Category Manager
About the job
You don’t need an explanation that global sourcing in chemicals has become more complex. You’ve been managing volatility, compliance, and supplier risk for years. What makes this role different is the level of ownership.
As Category Manager at Holland Colours, you take full responsibility for one strategic raw material segment: pigments, carriers, or additives, representing €15-20 million in annual spend. Sounds modest? The stakes are high. This scope means moving procurement activities from a tactical approach to a more strategic focus, and a direct P&L impact. In return, you’ll be rewarded with a salary of up to €85k + 8% holiday allowance, profit share potential (equivalent to up to 1.5 months' salary), a year-end bonus of up to €1,399 gross and 24 vacation days + 6 ATV days.
Your challenge
Holland Colours is accelerating. As a leading specialist in color and additive masterbatch solutions, we have ambitious growth goals. Procurement plays an important role in enabling that momentum. Currently, the procurement function manages 14 categories across three major segments: pigments, carriers, and additives. The challenge?
Much of the supplier base is sole-sourced, meaning limited alternatives and heightened risk. Top-tier materials often have only two or three suppliers, while the long tail includes dozens of smaller vendors requiring attention. The goal is to flip this dynamic: expand options at the top to increase flexibility and consolidate the tail to reduce complexity. What will keep you busy:
- You develop and execute a concrete strategic category plan for assigned categories.
- You drive year-on-year reduction in total cost of ownership.
- You build and maintain strategic, long-term partnerships with key global suppliers.
- You identify, qualify, and onboard alternative suppliers.
- You act as the market intelligence hub for your category, staying ahead of geopolitical developments, commodity price trends, and regulatory changes.
- You consolidate global demand forecasts in collaboration with the four plants.
The Team
You will be one of three Category Managers reporting to the Head of Global Procurement. He runs bi-weekly one-on-ones to stay aligned, but you won't need a calendar invite to ask a question or test a strategy. The two category management colleagues are experienced professionals in their early 50s, each responsible for their own segment. You operate independently on your category plans and collaborate where it makes sense: negotiating with shared suppliers, aligning global forecasts, and sharing what works (and what doesn't) in stakeholder management. Internally, you also partner with Product Development, Color Design, Sales, and Finance, to align business requirements with procurement strategies.
The culture? Transparent and collaborative, built on trust, not titles. We may be publicly listed, but our culture is anything but corporate. We value open dialogue and collaboration across all levels. If you bring initiative and forward-thinking ideas, you’ll find autonomy and support waiting for you.
What you'll be doing
Your Talent
- You bring a proven track record in procurement within plastics or paints & coatings.
- You have hands-on experience in category management or strategic sourcing.
- You're naturally commercially minded: you follow market trends, geopolitical developments, and industry news because you know they impact your strategy.
- You know how to influence global suppliers and senior leadership.
- You think strategically but act pragmatically, balancing long-term vision with the reality of limited resources.
- You're fluent in English and comfortable working in an international environment; Dutch is a plus for daily interactions but not required.
Our Offer
As Category Manager at Holland Colours, you operate at N-2 level from the Board, giving your decisions direct and visible impact on the business. With all employees participating as shareholders, you personally benefit from the value you help create. Looking ahead, we're planning to expand into indirect procurement, and category managers are the natural candidates to lead those new initiatives. In return, you’ll be rewarded with excellent benefits:
- You receive a salary that reflects your experience, up to €85k.
- You share in the company’s success with a profit bonus of up to 1.5 months’ salary per year.
- You will also receive 8% holiday allowance and a year-end bonus of up to €1.399,-.
- You have 24 vacation days + 6 ATV days.
- Training budget for courses, events, and seminars to keep your professional skills up to date.
- You enjoy a solid pension scheme, a discount on a collective health insurance plan, and a sustainable employability budget (€555,- per year).
- You start with a one-year contract, with the prospect of a permanent position.
Celebrating Excellence: A World-Class Workplace
We've won the prestigious "World Class Workplace" award. This shows our commitment to fostering a supportive, inclusive, and dynamic work environment.
This award, was given to us by Effectory, an independent firm specializing in employee feedback research. This underscores the success of our efforts in creating a workplace where innovation thrives, and every team member feels valued and empowered.
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