Category Lead

WHO YOU’LL WORK WITH

You will work in a broad matrix of internal and external partners, suppliers, and clients. In this role you will be part of a diverse team. You will also work closely with teams in Nike’s European Logistics Centre and will be located at our European Logistics Campus in Laakdal. In this role, you are prepared to travel on a regular basis (e.g. European Headquarters in Hilversum). You will report to the Director, EMEA Procurement Supply Chain and work closely with the other category & sourcing managers in this team to deliver the sourcing activities.  You will also be part of the global supply chain category team – sharing best practices and learning from global counterparts who are running sourcing projects in other geographies.

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR

We are currently looking for a Category Lead to join our EMEA procurement team.

Procurement plays a critical role in supporting business growth, driving innovation & mitigating risk through internal & external partnerships.  Our category leads are the key enablers.  We are looking for a category lead with deep understanding of 1 or more of the following procurement categories: Transportation & 3PL or CAPEX & OPEX/facility management.  Someone who has deep category expertise and a strategic mindset, able to create meaningful linkages between procurement goals and business objectives.  Someone with the ability to create & drive strategies to attract & secure the most suitable external solutions to gain sustainable competitive advantages for our business.

The ideal candidate needs to have comprehensive category management expertise in logistics and more specifically in the areas of Transportation, Facilities management and CAPEX investments, providing thought leadership and work closely with transportation & Logistics business leaders to develop category strategies that optimize the spend and opportunities in this category.

Step into the game. At Nike, Procurement isn’t just about sourcing—it’s about creating impact, driving innovation, and powering the future of sport. We’re looking for a bold leader who thrives in complexity, moves fast, and inspires teams to think big. If you’re ready to influence globally, build strong partnerships, and turn data into winning strategies, this is your moment. Bring your expertise, your energy, and your passion for the swoosh—let’s make every move count.

Show us via your cv that you bring a master level of the following:

• Proven game-changing experience in Procurement, Strategic Sourcing, and Category Management on a global stage.
• Deep expertise in Transportation (Parcel, LTL, FTL, Warehousing, 3PL) and/or OPEX/CAPEX investments—ready to move the world.
• Influence like a leader, communicate like a pro—across cultures, teams, and challenges.
• Partner-first mindset: You listen, strategize, and deliver results that make an impact.
• Master of spend management—from demand and compliance to supplier collaboration and performance.
• Data-driven and trend-savvy: You turn insights into action and contracts into competitive advantage.
• Bold, adaptable, and unstoppable—thriving in a fast-paced Procurement arena while living Nike’s mission and values.

WHAT YOU’LL WORK ON

Core to this role is category management, stakeholder engagement & supplier relationship management. 

You’ll be working as part of the Supply chain ELC based procurement leadership team and part of the EMEA Procurement Team. You will lead a team of Category Buyers. You will focus on the category strategy development and implementation plans that support the following value proposition:

• Capacity for Growth
• Reliability & Speed
• Innovation & Sustainability
• Risk mitigation
• Cost Efficiency
• Increased connection with the consumer

You will work closely with global and other EMEA category teams to develop the global category strategy and you will lead the development of the strategic plans for EMEA, identifying sourcing opportunities and delivering a sustainable pipeline.  You will be responsible for identifying & building unbreakable relationships with key stakeholders, working with them to build consensus and alignment of the sourcing strategies and all associated sourcing projects.  You will work closely with the sourcing managers within the team to drive and execute the implementation of the sourcing strategy.

IMPORTANT NOTE:

- You will be travelling 15% of the time.