensure clear operational responsibilities

You have:

·       A strong knowledge and demonstrated experience of procurement roles in Logistics (Road Transportation, Warehousing, Ocean Freight)

·       Bachelor’s degree level or equivalent by experience

·       Ideally 5 years relevant experience

·       Experience developing and implementing category strategies

·       Experience in complex sourcing and contracting negotiations

·       Experience optimizing Logistics spend

·       The ability to define and implement multi-year category strategies

·       Experience of leading transformational change

·       CIPS or EU equivalent desirable

·       Fluency in English

·       Another European language advantageous

·       Experience in paper and packaging industry preferred