Senior Category Buyer

As a Senior Category Buyer Shipyards at DEME, you will be responsible for developing and executing the sourcing strategy for shipyard-related categories, including vessel construction, dry-docking, repair, maintenance, conversions, and related maritime services. Leveraging your extensive procurement expertise and market knowledge, you will drive strategic supplier relationships, optimize total cost of ownership, and ensure reliable supply chain performance in support of DEME's global fleet operations. You will play a key role in managing complex procurement projects, negotiating high-value contracts, and mentoring less experienced buyers.

Your responsibilities

• Develop and maintain a global network of reliable, financially stable, and technically capable shipyards and maritime service providers.

• Identify opportunities to optimize costs, improve supplier performance, and mitigate supply chain risks within the shipyard category.

• Build strong relationships with internal stakeholders, including Fleet Management, Technical Departments, Operations, and Project Teams.

• Manage complex and high-value procurement activities, ensuring optimal Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) and commercial value creation.

• Take ownership of supplier selection processes, tenders, contract negotiations, and long-term framework agreements.

• Negotiate and maintain service agreements, price structures, contractual terms, KPIs, and supplier performance frameworks.

• Report to the Category Manager and provide strategic recommendations regarding supplier markets and category developments.

Your profile

• Master's degree in Engineering, Business Engineering, Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Applied Economics, or equivalent through experience.

• Minimum 5 years of relevant procurement experience, preferably within maritime, offshore, shipbuilding, heavy industry, or technical project environments.

• Strong affinity with technical and maritime-related subjects, vessel maintenance, or shipyard operations.

• Excellent negotiation, stakeholder management, and communication skills.

• Strong analytical mindset with the ability to translate market insights into procurement strategies.

• Fluent in English; knowledge of Dutch and additional languages is considered an asset.

• Team player with high integrity and the ability to influence stakeholders across different levels of the organization.

• Strong ownership, accountability, and focus on results;

• Ability to thrive in a dynamic, international, and project-driven environment.