Category Team Leader

Procurement Category Team Leader for Segment C (Mechanical) - Lead Strategic Procurement in a major production ramp up.

In a world where technological superiority and supply chain resilience are mission-critical, your leadership can make the difference. As our company embarked on a major production ramp-up—delivering cutting-edge solutions with more than half sourced from our global supplier network—we are looking for a bold, collaborative and strategic Procurement Category Team Leader to drive results and shape the supply chain of tomorrow.

This is more than a role—it’s a chance to be a key player in a high-growth environment where innovation, agility, and excellence are non-negotiable. You’ll lead a talented team, build powerful supplier partnerships, and play a central role in delivering world-class technology at scale. If you’re passionate about driving performance, building resilient supply strategies, and thriving in a dynamic environment, this is your opportunity to lead from the front.

About your future job

The Thales Nederland Procurement team is part of the Thales Group global Procurement organization. The procurement of products and services within Thales Nederland and the Thales Group represents nearly 50% of the total turnover. The competitiveness and the supplier’s operational performance, and the quality of the interface between Thales and its suppliers, are key factors of competitiveness.

The Category Team Leader (CTL) is the line manager for Category Managers and Category Buyers that are based in the Netherlands (Hengelo, Eindhoven and Huizen). The Category Team Leader (location Hengelo) may furthermore be responsible for one or more procurement categories within the Mechanical Segment.

The Category Team Leader is:

• Accountable for end to end performance of the acquisition process (Time, Quality, Subcontract or Frame Agreement Management, ..).
• Expected to ensure the collaborative implementation of agreed category strategies that he/she oversees in the Region with a focus on continuous improvement of relevant categories.
• Accountable for supplier selection and relationship management, via the Category Manager.
• Accountable for strategic supplier performance including quality, cost, delivery, contractual performance and innovation for all Business Lines in his/her Region.
• Accountable for ensuring the most up-to-date knowledge of his/her supplier market, including innovations and key new emerging technologies relevant for his/her Region.
• Accountable for motivating and leading the team and ensuring collective and individual efficiency, forming and enhancing team dynamic to meet the challenges of our business.

The role is Regionally based but you represent relevant categories on behalf of the Segment Director and as such requires an excellent view of the organization as well as a strong ability to interact with many stakeholders while ensuring the implementation of agreed Global category strategies.

This role is a challenging one, in a time where Thales Nederland is scaling up its production significantly, the suppliers need to be ready for this and the strategies need further focus to create a smooth supply chain. The mechanical team has several key products to buy and key suppliers to manage.

Your main tasks are:

• Continue to build a high performing team
• Ensure the required strategies and contracts are in place for ramp up of production
• Ensure the collaborative implementation of agreed category strategies with a focus on continuous improvement of relevant categories

Why you'd be a good match

We are in search for a colleague who has:

• a degree in International business, Procurement, Supply Chain or Engineering with professional and intellectual capacities at academic level
• 7 – 10+ years’ experience in Procurement, preferably in the mechanical field
• experience in interactions with senior management and working in cross functional teams in a Procurement, Bids and/or Project role.
• excellent leadership and management skills with the ability to influence and deliver business results.
• an open mind (listen, share ideas etc.) and is able to bring added value and innovation
• strong contractual skills and extensive experience in complex negotiations including import/export considerations

What's in it for you

• A challenging job in a great team within our high-tech, innovative work environment. Includes the freedom for initiative and good ideas.
• Room for personal and professional growth within our organization, for example in regards to technical, commercial or international skills.
• Valuable international collaboration with coworkers from 68 different countries around the globe.
• A comfortable work space in a modern environment, with a focus on flexibility and the right work life balance.
• You can usually work where and when you want to be able to do your work as well and efficiently as possible. Within Thales we implement hybrid working, where you can, for example, work from home two days a week if your role allows it.
• A good salary, fitting travel allowance, and the ability to personalize your employment conditions: for instance, you can trade days off for internet costs, our bicycle plan, company fitness and relocation costs.
• 40 days off per year (PTO). Yes, really.

LR 09 VKG 70

Reach out for more information to our Talent Acquisition Partner Gerlof Jan Heck, via gerlofjan.heck@nl.thalesgroup.com.

Bij Thales krijg ik alle kansen en de ruimte om mijzelf verder te ontwikkelen, en dat als onderdeel van allerlei gave processen en projecten binnen de organisatie!
Anoek Trainee

Wat het voor mij aantrekkelijk maakt om hier te werken, is de diversiteit in opdrachten en het werken in verschillende teams met diverse disciplines. Zo blijf je jezelf ontwikkelen binnen het cyberdomein.
Maurits Cyber Engineer

Over thales

We vinden dat je baan de juiste work/life balance moet ondersteunen en het platform is om jóuw ambities waar te maken. Dat betekent dat gelijke kansen, inclusiviteit en een informele cultuur een essentieel onderdeel uitmaken van ons succes. Maar ook dat jouw gezondheid en geluk voor ons erg belangrijk zijn! Daarom bieden we je de flexibiliteit om te doen wat voor jóu belangrijk is; of dat nu parttime werken is, of werken vanuit huis, of de mogelijkheid om flexibel te zijn in je start- en eindtijden, we denken met je mee.

Security Requirements

In lijn met de basisbeveiligingsvereisten van Thales vragen wij kandidaten mogelijk om bewijs omtrent identiteit, werkvergunning en arbeids- plus opleidingsgeschiedenis. Sommige vacatures vereisen ook een security clearance die verdere informatie vereist. Voor meer informatie over wat er nodig is voor bepaalde security clearance, raadpleeg dan de General Intelligence and Security Service.