Category Manager – European Transportation & Freight Payment ( Onsite)
Location: Kitts Green
Salary : £70,000 – £80,000
Contract: Permanent
This role is responsible for shaping and executing the European transportation strategy while advancing transportation operations across multiple locations
.The position requires an innovative, analytical, and process-driven professional who thrives in a fast-paced environment
.The successful candidate will deliver creative solutions that improve transparency, optimize processes, ensure compliance, and drive cost savings while strengthening service levels for stakeholders and customers
.Key Responsibiliti
esStrategic Category Manageme
nt• Develop and execute category and sourcing strategies aligned with business objectives and market dynamic
s.• Support plant transportation teams with competitive bid processes and sourcing event
s.• Manage European transportation activities across all modes including Truckload, LTL, Small Parcel, Ocean, Air, and Rail, as well as related services such as warehousing and transloadin
g.• Build and maintain strong relationships with key and transactional suppliers to ensure performance, compliance, and cost efficienc
y.• Lead contract negotiations to secure favourable commercial terms and mitigate operational and financial risk
s.• Provide market-driven forecasts and insights to support budgeting and strategic plannin
g.• Collaborate with global category managers on negotiations and sourcing initiatives involving European supplier
s.Mode Optimizat
ion• Partner with internal stakeholders to regularly evaluate transportation modes across lanes, sites, and customer rout
es.• Identify opportunities to improve efficiency, reduce cost, and enhance service through optimized mode and equipment selecti
on.• Freight Payment Leaders
hip• Lead the Freight Payment Team in managing the accounts payable process for European freight operatio
ns.• Oversee carrier freight invoice processing to ensure accurate and timely payment disburseme
nt.• Ensure compliance with contractual agreements and proactively resolve discrepancies related to rates, surcharges, and accessorial charg
es.• Analyze recurring variances, identify root causes, and implement effective corrective actio
ns.• Drive continuous improvement initiatives within freight audit and payment processes to increase accuracy and strengthen internal contro
ls.• Maintain proactive communication with carriers to ensure timely receipt of freight invoices and supporting documentati
on.• Monitor workloads across data entry and audit teams to maintain efficient and consistent processi
ng.• Develop and maintain process documentation and establish KPIs to monitor performance and improve transparen
cy.Additional Responsibilit
ies• Deliver procurement targets including cost savings, innovation, quality, and supplier performance improvemen
ts.• Develop and implement procurement strategies to achieve best total value solutio
ns.• Lead or support operational improvement initiatives such as Kaizen workshops and working capital or inventory projec
ts.• Drive measurable improvements in cost savings, supplier performance, and transportation service optimizati
on.Basic Qualificat
ions• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Accounting, Engineering, Supply Chain, or Logist
ics.• Minimum of 3 years of experience in transportation category managem
ent.• Strong problem-solving skills and ability to collaborate across multiple organizational lev
els.• Strong analytical, organizational, and prioritization capabilit
ies.• Fluency in Engl
ish.• Preferred Qualificat
ions• International work experience and strong intercultural communication ski
lls.• MBA or PMP certificat
ion.• Experience leading initiatives within complex transportation organizati
ons.• Experience working with Transportation Management Systems (T
MS).• Hungarian language knowledge is considered an advant
age.• Strong financial and commercial acu
men.• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel and PowerPo
int.• Excellent communication, negotiation, and decision-making ski
lls.• Strategic mindset with an innovative and solution-oriented appro
ach.Travel Requirem
ents• Approximately 25% travel, primarily within Europe, with occasional international tra
vel….