Senior Category Manager

Location: Vaesteras, Vastmanland County, Sweden Job ID: R0140784 Date Posted: 2026-08-27 Company Name: HITACHI ENERGY SWEDEN AB Profession (Job Category): Customer Service & Contact Center Operations Job Schedule: Full time Remote: No Job Description: Shape the future of the energy transition with Hitachi Energy. HVDC is a business unit within Hitachi Energy that develops, manufactures, and delivers world-leading High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) transmission systems. Our technology enables countries, industries, and communities to move more sustainable energy across long distances, integrate renewable generation, and strengthen power systems worldwide. To support our continued growth, we are looking for a highly driven and commercially minded strategic Category Manager for critical high-voltage equipment, to join our global Supply Chain Management team. This is a unique opportunity for a professional who combines strong business acumen, technical curiosity, market knowledge, and stakeholder engagement capabilities. In this role, you will own and develop strategic supply categories that are critical to the successful delivery of some of the world's most complex power transmission projects. You will work at the intersection of technology, commercial strategy, sales, engineering, supplier management, and project execution, creating direct impact on business growth, competitiveness, and operational performance. You will become part of a truly international environment, collaborating with colleagues and suppliers across multiple countries and functions while contributing to Hitachi Energy's mission of advancing a sustainable energy future for all. The Opportunity As Category Manager, you will lead the development and execution of category strategies for High Voltage Breakers supporting HVDC projects worldwide. The role offers a unique combination of strategic sourcing, market engagement, supplier relationship management, tender support, technology understanding, and business development. Working at the interface between Supply Chain, Sales, Engineering, Project Execution, and Technology Development, you will help ensure that category strategies support both immediate project needs and long-term business objectives. You will be the key driver of the category roadmap, translating market intelligence, supplier capabilities, and business requirements into actionable strategies that strengthen competitiveness, ensure supply security, and support business growth. The role requires strong communication, stakeholder management, and influencing skills to align diverse stakeholders, manage complex business situations, and drive decisions that create measurable business value and outcomes. How You'll Make an Impact Develop and implement category strategies aligned with business growth, technology, roadmaps, and market developments. Develop and maintain a long-term category roadmap, ensuring alignment with business priorities and future market needs. Build and manage supplier relationships to secure capacity, innovation, quality, and competitiveness. Support commercial and tendering activities through market intelligence, cost analysis, supplier insights, and sourcing strategies. Drive market intelligence activities, including supplier analysis, technology trends, capacity outlook, competitive dynamics, and cost drivers to support strategic decision making. Drive early supplier involvement and leverage supplier expertise to support technology and business objectives. Lead supplier negotiations, contract management activities, and business reviews to maximize value creation. Identify and execute cost optimization, localization, and supply chain improvement initiatives. Monitor market trends, emerging technologies, competitive developments, and supply chain risks to support informed business decisions. Translate market trends, supplier capabilities, and business needs into actionable category plans. Influence and align stakeholders across Sales, Engineering, Project Management, Operations, and SCM to support business objectives and successful project execution. Lead and navigate complex business challenges while driving accountability, progress, and measurable business outcomes. Drive supplier performance improvement initiatives related to quality, delivery reliability, sustainability, innovation, and operational excellence. Contribute to successful HVDC project execution through effective supply chain planning and supplier engagement. Live Hitachi Energy's core values of safety, integrity, collaboration, and continuous improvement. Your Background Bachelor's degree in Engineering (preferable), Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, or related technical field. Several years of experience in one or more of the following areas are required: Supply chain management (Strategic sourcing, Category management) High-voltage products and systems (key differentiator) Technical sales Product management Bid and proposal management Understanding project environments, industrial markets, customer requirements, technology trends, and commercial drivers. Ability to influence stakeholders across functions and organizational levels. Experience managing supplier relationships, commercial negotiations, contracts, and business performance. Proven experience developing category strategies, roadmaps, and long-term supplier strategies. Strong market intelligence and analytical capabilities with the ability to convert insights into business actions and sourcing strategies. Excellent communication, stakeholder management, and influencing skills, with the ability to build alignment and drive decisions in a complex global environment. Ability to translate technical and business requirements into practical strategies and decisions. Analytical mindset combined with effective communication and stakeholder management skills. Experience working in an international and multicultural environment. SAP knowledge and proficiency in digital tools and data-driven decision making are advantages. Strong result-oriented with a demonstrated ability to create value, drive execution, and deliver measurable business outcomes. A collaborative, curious, and proactive attitude with a passion for continuous improvement and business growth. Fluency in English, written and spoken. More About Us ​ ​ We believe great work thrives in an environment where people feel genuinely supported and fairly rewarded. Our benefits are designed to create real value for every individual – fueling engagement, performance, and growth. By prioritizing wellbeing, we build a workplace where personal and organizational success grows together. ​ ​ Our benefits offering for our roles generally includes: ​ Collective agreement, occupational pension & possibility of salary exchange to pension (for ITP1 and ITP2) ​ Group life insurance and additional insurance. ​ Flex-time and shortening of working hours in time bank ​ Hybrid work & allowances for setting up a workplace at home (in agreement with line manager) ​ Health care and wellness allowance ​ Health insurance incl. dental, spectacles & contact lenses allowance (employee pay 140 sek/month via salary deduction) ​ Psychological support program ​ Supplementary compensation for parental leave ​ Various trainings and education supporting employee development ​ Internal career possibilities both within Sweden and globally ​ Employee Benefit Portal with thousands of discounts and perks ​ ​ The benefits listed above are an excerpt only and may vary depending on job grade, location and contract type. Eligibility is subject to local regulations. ​ ​ Applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis, so we encourage you to submit yours today. ​ Applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis, so we encourage you to submit your application already today. ​ Questions can be directed to Talent Acquisition Partner Nicole Bergma n , [email protected] Union representatives – Sveriges Ingenjörer: Nawzad Rashid , +46 (10) 7389148 ; Ledarna: Frank Hollstedt, +46 107 38 70 43; Unionen: Karin Ulvemark, +46 107 38 51 42​ Accessibility and reasonable accommodation Qualified individuals with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation if you are unable or limited in your ability to use or access the Hitachi Energy career site as a result of your disability. You may request reasonable accommodations by completing a general inquiry form on our website. Please include your contact information and specific details about your required accommodation to support you during the job application process. This is solely for job seekers with disabilities requiring accessibility assistance or an accommodation in the job application process. Messages left for other purposes will not receive a response. Use of Al and automated tools in recruitment As part of our recruitment process, Hitachi Energy uses digital and automated tools, including Al-supported solutions, to assist with activities such as application screening, job matching, and interview scheduling. These tools are designed to support our recruiters and do not replace human decision-making. Candidate data is processed in accordance with applicable data protection and employment laws as well as Hitachi's Global Data Privacy Notice. Background Screening and Security Checks As part of the hiring process, Hitachi Energy conducts pre-employment background checks that may include verification of employment history, education, criminal records, and other relevant information, in accordance with applicable laws. For certain roles—particularly those involving access to sensitive information, financial responsibilities, client data, regulated environments, or security-sensitive functions—additional or more comprehensive background or security screenings may be required. These may include, but are not limited to, enhanced criminal history checks, credit history reviews (where legally permissible), sanctions screening, or other due diligence measures aligned with the responsibilities of the position. The scope and depth of any background or security review will be determined based on the nature of the role and business necessity, and will always be conducted in compliance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. Candidates will be notified and, where required, asked to provide consent prior to the initiation of any such checks.