Strategic Category Manager Packaging & Labeling (determined) - Tires

Company Description

Continental is a leading tire manufacturer and industry specialist. Founded in 1871, the company generated sales of €19.7 billion in 2025 and currently employs around 78,000 people in 54 countries and markets. 

Tire solutions from the Tires group sector make mobility safer, smarter, and more sustainable. Its premium portfolio encompasses car, truck, bus, two-wheel, and specialty tires as well as smart solutions and services for fleets and tire retailers. Continental has been delivering top performance for more than 150 years and is one of the world’s largest tire manufacturers. In fiscal year 2025, the Tires group sector generated sales of 13.8 billion euros. Continental's tire division employs more than 55,000 people worldwide and has 19 production and 16 development sites.  

Job Description

The Strategic Category Manager Packaging & Labeling is responsible for the worldwide strategic sourcing in the area of Packaging & Labeling and its subcategories for the Tire Group Sector and affiliated companies. This position is reporting to the Head of Global Category Packaging & Labeling and steers the implementation of the respective Category Strategy. 
The global approach creates an added value for all Business Areas in terms of commercial, logistical and even technical enhancements, i.e. sustainable total cost reduction, support quality initiatives for internal customers, prolongation of payment terms, warranty and liability optimization, ensuring the worldwide availability of Packaging & Labeling materials and services, data transparency and process improvements as well as strengthening of relationship to strategic Business Partners (internally and externally).

Main tasks are:

• Act as interface and represent the interests of Continental and the Purchasing Community towards all internal and external stakeholders (e.g. Engineering, Plants, Suppliers)
• Understands the business and purchasing strategy to derive actions for own managed category
• Guide, support and train local and central stakeholders to execute with the right tools, methods and process 
• Turning strategy into concrete actions and tangible goals as well as defining, monitoring and reporting relevant KPIs to track progress where applicable
• Autonomous preparation, conduction and finalization of international negotiations for own Category including supplier decisions compliant with the relevant internal policies (incl. audit-compliant documentation) with the target to achieve the defined goals and a special focus on highest value creation (e.g. with support of TCO analysis)
• Drive make or buy scenarios, optimizes bundling effects and initiates Value-Engineering projects
• Conduct complaint and claim negotiations with special strategic interest which can’t be performed independently by the local units
• Lead or participate in projects with relevance for owned category or within the purchasing organization

Qualifications

• Academic degree in economics, engineering or equivalent qualification
• Proper experience of MS Office 365 programs as well as other relevant tools
• Fluent skills in English language, written and oral, further language skills are beneficial (i.e. German)
• Relevant professional experience in Purchasing (or similar functions) in an international environment
• Advanced experience in project management and working in projects with an international scope / environment
• Good experience in conducting negotiations with a global responsibility
• High degree of international and intercultural competency, as well as several years of work experience in an international environment required
• Working experience in negotiating and operating with different cultures and international teams (e.g. on purchasing issues)
• previous leadership experience

Additional Information

• 13th salary;
• Performance bonus;
• Christmas & Easter bonus;
• Seniority bonus;
• Flexible working time;
• Competitive salaries & benefits;
• Health & wellness (Life Assurance, Private Health and Dental Insurance, Sport activities, Canteen, 24/7 Helpline with Psychologists etc.);
• Different discounts (tires, glasses, medical, shopping, etc.);
• Relocation bonus for non-Timisoara Residents;
• Professional development opportunities (in Technical and Leadership Areas);
• International Work Environment & Traveling Opportunities.

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