Category Manager

We are seeking a Category Manager position based in our Poznań location to join the Binder and Melting Materials team within Group Sourcing and Procurement (GSP).

Are you passionate for Procurement, Sustainability and Innovation and want to make an impact as a strategic Category Manager?

Join ROCKWOOL’s dynamic Group Sourcing and Procurement team and turn your expertise into real impact in the role of Binder Chemicals Category Manager and as a member of the Binder & Melting Materials team.

As a Category Manager, you will be responsible for the strategic management of your assigned portfolio, driving ROCKWOOL’s profitability, mitigating risk, and delivering forward-thinking category strategies.

You will be a self-starter who can work independently but contributing as part of the Binder & Melting Material team to the business results, utilizing your expertise across group interfaces

Ready to help build a better future for generations to come?

In an ever-changing, fast-paced world, we owe it to ourselves and our future generations to live life responsibly. At ROCKWOOL, we work relentlessly to enrich modern living through our innovative stone wool solutions.
Join us and make a difference!

Your future team:

The Binder and Melting Materials team is a global, cross-functional unit responsible for the procurement of raw materials essential to stone wool production.

In this role, you will develop and execute long-term strategies for our Binder chemicals portfolio, directly enabling ROCKWOOL’s success by:

• Driving change across our procurement landscape
• Partnering with passionate colleagues and world-class suppliers
• Converting your expertise into value, impact and sustainable progress – with visible results!

You will be part of our flat-structured, international team and report to the Global Category Director. This is a highly collaborative environment, offering space for development, ownership and innovation.

Our prime choice of location for this position is in Poznań, Poland, however the role is international in scope, and we are interested in good candidates across Europe. The position requires close cooperation with stakeholders across ROCKWOOL’s global organization, including finance operations, R&D, operational purchasing and production.

What you will be doing:

As Category Manager, you will play a key role in preparing and executing the long-term strategy for the Binder Chemicals, linked to the overall ROCKWOOL business strategy. You will learn to understand the technical processes, work cross-functionally, and translate strategy and business needs into action plans.

Your responsibilities will include:

Strategy preparation and owning the results:

• Execution of category strategies for Binder Chemicals, creating clear action plans and timelines, aligned with the company's Group strategy and stakeholder needs
• Strong ownership of contribution creation, contract pricing, compliance, procurement processes and risk mitigation

Champion Collaboration:

• Building and maintaining effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders
• Supporting operational Purchasing ensuring zero supply disruptions
• Preparing impactful communication and summaries to support efficient decision-making
• Driving continuous improvement initiatives and supporting R&D activities related to the category
• Visiting suppliers, factories and ROCKWOOL Headquarter – up to 10% travel time (approx. 40-50 days/year)

Deliver Excellence/ Thought Leader:

• Developing in-depth knowledge of spend, segmentation, suppliers, market dynamics and risk, guiding recommendations and budget forecasts
• Researching the market with Strategic Sourcing team, managing tenders, and ensuring best competitive value
• Actively participating in cross-functional competence centres and managing/prioritising category activities to deliver on key KPIs
• Challenge the status-quo

Representing the company values:

• Supporting your own development with leadership support and career progression opportunities
• Driving results with ambition, integrity and efficiency
• Taking responsibility for your category

What you bring:

• Minimum bachelor’s degree and/or 3–5 years’ experience in category management or procurement
• Strong commercial business understanding with excellent interpersonal skills. Clear communicator and effective organiser, able to work proactively and independently
• Ability to “understand and speak the factory language” – comfortable interacting with production, technical and R&D stakeholders
• Team player mindset – open, proactive, and collaborative. Adept at working cross-functionally and collaboratively as part of diverse teams
• High-level proficiency in English (spoken and written at business level)
• SAP or ERP system knowledge

Technical or chemical knowledge is desired, but it is not required – we are looking for someone who understands business, not just the material.

What we offer:

By joining our team, you become a part of the people-centric work environment of a Danish company and you will be part of a successful procurement organization.

We offer you a competitive salary, permanent contract after the probation period, development package, team building events, and activity-based office in Poznań’s city center in the new prestigious office building – Nowy Rynek. The building is recognized as a building without barriers, which means that it is fully adapted to the needs of people with disabilities.

Our compensation package for employment contracts includes:

• An office-first approach: home office is available up to 2 days per week
• Adaptable Hours: start your workday anytime between 7:00 AM and 9:00 AM
• Home office subsidy
• Private Medical Care
• Multikafeteria MyBenefit
• Wellbeing program
• Extra Day Off for voluntary activities
  …and while in the office you can also enjoy our modern workspace with a beautiful view, high-end furniture, bike parking & showers, chill-out rooms (with PlayStation, football table, board games), and a subsidized canteen with delicious food and fruit.

Interested?

If you recognize yourself in this profile and challenge, we kindly invite you to apply with a CV written in English.

Who we are  

We are the world leader in stone wool solutions. Founded in 1937 in Denmark, we transform volcanic rock into safe, sustainable products that help people and communities thrive. We are a global company with more than 12,200 employees, located in 40+ countries with 51 manufacturing facilities… all focused on one common purpose – to release the natural power of stone to enrich modern living.    

Sustainability is central to our business strategy. ROCKWOOL was one of the first companies to commit to actively contributing to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) framework and are actively committed to 11 SDGs, including SDG 14, Life Below Water. Through our partnership with the One Ocean Foundation and in connection with our sponsorship of the ROCKWOOL Denmark SailGP team, we will help raise awareness around ocean health challenges in an effort to accelerate solutions to protect it.     

Diverse and Inclusive Culture  

We want all our people to feel valued, respected, included and heard. We employ 79 different nationalities worldwide and are committed to providing equal opportunities to all employees, promote diversity, and work against all forms of discrimination among ROCKWOOL employees.  

At ROCKWOOL, you will experience a friendly team environment. Our culture is very important to us. In fact, we refer to our culture as “The ROCKWOOL Way”. This is the foundation in which we operate and is based upon our values of ambition, responsibility, integrity and efficiency.