Category specialist – Sales Equipment specialist

Sulzer · Barcelona

Sulzer is a leading engineering company with a proud heritage of innovation. Join our global team to grow your expertise and develop innovative solutions that enable a prosperous and more sustainable society.

About the role

We are looking for a Category Specialist, Sales Equipment to establish and develop a coordinated global procurement approach for equipment supplied alongside our core products. Based in Barcelona or Madrid, you will support both our Water and Industry businesses, initially focusing on opportunities within Water.
This newly created position combines strategic category management with hands-on procurement execution. You will analyze global purchasing data, identify sourcing synergies, consolidate suppliers, negotiate improved commercial conditions, and define frameworks that local procurement teams and sales entities can use effectively.
You will have the opportunity to shape an evolving global category, work with stakeholders across regions and functions, and make a measurable contribution to cost optimization, supplier performance, standardization, and sales execution.

What you will do:

Analyze purchasing data to understand what is being purchased, by whom, from which suppliers, and in which markets.
Develop and implement a global category strategy for sales equipment across the Water and Industry businesses.
Identify opportunities for supplier consolidation, product standardization, cost reduction, and improved commercial conditions.
Lead sourcing initiatives, supplier selection, negotiations, and contract execution.
Establish procurement frameworks that support sales entities and local procurement teams.
Evaluate regional and global sourcing opportunities while considering local requirements, logistics, risk, and total cost.
Build strong relationships with suppliers and monitor performance through relevant KPIs and regular business reviews.
Review the existing supplier base based on capability, competitiveness, quality, sustainability, and long-term strategic fit.
Conduct supplier qualification and risk assessments in line with company standards.
Collaborate with local procurement teams to ensure that global strategies can be executed effectively in individual markets.
Support the standardization of sales equipment and customer-specific components across business units and regions.
Partner with Sales, Project Management, Quality, Engineering, and other business stakeholders to understand purchasing requirements.
Support purchase-order execution for sales teams and legal entities as the category’s operating model develops.
Contribute to new product introduction and product development projects from a procurement perspective.
Maintain accurate procurement documentation and ensure compliance with applicable policies and procedures.
Promote continuous improvement, safe working practices, employee wellbeing, and sustainability.

What you need to succeed:

Required:

A bachelor’s or master’s degree in Business Administration, Supply Chain Management, Engineering, or a related discipline, or equivalent professional experience.
Approximately five years of relevant experience in strategic procurement, sourcing, category management, or a comparable purchasing role.
Experience managing sourcing projects, supplier relationships, commercial negotiations, and contracts.
Exposure to industrial equipment, technical products, tools, catalog-based products, or related categories.
Strong analytical skills and the ability to translate purchasing data into sourcing strategies and business opportunities.
Demonstrated ability to identify cost drivers and deliver measurable savings or cost avoidance.
Strong negotiation, communication, and stakeholder-management skills.
Ability to work across procurement, sales, technical teams, and business stakeholders in an international environment.
A proactive, structured, and results-oriented approach to managing multiple priorities.
Confidence working independently while collaborating with local and global teams.
Excellent proficiency in English.
Strong digital literacy and confidence using Microsoft Excel.
An understanding of ERP concepts and the ability to learn new systems quickly.

Preferred:

Experience in an industrial-equipment, engineering, manufacturing, or technical distribution environment.
Experience managing categories with both global strategy and local execution requirements.
Familiarity with retail, catalog-based purchasing, or standardized product portfolios.
Experience supporting Water, Industry, sales organizations, or project-based businesses.
Working knowledge of Spanish.
Experience using SAP, Salesforce, business intelligence tools, or comparable digital platforms.
Experience working in a complex global or matrixed organization.
Knowledge of supply-chain risk management, supplier qualification, and continuity planning.

What we offer you

A competitive salary and participation in a variable remuneration system based on personal and financial objectives, as applicable.
Meal vouchers, subject to local policy.
Access to a voluntary flexible compensation scheme, which may include health insurance, transport, or childcare options.
A supportive and collaborative working environment.
Opportunities to grow your career within a solid and well-established international engineering company.
The chance to join a dynamic organization focused on continuous transformation and improvement.
Office location in Barcelona or Madrid (Rivas)
Additional benefits may apply depending on the position and location.

Sulzer is an equal opportunity employer. We believe in the strength of a diverse workforce and are committed to offering an inclusive work environment.

We are proud to be recognized as a Top Employer 2026 in Brazil, Canada, China, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Mexico, Switzerland, South Africa, the UK and the USA.

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