Category Sourcing Manager Ocean Freight

Take global ownership of Philips' Ocean Freight category and help shape how our supply chain moves across regions. In this strategic role, you will combine category strategy with hands-on execution, lead major sourcing and negotiation programs, and influence senior stakeholders and regional colleagues across Europe, the Americas, and APAC.

You will work in a global category environment. The direct team is based in Europe, with category representatives in the Americas and APAC operating through a dotted-line structure. This role has no direct reports, but you will guide and coordinate colleagues across regions and engage a broad group of senior and cross-functional stakeholders.

• Develop and execute global ocean freight category strategies aligned with business and supply chain priorities.
• Lead major sourcing programs, commercial negotiations, and contract management activities with shipping lines, freight forwarders, and logistics providers.
• Manage strategic supplier relationships and governance programs to drive performance, innovation, and continuous improvement.
• Monitor market dynamics, capacity trends, geopolitical developments, and cost drivers to identify risks and opportunities.
• Deliver measurable value through cost optimization, process improvement, network efficiencies, and supplier performance management.
• Partner with cross-functional stakeholders on business-critical initiatives, including network optimization, sustainability programs, and New Product Introduction (NPI) projects.
• Support supply chain resilience through proactive risk management and strategic capacity planning.
• Act as a trusted advisor to senior leadership on logistics market developments and procurement strategy.

• You hold Bachelor's/ Master's Degree in Business, Procurement, Supply Chain Management or equivalent.
• You have strong ocean freight category and market knowledge, including an understanding of how the market operates.
• You have proven min 5 years of experience negotiating major commercial contracts.
• You can contribute original ideas to category strategy and translate strategy into effective execution.
• You communicate and present confidently to a broad range of senior stakeholders and can clearly defend your recommendations.
• You can influence and persuade stakeholders whose priorities may not always be aligned, including without direct authority.
• You work independently, define your own approach, drive activities forward, and require minimal supervision.
• You are ambitious, confident, and comfortable guiding colleagues across Europe, the Americas, and APAC through a dotted-line model.
• You bring international and multicultural experience and can work effectively in English as the common business language.
• You ideally bring game theory or Nego/negotiation-excellence knowledge, strong analytical and Excel capabilities, tender experience, logistics experience, or additional regional market exposure.