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Danfoss

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Category Manager

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The Impact You'll Make

As our Category Manager, you’ll play a key role in driving strategic sourcing and supplier partnerships while ensuring cost competitiveness and sustainable procurement practices. This is an Individual Contributor (IC) role, where you will take end-to-end ownership of your category and directly influence sourcing outcomes.

Strengthening supplier relationships, enabling effective contract and price management, and delivering continuous cost improvements that support the organization’s operational and financial goals.

You’ll collaborate closely with cross-functional teams including sourcing, quality, engineering, and supply chain, while taking ownership of supplier engagement, negotiation strategies, and supplier performance reviews, helping us build a more efficient, resilient, and sustainable supply base.

Location : Pimpri, Pune

What You’ll Be Doing

  • Lead price control and contract negotiations with suppliers to ensure cost competitiveness and deliver measurable value to the business.
  • Support internal stakeholders by driving cost optimization initiatives and generating negotiation strategies to achieve minimum 1% savings on annual spend.
  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams such as sourcing, quality, and supply chain to strengthen supplier relationship management (SRM) and execute regular Business Review Meetings (BRMs).
  • Use your expertise in supplier management and procurement processes to identify, evaluate, and onboard new suppliers, ensuring compliance with organizational requirements.
  • Continuously improve supplier performance by supporting ESG initiatives and quality management audits (ISO/IATF/OH&S/ESG) while promoting best practices across the supplier network.
  • Develop and execute category strategies for Iron and Aluminium Castings, identifying opportunities for cost optimization, risk mitigation, supplier consolidation, and supply continuity

What We're Looking For

  • Engineering Graduate in Mechanical / Production / Industrial Engineering.
  • Minimum 15+ years of experience, preferably in Hydraulics, Off-Highway, or Oil & Gas industry
  • Proven experience in procurement and supplier management, with strong capability in executing complex and high-stake negotiations.
  • Strong techno-commercial knowledge with the ability to evaluate supplier proposals, cost structures, and commercial agreements.
  • Systematic and analytical mindset with a focus on continuous improvement and growth.
  • Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams and suppliers.
  • Collaborative team player who can build strong internal and external partnerships.

What You'll Get from Us

  1. We promote from within and support your learning with mentoring, training, and access to global opportunities.
  2. You’ll have flexibility, autonomy, and support to do your best work while maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Your well-being matters to us.
  3. We strive to create an inclusive work environment where people of all backgrounds are respected, and valued for who they are.
  4. You’ll receive benefits like 13th salary, annual bonus, paid vacation, pension plans, personal insurance, and more. These vary by country and contract, but they’re worth asking about—we think they’re pretty great.

Ready to Make a Difference?

If this role excites you, we’d love to hear from you! Apply now to start the conversation and learn more about where your career can go with us.

Our Commitment to Transparency

Salary ranges listed reflect only primary location and currency. For local salary ranges and specific benefits in your preferred hiring location, please ask your Talent Acquisition representative for more information.

The actual salary offer will carefully consider a wide range of factors, including your skills, qualifications, experience, and location. Any benefits listed do not promise or guarantee any particular benefit or specific action. They may depend on country or contract specifics and are subject to change at any time without prior notice.

Want to know more? Please visit our FAQ Page.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or other protected category.

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