Driven by the passion to improve quality of people’s lives, WS Audiology continues to grow as market leader in the hearing aid industry. With our commitment to increase penetration in an underserved hearing care market, we want to accelerate our business transformation in order to reach more people, more effectively.

This Senior Category Specialist / Category Lead is responsible for developing the overall strategy for purchasing within a specific product category, as well as researching new product options to boost sales and meet targets. They provide insights and proposals by analyzing product lifecycles and monitoring relevant market trends.

This role involves managing negotiation and cost-saving projects for Zinc Air batteries, outsourcing (EMS) accessories, with an annual expenditure of approximately EUR 30 million. This global position reports directly to the Category Manager of Power Supply and Accessories.

What you will do

• Select vendors and technologies optimally, aligning with "time to market" expectations, category sourcing strategies, and cost targets. Serve as the liaison between Sourcing, R&D, and Engineering, ensuring visibility and alignment regarding time to market, target costs, the introduction of new platforms and technologies, supplier selection, and risk mitigation from NPI to launch.
• Engage effectively with a complex array of stakeholders, including R&D, Advanced Engineering, Manufacturing, and other global Sourcing leaders.
• Lead discussions and negotiations with multiple large international suppliers.
• Identify alternative partners or vendors to optimize costs and reduce risks.
• Oversee risk mitigation activities, creating matrices and reports as needed.
• Maintain close interaction with business partners to ensure category-related needs are addressed.
• Collaborate internally to drive and develop key performance measures/metrics for strategic suppliers and monitor supplier performance against these expectations to ensure continuous supplier improvement.
• Ensure commercial alignment with organizational goals, including payment terms, shipping terms, and liability.

What you bring

Experience

• Technical and cost driver knowledge in direct materials and components, if possible, in electronics
• Program and process development to integrate cost savings strategy into product development context
• Over 3 years’ experience in a Procurement with negotiation experience
• Since many suppliers are based in North Asia, the ability to speak mandarin is a preference for this role
• Experience working and managing external vendors to deliver results within designated timelines
• Experience handling internal and external stakeholders
• Knowledge of cost modelling and strategic sourcing process

Personal competencies

• Learning Agility - demonstrates a swift understanding of the core aspects in unfamiliar situations and seeks to assimilate new facts, data, and information
• Manage complexity - asks the right questions to accurately analyze situations; acquires data from diverse sources when solving problems; uncovers root causes to difficult problems
• Drive results - has a strong bottom-line orientation; persists in accomplishing objectives despite obstacles and setbacks; has a track record of exceeding goals successfully
• Collaborates - builds partnerships and works collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives
• Excellent communication skills both written and verbal – ability to clearly demonstrate and explain technical opportunities

Who we are

At WS Audiology, we provide innovative hearing aids and hearing health services.

Together with our 12,000 colleagues in 130 countries, we invite you to help unlock human potential by bringing back hearing for millions of people around the world.

With us, you will become part of a truly global company where we care for one another, welcome diversity and celebrate our successes.

Sounds wonderful? We can't wait to hear from you.

WS Audiology is an equal-opportunity employer and committed to creating an inclusive employee experience for all and we firmly believe that our work is at its best when everyone feels free to be their most authentic self.