Senior Category Manager

Who is Tennant?

Tennant Company is a global leader in the field of professional cleaning equipment and solutions.

For over 150 years, we have stood out for innovation and our commitment to developing sustainable technologies designed to meet our customers’ needs.

Our goal is to actively contribute to a cleaner, safer, and healthier world through eco-friendly solutions that improve quality of life.

With manufacturing plants, operational offices, and sales and service networks worldwide, joining Tennant means embarking on a career path full of opportunities — both locally and internationally.

Role overview:

We are looking for a Senior Category Manager who is responsible for defining and executing category strategies that deliver cost savings, process efficiencies, and value creation across global and regional operations. This role partners with key stakeholders, including R&D, Finance, Legal, and Global Category Leaders, to align sourcing solutions with business objectives. Core responsibilities include managing regional category spend, driving supplier relationships, negotiating complex contracts, and ensuring compliance with legal and technical standards. The position also leads strategic sourcing initiatives, supports procurement transformation, and identifies opportunities through innovation and continuous improvement.

Responsabilities:

• Build strong business partnerships with global and regional stakeholders to understand needs, influence decisions and deliver tailored, value-driven sourcing solutions.
• Develop and implement category strategy with global and regional stakeholders such as R&D, Finance, Legal, and the Global Category leaders.
• Identify and drive cost reduction, process efficiency and value creation initiatives
• Own the regional category spend and deliver financial targets (savings, rebates, payment terms etc.), value creation, and risk-mitigation targets with full accountability.
• Drive appropriate relationships with category suppliers, with a principal objective of achieving the optimal solution and cost of ownership that meets the business’ goals supported by a culture of continuous improvement with performance benchmarks in use.
• Analysis and management of supplier data to support the identification and qualification of new suppliers aligned with the global strategy, assisting in their onboarding process and ensuring compliance with legal, quality, and technical requirements.
• Execute strategic sourcing and supplier management initiatives, including supplier selection, negotiation, contracting, risk mitigation and performance optimization.
• Handle contracting processes (NDA, frame agreements, general terms) in line with global roles.
• Support procurement transformation and change management initiatives, supporting the adoption of new tools, governance frameworks and digital solutions.
• Identify value creation opportunities through alternative raw materials, new technologies, or process improvements.
• support global sourcing initiatives that meet operational and strategic goals

Background and skills:

• Academic degree in a relevant field (business and/or engineering).
• Demonstrated ability to work in cross-functional teams and drive cost-saving initiatives, achieving measurable improvements in efficiency and profitability
• Strong negotiation skills and experience in managing complex contract negotiations
• Project management skills to support procurement initiatives
• At least 7 years of experience in sourcing/procurement, gained in internationally structured environments.
• Proven experience in sourcing with a solid understanding of technical production processes within a global ecosystem
• Ability to work independently and in intercultural teams, with a problem-solving attitude, flexibility, and strong goal orientation.
• Excellent in both written and spoken English.