Category Lead Buyer - Industry

About the Role

Are you an experienced procurement professional or mid-level manager ready to take on regional category leadership? Michelin is seeking a Category Lead Buyer – Industry to lead buyers, strengthen supplier partnerships, and deliver value across regional manufacturing operations.

You will turn category strategy into effective sourcing and contracts, balancing cost competitiveness, supply resilience, and sustainability while upholding ethical purchasing practices.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead buyers and guide buyers within your team category to deliver competitive, resilient, and sustainable purchasing performance.
• Partner with central manufacturing teams, factory stakeholders, and contract managers to align business requirements and deliver sourcing and contracting outcomes.
• Assess supply markets, risks, and opportunities, and contribute to category strategy and business planning over a five-year horizon.
• Translate global category strategies into practical regional sourcing plans, working with category managers and Michelin’s global purchasing network.
• Analyze and segment the supplier portfolio to identify suitable sourcing options and strengthen supplier coverage.
• Manage competitive tenders, including requests for information, quotations, and proposals, and negotiate commercial terms with suppliers.
• Use total cost of ownership analysis to develop sustainable short- and medium-term sourcing solutions that meet business needs.
• Develop contractual agreements and work with business contract managers on implementation, operational execution, and performance throughout the contract lifecycle.
• Identify opportunities for value creation and continuous improvement across the category.

Stakeholder and Supplier Partnerships

• Monitor category purchasing performance and lead actions to achieve key performance targets.
• Build strong relationships with internal stakeholders to align short- and long-term business needs.
• Develop supplier relationships, SRM, and implement improvement plans to strengthen supplier performance.
• Work with suppliers to identify and develop innovation opportunities that create business value.

Risk, Compliance and Process Excellence

• Anticipate supply and business continuity risks and implement appropriate mitigation plans.
• Support buyers in resolving supplier claims, non-conformities, and supply issues.
• Follow Michelin’s purchasing processes, ethical standards, compliance requirements, and corporate social responsibility principles.
• Ensure effective sourcing-to-contract execution, support efficient source-to-pay processes, and maintain accurate purchasing data within your category.

Who We Are Looking For: