Category Specialist – Industries

Position: Job Title: Category Specialist – Large Industries
Location: Town of Italy

Job Title:

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Job Title:

Category Specialist – Large Industrieslocations:
Italy, Milanotime type:
Full time posted on:
Posted Todayjob requisition :
RPresent in Italy since 1909, Air Liquide is the market leader in industrial gases and related services and technologies. Using an industrial and commercial structure spread throughout the country and a pipeline network of 600 km, Air Liquide Italy supplies around 100 thousand direct and indirect customers, from large companies to small artisans.
Air Liquide Italy has three Business Lines:  - Large Industries: provides techical gases and related products in an enlarged offer with high added value for large industrial customers by means of specific delivery systems (pipelines)  - Industrial Merchant: develops the production and sale of liquids and conditioned gases, manages the on site production and services for industrial customers.  - Electronics: develops the market related to high purity gases for the semiconductor industry.
Through innovative technologies and services, Air Liquide Italy offers high value-added solutions that improve both industrial performances and environmental impact.

The Category Specialist is responsible for the end-to-end procurement lifecycle of materials and services critical to mainly Air Liquide’s Large Industries operations. This role balances day-to-day operational support—including site emergencies—with the implementation of long-term European (EU) procurement strategies to drive savings and operational excellence.
** Key Responsibilities
** 1. Spend Analysis & Opportunity Identification
* Data Mining:
Regularly extract and analyze spend data from ERP systems (e.g., SAP) to identify trends, price variances, and leakage.
* Spend Control:
Monitor off-contract purchasing and work with site managers to redirect spend to preferred EU-contracted suppliers.
* Cost Modeling:
Develop Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) models for capital spare parts to justify strategic sourcing decisions.
1. Strategic Sourcing & EU Collaboration
* Strategy Implementation:
Collaborate closely with EU Category Managers to deploy regional strategies at the local level.
* Strategic Opportunities:
Proactively identify opportunities for value creation, cost avoidance, and process optimization within your assigned categories.
* Market Intelligence:
Source new, innovative suppliers and continuously benchmark the market to ensure Air Liquide maintains a competitive edge.
2. RFQ & Contract Management
* Tendering:
Lead Request for Quotation (RFQ) processes for complex materials and technical services.
* Negotiation:
Own the negotiation of price lists, framework agreements, and high-value contracts for Capital Spare Parts.
* Project Support:
Manage the procurement scope for specialized Maintenance and Decommissioning projects, ensuring legal and safety compliance.
* Creation and Management Catalogs  and price list
3. Stakeholder Engagement & Site Support
* Stakeholder Relations:
Develop and manage strong, trust-based relationships with internal stakeholders (Plant Managers, Maintenance direction).
* Maintenance Follow-up:
Conduct monthly formal reviews with the Maintenance Team to align procurement activities with technical needs and schedules.
* Site Presence: visit Air Liquide sites to understand technical requirements and verify supplier performance firsthand.
* Emergency Response:
Act as a dedicated procurement point of contact for plant emergencies, ensuring rapid sourcing of parts or services to minimize downtime.

* Experience:

3–5+ years in industrial procurement,
* Technical Proficiency:
Experience negotiating technical contracts (Capex/Opex) and understanding industrial maintenance requirements.
* Strategic Thinking:
Ability to bridge the gap between local site needs and EU-wide strategic goals.
* Communication:
Exceptional interpersonal skills; ability to influence stakeholders at various levels of the organization.
* English and Italian  knowledge

* Soft Skills:

Proactive & Curious: A self-starter who looks beyond the "standard" way of doing things.
* Organized:
Capable of managing multiple RFQs and projects simultaneously…