Category Buyer - Metalworking

As a Category Buyer, you will be a key member of the European Procurement organization, ensuring the best Quality, Cost, and Delivery (QCD) conditions for a portfolio of suppliers supporting our European manufacturing sites.

You will manage a defined portfolio within the metalworking category and play a critical role in driving supplier performance, competitiveness, and long‑term value for Schneider Electric.

Your Responsibilities

Drive Sourcing Excellence

• Implement supplier terms & conditions aligned with the Category Strategy.
• Achieve yearly targets in productivity, supplier quality & delivery performance, sustainability, and contract coverage.
• Manage operational relationships with suppliers and maintain healthy, sustainable competition within the panel.

Lead Negotiations & Supplier Management

• Manage the full RFQ process and ensure offer selection consistent with category strategy.
• Lead negotiations with suppliers and support concentration plans while mitigating supply and business continuity risks.
• Serve as the first escalation point for supplier crisis management.

Support Technical & Productivity Improvements

• Identify and promote technical productivity opportunities (QVE, Change of Supplier, cost optimizations).
• Influence stakeholders such as Business Units, Productivity Leaders, and suppliers to implement improvement initiatives.

Global Contribution (when acting as SSL)

• Drive global negotiations, should-cost analysis, and lean initiatives for designated suppliers.
• Contribute to procurement tools and databases by providing accurate and timely information to Category Managers and Global Procurement Services.

What You Bring

• Strong negotiation capabilities
• Solid procurement expertise (supplier management, category strategy, procurement tools)
• Knowledge of legal aspects, risk management, and contract implementation
• Experience with cost & value analysis and Total Cost of Ownership
• Understanding of quality and supply chain processes
• Project management experience
• High digital fluency and strong IT tool proficiency
• Ability to influence and convince at all levels
• Agile and creative problem‑solving skills
• Fluency in English
• Willingness to travel
• Strong leadership and accountability
• Excellent communication skills, including with senior stakeholders
• Cross‑cultural awareness and ability to work effectively in international environments
• Confidence in remote collaboration and virtual teamwork

What we offer

• Yearly bonus 
• Medicover White Spring medical package 
• Life & accident insurance 
• Cafeteria allowance 
• Home Office allowances 
• Hybrid and flexible working model 
• Voluntary health & pension fund contribution 
• Global Family Leave Package to support work-life balance 
• WESOP (World Employee Share Ownership Plan), our unique program with the opportunity to become a shareholder in the company 
• Working at the company that ranked #1 in TIME World's Most Sustainable Companies in 2024 
• International, diverse environment and a company culture that encourages raising questions and ideas - to make an impact

You must submit an online application to be considered for any position with us. This position will be posted until filled.

Let us learn about you! Apply today.

At Schneider, we believe that every employee is a talent who deserves equal opportunities. This means you matter. Every individual needs to feel valued, supported, and treated fairly to do their best work.

Our Total Rewards is our way of saying: “We see you. We value you”. It’s more than just pay and benefits- it’s a meaningful investment in you. It is designed for you to perform, grow, feel safe, and elevate your potential to shine as an impact maker.

Schneider Electric is there when it matters most to you

Our Total Rewards package outlines all the benefits and support you’ll enjoy as part of the Schneider Electric team:

Care for Yourself and Your Family. We ensure you feel secure with benefits that help you and your family thrive: health and life insurance, paid time off, parental and care leave, flexible work options, support for chronic conditions, and confidential counseling for life’s challenges.

Invest and Plan Your Future. We help you plan and invest for the future with competitive pay and programs: your base salary, short-term incentives or sales incentives, opportunities to own company shares, and pension saving matching contribution.

Grow Your Skills and Career. We commit to helping you grow with ongoing performance and development conversations, Senior Talent Program, global career opportunities, access to our Schneider Career Hub for new positions, projects, and mentors, and learning platforms like Coursera to equip you with the skills for today and tomorrow.

Team Up in the Workplace. We encourage teaming up through project opportunities on the Schneider Career Hub, smart ways to collaborate, celebrating contributions via a recognition program, sharing your voice in our engagement survey, and fostering an inclusive, caring workplace.

Support Your Community. We make a difference in your community with volunteer leave, programs through the Schneider Electric Foundation, and initiatives that support youth education.

Looking to make an IMPACT with your career?

When you are thinking about joining a new team, culture matters. At Schneider Electric, our values and behaviors are the foundation for creating a great culture to support business success. We believe that our  IMPACT values – Inclusion, Mastery, Purpose, Action, Curiosity, Teamwork – starts with us.

IMPACT is also your invitation to join Schneider Electric where you can contribute to turning sustainability ambition into actions, no matter what role you play. It is a call to connect your career with the ambition of achieving a more resilient, efficient, and sustainable world.

We are looking for IMPACT Makers; exceptional people who turn sustainability ambitions into actions at the intersection of automation, electrification, and digitization. We celebrate IMPACT Makers and believe everyone has the potential to be one.

Become an IMPACT Maker with Schneider Electric – apply today!

€40 billion global revenue
+9% organic growth
150 000+ employees in 100+ countries

You must submit an online application to be considered for any position with us. This position will be posted until filled.

Schneider Electric aspires to be the most inclusive and caring company in the world, by providing equitable opportunities to everyone, everywhere, and ensuring all employees feel uniquely valued and safe to contribute their best. We mirror the diversity of the communities in which we operate, and ‘inclusion’ is one of our core values. We believe our differences make us stronger as a company and as individuals and we are committed to championing inclusivity in everything we do.

At Schneider Electric, we uphold the highest standards of ethics and compliance, and we believe that trust is a foundational value. Our Trust Charter is our Code of Conduct and demonstrates our commitment to ethics, safety, sustainability, quality and cybersecurity, underpinning every aspect of our business and our willingness to behave and respond respectfully and in good faith to all our stakeholders. You can find out more about our Trust Charter here

Schneider Electric is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is our policy to provide equal employment and advancement opportunities in the areas of recruiting, hiring, training, transferring, and promoting all qualified individuals regardless of race, religion, color, gender, disability, national origin, ancestry, age, military status, sexual orientation, marital status, or any other legally protected characteristic or conduct.