Category Manager – European Transportation & Freight Payment
Location: Kofem, Hungary or Kitts Green, UK
Reports To: Director of Transportation & Outside Processing, Procurement Organization
Position Overview
We are seeking a Category Manager – European Transportation & Freight Payment to join our Global Transportation Team. This role is responsible for developing and executing the European transportation strategy while driving operational excellence across transportation and freight payment activities.
The ideal candidate is innovative, analytical, process-oriented, and highly collaborative, with an entrepreneurial mindset and a passion for solving complex business challenges. Success in this position requires the ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment while delivering solutions that improve transparency, optimize processes, ensure compliance, reduce costs, and enhance service levels for both internal and external stakeholders.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Category Management
- Manage transportation category spend across European locations (Kofem – Hungary, Kitts Green – UK, Hannover – Germany).
- Develop and implement category and sourcing strategies aligned with business objectives and market conditions.
- Support site transportation teams with competitive bidding processes and sourcing events.
- Oversee transportation activities across all modes, including Truckload, LTL, Small Parcel, Ocean, Air, and Rail, as well as related services such as warehousing and transloading.
- Build and maintain strong supplier relationships to ensure high performance, compliance, and cost effectiveness.
- Lead contract negotiations to secure favorable commercial terms and mitigate business risk.
- Provide market intelligence and transportation cost forecasts to support budgeting and strategic planning.
- Collaborate with global category managers on sourcing initiatives and negotiations involving European suppliers.
Transportation Mode Optimization
- Partner with stakeholders to evaluate transportation modes across shipping lanes, facilities, and customer routes, identifying opportunities to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance service through optimal mode and equipment selection.
Freight Payment Leadership
- Lead the Freight Payment Team in managing the accounts payable process for European freight operations, ensuring efficient support for internal and external stakeholders.
- Oversee carrier freight invoice processing to ensure timely and accurate payments.
- Ensure compliance with contractual agreements by identifying and resolving discrepancies related to rates and accessorial charges.
- Analyze recurring invoice variances to determine root causes and implement sustainable corrective actions.
- Drive continuous improvement in freight audit and payment processes, strengthening internal controls to improve accuracy and reduce risk.
- Maintain proactive communication with carriers to ensure timely receipt of freight invoices and supporting documentation, while resolving outstanding payment issues.
- Monitor workloads across data entry and audit teams to ensure efficient processing.
- Develop and maintain process documentation and establish KPIs to measure performance, compliance, and operational transparency.
Additional Responsibilities
- Deliver procurement objectives for assigned categories, including cost savings, innovation, quality improvements, and supplier performance.
- Develop and execute procurement strategies that deliver best total value.
- Lead or support continuous improvement initiatives, including Kaizen workshops and Working Capital/Inventory optimization projects.
- Drive measurable improvements in transportation costs, supplier performance, and overall transportation service effectiveness.
Basic Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Accounting, Engineering, Supply Chain, Logistics, or a related field.
- Minimum of three years of experience in transportation category management.
- Proactive, results-oriented professional with strong problem-solving skills and the ability to collaborate across all organizational levels.
- Strong analytical, organizational, and prioritization abilities.
- Fluency in English.
Preferred Qualifications
- International work experience and strong intercultural competence.
- MBA or PMP certification.
- Demonstrated leadership experience within complex transportation organizations.
- Experience with Transportation Management Systems (TMS).
- Knowledge of the Hungarian language is an advantage.
- Strong financial and commercial acumen.
- Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint.
- Excellent communication, negotiation, and decision-making skills.
- Strategic mindset with a focus on innovation and continuous improvement.
Travel Requirements
- Approximately 25% travel, primarily within Europe, with occasional international travel.
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