Category Specialist

Water and Waste business unit (WAW) is a true end-to-end business which is transitioning under new ownership. WAW is a global leader in designing and supplying innovative wet and dry waste equipment and freshwater generation solutions for passenger vessels & conventional waste management and ballast water treatment equipment for all marine segments. WAW has the industry’s broadest product offering to secure beyond compliant operations for our marine customers.

We are seeking an experienced Category Specialist to manage product categories and category-related processes within the busy supply chain team.

The Category Specialist is responsible for leading category management activities across defined product groups, ensuring efficient procurement, competitive cost performance, strong supplier capability, and effective lifecycle management. The role creates and executes category strategies that align with business, technical, and market requirements—maximising value and enabling operational, commercial, and programme success.

Key Responsibilities

1. Category Strategy & Lifecycle Management

• Develop and lead category strategies aligned with business objectives, supply‑market conditions, and long‑term organisational goals.
• Optimise category performance by improving supplier capabilities, reducing cost, enhancing quality, and mitigating risk.
• Manage category lifecycle activities, ensuring alignment with engineering, operational, and commercial needs.

2. Strategic Sourcing & Contract Leadership

• Lead strategic sourcing initiatives across assigned categories, ensuring alignment with technical and programme requirements.
• Conduct supplier evaluations, lead negotiations, and develop contracts that deliver strong commercial and operational value.
• Provide strategic category insights and cost input to support bids, new programmes, and business development activities.

3. Supplier Relationship Management & Performance Development

• Build strong supplier relationships to enhance capability, innovation, and supply chain resilience.
• Monitor supplier performance and conduct regular reviews to ensure quality, delivery, and cost expectations are met.
• Identify supplier opportunities and vulnerabilities, implementing proactive risk‑mitigation measures.
• Serve as the escalation point for supplier performance or delivery issues.

4. Cross‑Functional Collaboration

• Work with Engineering, Quality, Production, Design, Projects, and wider business stakeholders to ensure category strategies support project, product, and operational needs.
• Translate stakeholder requirements into practical sourcing decisions and actionable category plans.

5. Continuous Improvement & Data‑Driven Decision Making

• Drive continuous improvement by applying insights from internal cost, product, and sales data combined with external market intelligence.
• Use data analytics, cost modelling, and market analysis to shape sourcing decisions and enhance category performance.
• Identify opportunities for efficiency, cost reduction, and improved supplier competitiveness.

6. Policy, Process Excellence & Best Practice

• Promote best‑practice procurement methodologies, including structured market analysis, risk management, and supplier development.
• Contribute to the organisation’s procurement maturity by embedding consistent practices across categories.

7. Compliance, Sustainability & Ethical Procurement

• Ensure all category activities meet company policy, regulatory requirements, and industry standards.
• Champion sustainability and ethical sourcing, embedding ESG principles throughout the category lifecycle.

Required Skills & Experience

• Strong negotiation and contract management skills.
• Proven procurement experience within complex engineering or manufacturing environments.
• Ability to influence cross‑functional stakeholders and collaborate effectively.
• Experience developing category strategies and managing international suppliers.
• Strong analytical capability with a proactive mindset and high ownership.

Last application date: 03/05/2026 

At Wärtsilä we value, respect and embrace all our differences, and are committed to diversity, inclusion and equal employment opportunities; everyone can be their true self and succeed based on their job-relevant merits and abilities. 

Please note that according to Wärtsilä policy, voluntary consent for a security check may be required from candidates being considered for this position, depending on the applicable country.

This is Wärtsilä 

Wärtsilä is a global leader in innovative technologies and lifecycle solutions for the marine and energy markets. Our team of 18,300 professionals, in more than 230 locations in 77 countries, shape the decarbonisation transformation of our industries across the globe. Read more on www.wartsila.com.