Category Manager at Valmet in Shanghai, Shanghai, China

Lead Strategic Sourcing as Our Next Category Manager Join a role where your expertise shapes supplier performance, drives category strategy, and strengthens our global supply network. Step into a position where you lead supplier development, influence key commercial decisions, and contribute directly to international deliveries. You’ll engage with suppliers, collaborate across teams, and take ownership of category strategies that create measurable business impact. This is your opportunity to grow, innovate, and make a real difference in a highly dynamic environment. Your Responsibilities

• You lead supplier development activities, including sourcing, audits, commercial inquiries, technical exchanges, and supplier performance evaluations.
• You manage frame contracts—covering legal documents, price clarifications, and price lists—to ensure clarity and compliance across your category.
• You drive category strategy by defining product strategies, developing supplier networks, and supporting SRM activities and cost‐saving initiatives.
• You collaborate across teams to strengthen supplier relationships and support both local and global category work.
• You take on additional tasks assigned by your line manager to support evolving business needs.

Expectations for You

• You bring at least 5 years of procurement experience, or a mix of 3+ years in procurement and 5+ years in engineering or quality.
• You hold a B.Sc. in Electrical Engineering, Automation Engineering, or Process Technology; additional business education is a plus.
• You communicate confidently in Chinese and English, and you have strong negotiation, project planning, and analytical skills.
• You are experienced in international environments and proficient with MS Excel; broader MS Office knowledge is a plus.
• You are willing to travel and work remotely when needed.

To succeed in this role You excel when you combine strong procurement expertise with the ability to analyze markets, lead supplier evaluations, and drive category strategies forward. Your ability to influence stakeholders, manage cross‑functional collaboration, and deliver results in an international environment will be essential. We also expect you to align with Valmet’s Leadership Principles—practical behaviours that guide how we lead, collaborate, and succeed together:

• Take accountability – Act with ownership, set clear expectations, and follow through
• Lead with courage – Champion change, try bold ideas, and learn quickly
• Build on trust – Listen to understand, be open, and create psychological safety
• Collaborate for growth – Work across boundaries, value diverse perspectives, and focus on customer value

We offer Competitive pay, comprehensive insurance, and a vibrant workplace culture filled with team-building events and employee clubs. Plus, take advantage of our flexible internal mobility program to grow your career your way! You will join a development-minded, international environment where collaboration drives innovation. We provide modern tools, local benefits, and opportunities to learn, grow, and take on exciting challenges—supported by flexible working options that help you balance work and life.

When everything works together Valmet is where the best talent from a wide variety of backgrounds comes together. We work together with our customers throughout the entire lifecycle, delivering cutting-edge technologies and services as well as mission-critical automation and flow control solutions. Backed by more than 225 years of industrial experience and a global team of over 19,000 professionals close to customers, we are uniquely positioned to transform industries toward a regenerative tomorrow. Join the team – and lead the way with us!