Category Buyer

Location: Tubize, Belgium

Thales people architect solutions at the heart of the defence-security continuum. Interoperable and secure information and telecommunications systems for defence, security, and civil operators, are based upon innovative use of radiocommunications, networks, and cybersecurity. We are ground breaking new digital technologies such as 4G/5G mobile communications, cryptography, cloud computing and big data for use in physical protection systems, and critical information systems.

Thales Belgium SA, Belgium competence center of Thales, is a company located on 2 sites, one in Tubize (near Brussels) and the other one in Herstal (near Liège). Thales Belgium, which employs more than 280 collaborators, is specialized in the design, development and supply of critical information systems for customers in the sectors of Defense, Security (including Cyber) and Aerospace.

In this context, we are looking for a:
**Category Buyer - Electronics**

**Mission**:
The Category Buyer in Electronic segment (CB) may support one or several procurement categories (PCB / PCBA and electronic Components).

The CB is accountable for end to end performance of the acquisition process, via the management of the RFI &/or RFP's until the PVet 4 stage (up to PVet 5 based on some Regions)

The CB is expected to lead supplier selection exercises to support business needs.

The CB ensures the deployment, implementation and monitoring of agreed category strategies defined on the category

Furthermore, the CB is:
Responsible for supplier relationship management and continuous improvement of suppliers within his/her category (with the support of Supplier Performance Management Team if needed) and the management of suppliers’ performance including, but not limited to, quality, cost, delivery, contractual performance and innovation.

An essential element of his role is to ensure that the suppliers provide the competitiveness required to support the business and to introduce optimal supply base changes to support business winning capability.

**Main Responsibilities**:
The Category Buyer (CB) supports different procurement categories from components, PCB to PCBA.

The CB works in close relation with the relevant Global Category Managers (GCM), and the Tactical Buyer (TB).

All actions have to be in line with the strategy defined by the Global Category Manager and his team. The CB's prime role is the management of the RFI or/and RFP's until PVet 4 stage (up to PVet 5 based on some Regions) in order to provide the competitiveness to the business.

In addition to this their main tasks are:
**Operational Support**:

- Ensure the TB s receive all required information to raise the Procurement Orders.

**Procurement Competitiveness Capture**:

- Monitor the markets for defined categories including key players, newcomers, economic evolutions, market or regulation constraints, innovations and technology in order to support the development of the most up to date category strategies to the businesses.
- Based on the above provide insights as to how products / projects could be more competitive via the adoption of different suppliers / methodologies / technology etc.

**Governance, Leadership and Performance Management**:

- Ensure appropriate governance is applied using KPI's and root cause corrective actions

**Supplier / Acquisition Management**:

- Performance management of the supply base in line with the standards set out by the Global Category Manager.
- Ensure that supplier competitions follow the governance process and are balanced and fair in order to improve business and customer performance.
- Ensure that global contracts / framework agreements are adopted and utilized.
- Ensure that Thales e-Acquisition and all THALES procurement tools are fully used.
- Based on the performance management of the supply base identify the suppliers who require focused development actions and ensure that the Supplier Development Team have the required support / leverage in order for these actions to be successful.

**Profile**:

- Recognized professional qualification (CIPS, EIPM, ISM, MAI...) are desirable
- Business, Procurement, Supply Chain or Engineering degrees are desirable
- 3+ years of experience working in project/program, design / product development with cross functional teams.
- Demonstratable experience in negotiation projects &/or categories is desirable.
- Ability to implement operational supply chain strategy
- Contractual knowledge especially of framework agreements, Liability & insurance.
- Ability to lead negotiation including import / export considerations
- Understanding of the market for the categories under his/her control but also ability to understand the customer’s needs and program issues
- Good knowledge of a best practice acquisition Process.
- Capability to work within cross functional and international multi organizational teams (teamwork)
- Open minded (listen, share ideas etc.) and able to bring added value