Category Specialist

Overview

Hitachi Energy is hiring a Category Specialist to join its Dammam, Saudi Arabia operation. In this role, you will help execute supply chain management practices and procurement activities for assigned material groups, with the goal of keeping materials available on time, improving delivery performance, and strengthening cost competitiveness. The position also involves supporting regional and global sourcing programs, monitoring supplier performance, and helping drive quality, service, and sustainability outcomes.

Key responsibilities

• Put supply chain management practices into action and help maintain compliance with strategic sourcing, process excellence, risk management, and supply base quality processes.
• Build and roll out sourcing plans for local suppliers that support business goals, while assisting regional and global sourcing efforts when needed.
• Support the delivery of global SCM initiatives and track performance against global SCM key performance indicators.
• Identify and evaluate suppliers and materials, and contribute to regional or global sourcing strategies in coordination with category leaders.
• Create sourcing models that cover supplier mix, make-or-buy analysis, cost scenarios, and requirements for new materials.
• Share sourcing proposals with relevant teams and align on actions, owners, and due dates.
• Work with category managers and supplier quality engineers to choose suppliers.
• Spot opportunities to develop new suppliers for critical materials.
• Coordinate sourcing efforts to identify, assess, audit, monitor, and develop suppliers.
• Carry out procurement work for goods and services according to company policies and procedures.
• Handle contract management tasks and adapt the company’s standard contract structure to local business needs.
• Recommend framework agreements to management and implement them once approved.
• Support bid and proposal teams by providing market intelligence and sourcing input.
• Plan, launch, and track strategic sourcing activities for projects, new product development, early supplier involvement, and design-to-cost initiatives.
• Use the Continuous Improvement Process Sourcing approach to improve operational excellence and supplier performance.
• Monitor supplier performance evaluation outcomes and cost targets for new developments.
• Manage key supplier relationships to support on-time delivery, quality compliance, and adherence to contractual terms.
• Track supplier performance indicators such as delivery timeliness, quality, and lead time, and resolve issues when performance drops.
• Work closely with engineering, planning, and fulfillment teams to secure material availability for production.
• Apply health, safety, environmental, and business ethics standards in day-to-day work, negotiations, and contract management.
• Ensure compliance with external regulations, internal procedures, and applicable guidelines.
• Act in line with Hitachi Energy’s core values of safety and integrity by taking responsibility for your actions and supporting colleagues and the business.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Engineering, Economics, Business Administration, Supply Chain Management, or an equivalent mix of education and work experience.
• At least 6 to 8 years of experience in engineering, purchasing, and supply chain management.
• Strong collaboration skills with a practical, solution-focused mindset.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal ability, including the confidence to influence and persuade others.
• Proven ability to deliver results and implement plans effectively.
• Capability to handle several tasks efficiently on a daily basis.
• Strong commitment to compliance, ethics, and responsible conduct.
• Willingness to travel up to 15%.
• Preferred qualifications include CPSM or PMP certification, CIPP, CIPM, SAP experience, documentation management systems, Power BI, and Microsoft Office proficiency.
• Fluency in both spoken and written English and Arabic is required.

Additional information

This is a full-time, on-site role based in Dammam, Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia. Travel may be required up to 15%.

Focus areas

The role centers on strategic sourcing, supplier management, procurement execution, contract handling, and cross-functional coordination to maintain supply continuity and improve performance across cost, quality, and delivery.