Global Category Manager

THE COMPANY

Frencken Group Limited is a Global Integrated Technology Solutions Company focusing on the Aerospace, Analytical, Automotive, Healthcare, Industrial, Industrial Automation, Life sciences and Semiconductor segments. Offering global integrated design, prototyping, NPI, manufacturing and supply chain solutions. Frencken's success is attributed to its technology, operations excellence and employees, and the quality of its leadership.

THE POSITION

The Global Category Management Manager is responsible for developing and executing global category strategies for assigned mechanical and metal-based categories such as surface treatment, precision machining, raw materials, mechanical assemblies, sheet metal, fabrication and related components. The role supports the global Frencken business by converting stakeholder requirements, supply market intelligence and category economics into practical sourcing strategies that strengthen supply assurance, cost competitiveness, supplier performance and long-term resilience.

The position serves as the category focal point for supplier selection, supplier relationship management, supplier business reviews, contract management, category-level escalation and continuous performance improvement. The Manager works closely with regional site procurement teams, Engineering, Operations, Quality and Supply Chain stakeholders to ensure category strategies are consistently and sustainably executed across the Group.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Category Strategy Development

• Develop and implement category strategies for assigned mechanical and metal-based categories, aligned with Frencken business needs, customer requirements and market trends.
• Collaborate with key stakeholders to obtain procurement requirements that support the global Frencken business and use these inputs to shape category strategies.
• Create sourcing strategies for categories such as surface treatment, precision machining, raw materials, mechanical assemblies, sheet metal, fabrication and related components.
• Establish category roadmaps covering supply base strategy, localization opportunities, cost competitiveness, risk mitigation and execution priorities.

2. Supplier Management and Category Execution

• Develop and maintain relationships with strategic suppliers through regular supplier business reviews, aligning business needs, opportunities and performance improvement actions.
• Serve as the focal point for supplier selection, supplier assessment, performance evaluation, relationship management and supplier escalation for assigned categories.
• Guide category buyers and regional site procurement teams to ensure consistent and sustainable execution of the global category strategy.
• Support supplier capability development, capacity alignment and improvement plans to enhance operational excellence across the Frencken Group.

3. Market Intelligence, Cost Drivers and Risk Management

• Develop and maintain knowledge of the supply market, including technology availability, raw material trends, commodity dynamics and market conditions that may affect cost and availability.
• Translate market insights into sourcing actions, supplier strategies and risk mitigation plans.
• Monitor category risks related to supply continuity, supplier concentration, capacity constraints, pricing volatility and quality performance.
• Support business continuity planning through appropriate supplier segmentation, dual sourcing and supply assurance initiatives.

4. Value Creation and Cost Optimization

• Drive cost reduction initiatives through strategic sourcing, supplier negotiations, value engineering, supplier consolidation and total cost of ownership analysis.
• Apply cost modeling, should-cost analysis, supplier benchmarking and market intelligence to identify opportunities for sustainable cost improvement.
• Track savings against targets and support transparent reporting of category performance, realized cost savings and supplier improvement outcomes.
• Balance cost competitiveness with supply resilience, quality performance and customer delivery commitments.

5. Contract Management, Compliance and Governance

• Develop, standardize and implement category-specific contract terms and templates to ensure consistency, compliance and risk mitigation across entities.
• Negotiate and manage contracts with key suppliers, ensuring alignment with category strategy, business objectives and commercial governance requirements.
• Monitor contract performance and compliance, making adjustments as necessary to support evolving business needs.
• Work with relevant stakeholders to ensure supplier agreements support lead time, capacity, quality, pricing, business continuity and commercial protection requirements.

6. Stakeholder Collaboration and Matrix Leadership

• Lead cross-functional and cross-regional collaboration with Engineering, Operations, Quality, Supply Chain and site procurement teams.
• Influence stakeholders in a matrix organization to ensure category strategies are understood, accepted and executed effectively.
• Provide clear updates, recommendations and escalation support to senior leadership and global stakeholders as required.
• Promote standardization, category discipline and continuous improvement across assigned categories.

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

• Bachelor degree in Business, Supply Chain Management, Engineering or a related discipline. Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics Engineering or Manufacturing Engineering preferred.
• Professional certification such as CIPS, CPSM or equivalent is preferred.
• Minimum 8 to 10 years of procurement, strategic sourcing, category management or supply chain experience within a multinational manufacturing environment.
• At least 3 to 5 years in Category Management, preferably covering Sheet Metal, Precision Machining, Fabrication, Metal Components, Mechanical Assemblies, Surface Treatment or Raw Materials.
• Proven experience managing global or regional spend, supplier selection, supplier performance management, contract negotiation and strategic supplier relationship management.
• Demonstrated success in developing and executing category strategies, supplier consolidation, cost reduction, localization and supply risk mitigation programs.
• Experience leading cross-functional and cross-regional teams in a matrix organization.
• Experience supporting high-mix, low-volume and/or mass production manufacturing environments is preferred.

KEY COMPETENCIES & SKILLS

• Strong technical understanding of sheet metal fabrication, including stamping, laser cutting, bending, welding and powder coating.
• Strong technical understanding of precision machining, including CNC milling, turning, grinding and EDM.
• Knowledge of surface treatment and finishing processes, metal raw materials such as aluminum, stainless steel, copper and carbon steel, and related manufacturing cost drivers.
• Strong capability in Total Cost of Ownership analysis, cost modeling, should-cost analysis, supplier benchmarking and market intelligence.
• Excellent negotiation, contract management and supplier relationship management skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capability with the ability to translate market insights into practical sourcing strategies.
• Excellent stakeholder management and influencing skills across Engineering, Operations, Quality and Supply Chain functions.
• Proficient in ERP systems; SAP experience preferred. Comfortable with spend analytics tools and Microsoft Office applications.
• Strong communication and presentation skills with the ability to engage senior leadership and global stakeholders.
• Fluent in English; proficiency in Mandarin or other relevant languages is an advantage.
• Willingness to travel internationally as needed to support global sourcing initiatives and supplier relationships.

Note: Location may be based at Bangi & Penang area.