How do you make our customers happy?
By ensuring that 13.7 million customers and 47,000 partners benefit from the best logistics services, purchased at the most competitive conditions. In this impactful role, you will manage an integral part of procurement categories within bol: mobile material handling, operational equipment, warehouse systems, facilities and projects. You will be a strategic business partner for the Asset Management team, Logistics Warehousing team and the New Infra/Infra Development team.
The biggest challenge
You will work in a setting with many dependencies, complex contracts and high financial stakes. While parts of the spend may be low, it provides a base for warehouse operations and is thus of vital importance to the stakeholders. Furthermore, the spend often includes elements of keeping the bol operations compliant – enabling bol the license to operate. How do you negotiate with suppliers while exploring strategic alternatives? How do you balance between operational stability and cost optimization? The challenge extends beyond cost savings: you need to understand logistics roadmaps, avoid vendor lock-ins, and create innovation opportunities within strict compliance frameworks. With the growth of our logistics operation – think of new warehouses – you make decisions today that will also add value in three to five years’ time.
What you do as a Category Manager Logistics General
You take on the role of strategic business partner for the Asset Management and Warehouse Software Systems (WSS) domains primarily, as well as projects on a needs basis in the Logistics warehousing and New Infrastructure Development domain. An impactful and autonomous position in which you develop and implement procurement strategies that measurably contribute to bol’s logistics ambitions. This position gives you direct access to different levels in the organization: you advise Heads of, Directors and Senior Directors within Logistics, prepare steering committees, and are a sparring partner for logistics stakeholders. Depending on the project, this can go up to CCO level.
Your mandate includes, but goes far beyond, crucial contract negotiations. You will dive deep into logistics market trends, understand the roadmaps of stakeholders, and translate market insights into strategic opportunities. Whether it’s sourcing operational equipment for warehouse operations or optimizing existing relationships: you spot opportunities where others only see complexity.
Developing, implementing and adjusting procurement strategies within the general logistics portfolio
Preparing and leading strategic (re)negotiations with suppliers
Advising leadership on procurement, supplier risks and tactical sourcing opportunities
Identifying opportunities within the category and mobilizing support for realization
Maintaining key supplier relationships together with the business
Translating ambitious goals into concrete negotiation results
Why you can make a difference
You will combine 4-7+ years of logistics procurement experience with a strong track record in strategic and tactical sourcing. You have achieved demonstrable results in cost savings, value creation or other strategic objectives. What distinguishes you is your ability to operate autonomously in an environment with high strategic value and high dependency. You are not afraid to take a different position towards your own team – or higher up. You escalate when necessary, but also know when de-escalation yields more. You strive for continuous knowledge development within the category and translate insights into policy or tactical execution. Thanks to your communication and persuasive skills, you are just as easy to interact with contract managers as with executives who have to make strategic decisions.
3 reasons why this is (not) for you
Switch to find out
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No if
You do not enjoy juggling several projects of low value but high relative importance at the same time
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Eternal loner
Eternal lonerYou prefer to work alone; coordination with stakeholders takes much more energy than it yields
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Cheering yes-man
Challenging tough external negotiations and internal stakeholders feels so uncomfortable that you usually agree immediately
+
Yes if
You can switch between being a strategic heavyweight and running speedy street-smart projects for low spend.
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Innovation enabler
You see procurement as a lever for logistical innovation and stability, not just as a cost item
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Complexity king(s)
Contracts with existential impact on the operation? Your favorite playing field.
This is where you end up
You will become part of the Category Management & Sourcing team within NFR Procurement, bol’s strategic procurement engine. The culture is direct, result-oriented and data-driven – we attach more importance to smart solutions than to hierarchical processes. Ready to use strategic procurement as an innovation accelerator?
Perks of having a blue heart
Discover all perks
The culture and the office
Our colleagues work hard to make the daily lives of our customers easier and more fun. But of course, we do this in an inspiring and creative environment!
Flexible working
We bring the best of both worlds together by working 50% at the office and 50% at home. This way, we find a balance between organisational and individual needs.
Bonus
The bonus is calculated at the end of the year and we always end the year with a fun party!
Interview process
We'll tell you all about applying at bol.
Your application
We’ll review your application with care. We aim to get in touch with you as soon as possible.
First contact
We’ll contact you and walk you through the process and take the first step to set up an interview. And since we’re already talking: feel free to ask any questions you may have.
First date
During the first interview we’ll get to know each other. We want to find out more about you, your work experience and skills.
Your next interview
Before this interview will take place we will ask you to take an online assessment. For some specific jobs we ask you for extra input, for example a business case or a technical assessment. We’ll also discuss the position and the team in depth.
Is this love?
Two interviews are usually enough to see if it’s a match. And if you agree… well, it’s the beautiful beginning of your career at bol.
Any questions?
I'm Laura Reijn, Recruiter at bol. Anything I can help you with regarding the Category Manager Logistics vacancy?
Get in touch!
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