Global Category Manager Electronics (m/w/d)

Location: 

Haag, St. Gallen, CH

Employment Type:  Permanent

About VAT Group

At VAT, we change the world with vacuum solutions. As the world-s leading supplier of high-performance vacuum valves, we have been driving innovation for more than 60 years. With over 3,200 employees worldwide, we operate from our headquarters in Haag, Switzerland, with manufacturing sites in Switzerland, Malaysia and Romania, as well as sales and service hubs around the world. We guided by our passions integrity, teamwork, customer centricity, and innovation - always working together as #oneVAT.

Joining us means becoming part of a passionate, international team where your voice is heard, your ideas matter, and your career growth is supported.

The Role:

In this global role, you will shape the sourcing strategy for our electronics and electro-mechanical assemblies used in controllers and actuators. You work closely with Engineering, Business Units and Operations to ensure a reliable, competitive and future-ready supply base.
 

Your Responsabilities:

• Lead the global category for electronics and electro-mechanical assemblies.
• Drive Direct Material performance in line with Quality, Cost and Delivery targets.
• Develop and roll out category sourcing strategies using defined tools and standards.
• Build and manage strategic supplier partnerships across Switzerland, Malaysia and Romania.
• Support cost, risk and supply base optimization initiatives.
• Track and share market trends, risks and opportunities in your category.
• Partner with Engineering and BU teams on sourcing activities throughout the PDP process.
• Foster collaboration and act as a positive change driver in a global environment.

Your Profile:

• Bachelor-s or Master-s degree in Business, Economics, Engineering or a similar field
• Further training/certifications in Procurement or Supply Chain (e.g., CAS Procurement, CIPS, APICS) are a plus
• Experience in strategic sourcing or category management, ideally in electronics; equivalent paths welcome
• Knowledge of electronics and electro-mechanical components and production processes
• Strong negotiation, stakeholder engagement and supplier management skills
• Comfortable in global, diverse and cross-functional environments
• Analytical mindset with strong prioritization and execution skills
• Fluent in English; German is an advantage
• Experience with Power BI or similar tools is a plus

Our commitment to inclusion, fairness and equal opportunities

We believe in meaningful careers, continuous learning, and equal opportunities for everyone to drive our innovation and success. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and are dedicated to fostering an inclusive and respectful workplace. If you have concerns, our compliance channel is available at our website. All reports are handled with strict confidentiality and in accordance with our Code of Conduct.