Global Category Leader – Customer Equipment (Chemicals)

Solenis is a leading global producer of specialty chemicals focused on delivering sustainable solutions for water-intensive industries, including consumer, industrial, institutional, food and beverage, and pool and spa water markets. Owned by Platinum Equity, the company’s product portfolio includes a broad array of water treatment chemistries, process aids, functional additives, and cleaners and disinfectants, as well as state-of-the-art monitoring and control systems. These technologies are used by customers to improve operational efficiencies, enhance product quality, protect plant assets, minimize environmental impact, and create cleaner and safer environments. Headquartered in Wilmington, Delaware, the company has 69 manufacturing facilities strategically located around the globe and employs a team of over 16,100 professionals in 130 countries across six continents. Solenis is a 2025 US Best Managed Company, recognized five years in a row. Location: home-based in EMEA region (Czech Republic, Norway, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, UK). All candidates must be eligible to work in Europe. Please be aware that we do not offer a relocation package if you are considering relocating. We do not provide visa support for this role. We are seeking a highly experienced and strategic Global Category Leader – Customer Equipment to lead and optimize our global equipment category for customer installations and service delivery. This role will be instrumental in shaping and executing category strategy, driving value creation, and enabling competitive advantage across our global footprint. The ideal candidate will bring strong leadership, deep knowledge of procurement in a customer-facing industrial context, and a proven track record in managing complex categories across geographies. Key Responsibilities Category Strategy & Leadership Develop and implement a comprehensive global category strategy for customer equipment that aligns with corporate goals and supports growth. Lead category strategy development, including segmentation, total cost of ownership (TCO) analysis, market intelligence, and supplier landscape assessment. Establish and drive measurable category KPIs, ensuring performance tracking and continuous improvement. Supplier Management & Commercial Excellence Build and maintain strategic partnerships with key global suppliers of customer equipment. Drive robust commercial negotiations, develop long-term agreements, and ensure contractual compliance and performance. Identify and qualify new suppliers based on safety standards, quality, capability, and innovation. Cross-Functional Collaboration Partner closely with Engineering & Technical Services, Sales, Operations, Quality, and Regulatory teams to ensure equipment solutions meet customer requirements and internal standards. Act as the primary interface between Procurement and internal stakeholders for category requirements, project support, and execution. Global Sourcing Execution Lead global sourcing initiatives, including RFPs, RFQs, bid analysis, and award recommendations. Implement category sourcing plans that balance global leverage with local execution where necessary. Support business units in resolving supply, delivery, and quality issues related to equipment. Risk & Compliance Manage supply risk through diversification, contingency planning, and robust supplier performance metrics. Ensure supplier and equipment compliance with relevant industry standards, safety regulations, and internal policies. Promote and embed sustainability criteria in sourcing decisions. Cost Savings & Value Creation Deliver measurable cost savings and value capture through strategic sourcing, standardization, and process improvements. Benchmark category spend and pricing to drive best-in-class commercial outcomes. Leadership & Development Lead, mentor, and develop regional category leads and sourcing professionals. Champion a high-performance culture focused on collaboration, accountability, and results. Qualifications Education & Experience Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Supply Chain, Business, or related discipline; MBA or advanced degree preferred. 10+ years of procurement/sourcing experience, with at least 5 years in global or regional category leadership roles. Experience in the chemicals, industrial equipment, or related technical industries. Proven success in strategic sourcing, supplier development, and complex negotiations. Skills & Competencies Strong commercial acumen and strategic thinking. Excellent negotiation and contract management skills. Superior communication and stakeholder management abilities. Demonstrated ability to operate effectively in a matrixed global organization. Data-driven mindset with capability in analytics, forecasting, and spend management tools. Flexibility to travel globally as needed. Why Our Team Enjoys Working Here: Work in a close-knit team of enthusiastic professionals. Welcoming and inclusive environment. Flexible working model. We understand that not every candidate will possess every desired qualification listed above. If your experience varies from our outlined requirements, yet you believe you can bring value to the role, we encourage you to apply and share your unique perspective with us. We recognize that our people are our greatest asset. We offer attractive compensation, comprehensive benefits, and abundant opportunities for professional growth and development. If you're passionate about working for a world-class company and enjoy tackling complex challenges, we invite you to consider joining our team. Solenis is committed to fostering an inclusive workplace and is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Affirmative Action Employer. We value diversity and do not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or disability status. #LI-AR1 At Solenis, we understand that our greatest asset is our people. That is why we offer competitive compensation; comprehensive benefits, including medical, dental and vision insurance and a 401(k) plan; and numerous opportunities for professional growth and development. So, if you are interested in working for a world-class company and enjoy solving complex challenges, whether in the lab or in the field, consider joining our team. Solenis is proud to be an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability. Not seeing a role that best fits your career goals? Introduce yourself to our Talent Acquisition team with a brief note on how you believe you can best apply your skills and bring value to Solenis. Solenis is a leading global provider of water and hygiene solutions. The company’s product portfolio includes a broad array of water treatment chemistries, process aids, functional additives, cleaners, disinfectants, and state-of-the-art monitoring, control and delivery systems. These technologies are used by customers to improve operational efficiencies, enhance product quality, protect plant assets, minimize environmental impact, and create cleaner and safer environments. Headquartered in Wilmington, Delaware, the company has 78 manufacturing facilities strategically located around the globe and employs a team of over ~23000 professionals in >160 countries across six continents. Solenis is a 2025 Best Managed Company Gold Standard honoree. For additional information about Solenis, please visit www.solenis.com or follow us on social media.