Category Manager

Job Summary

Department: Corporate Supply Chain
Reports to: Senior Manager, Global Category Management
Location: Europe (Smart Working Enabled / Hybrid)

ATS Corporation | Overview

ATS Corporation is an industry-leading automation solutions and technology provider to many of the world's most successful companies. Using extensive knowledge and global capabilities in custom and repeat automation, automation products and value-added solutions including pre-automation and after-sales services, ATS businesses address the sophisticated manufacturing automation and service needs of multinational customers in markets such as life sciences, transportation, food & beverage, consumer products, and energy. With a dynamic culture that is bolstered by driven employees and the ATS Business Model (ABM), ATS companies are united by a shared purpose of creating solutions that positively impact lives around the world. Founded in 1978, ATS employs over 7,500 people at more than 65 manufacturing facilities and over 85 offices in North America, Europe, Southeast Asia and Oceania. The Company's common shares are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange and the NYSE under the symbol ‘ATS’.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Sourcing: Develop, implement, and govern comprehensive category procurement strategies (vision, goals, actions) to support long-term business growth.
• Spend & Cost Management: Own the total global spend for the assigned material categories, utilizing data analysis and historical benchmarking to achieve tangible savings.
• Supplier Relationship Management (SRM): Evaluate, approve, and manage relationships with global vendors, ensuring alignment with ATS objectives and ethical standards.
• Commercial Negotiations: Lead the negotiation of framework agreements, including pricing, commercial terms, discounts, and rebates applicable across multiple complex projects.
• Cross-Divisional Collaboration: Partner closely with ATS divisions globally to align and define customized category strategies that meet specific divisional business needs.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Take a leading role in cost-saving workshops and actively contribute to technical VAVE (Value Analysis/Value Engineering) initiatives in collaboration with multidisciplinary teams.
• Problem Solving: Act as the primary single point of contact for complex or unusual supply chain issues, establishing clear ownership and resolution.

Qualifications & Skills

• Education: University degree in Procurement, Business Management, Engineering, or an equivalent discipline.
• Experience: Minimum of 5–8 years of strategic sourcing and project management experience, ideally within a custom manufacturing or industrial environment.
• Data & Analytics: Advanced capability to manage, analyze, and extract insights from large datasets derived from ERP systems (excellent Excel skills required).
• Soft Skills: Exceptional negotiation, communication, and influencing skills across all organizational levels, with a proven ability to thrive in multidisciplinary teams.