Harman

Do you want to work for some of the world’s leading audio brands? Become a part of the HARMAN team and get to work for JBL and Harman/Kardon. 

By joining HARMAN, you'll dive headfirst into the exciting world of headphones, portable speakers, party boxes and other audio technologies, and contribute to the success of Harman Lifestyle EMEA business. The consumer audio industry is fast paced, fun and dynamic and we’re looking for someone who is proactive, loves to work with a lot of different stakeholders from all over Europe and has creative ideas.

You will join our global team in Budapest, Hungary in the position of: 

Category Manager, Direct Materials Procurement

A Career at HARMAN Lifestyle

We’re a global, multi-disciplinary team that’s putting the innovative power of technology to work and transforming tomorrow. As a member of HARMAN Lifestyle, you connect consumers with the power of superior sound.

• Contribute your talents to high-end, esteemed brands like JBL, Mark Levinson and Revel.
• Unite your passion for audio innovation with high-tech product development.
• Create pitch-perfect, cutting-edge technology that elevates the listening experience.

About the Role:

This is a high‑visibility, hands‑on role with direct impact on our global supply chain and executive decision‑making. The Category Manager Strategic Procurement will operate at the intersection of technology, operations, and business strategy while regularly engaging with executives, key suppliers, and cross‑functional teams worldwide. You will lead transformational initiatives that reshape our procurement model, modernize processes, elevate supplier capabilities, and drive digital and operational excellence across the organization. This role is ideal for a future leader who thrives in dynamic, fast‑paced environments and is energized by building, influencing, and delivering meaningful change at scale.

What You Will Do:

• Manage end-to-end strategic sourcing and procurement processes.
• Define, implement, and refine a global end‑to‑end procurement strategy aligned with Engineering, Product, Sales, Manufacturing, and Quality.
• Translate corporate and supply chain priorities into actionable procurement roadmaps, category plans, and supplier capability development.
• Lead category strategies for electronics, systems, and mechanical/electromechanical components.
• Conduct make‑or‑buy analysis, cost modeling, BOM teardown, and value engineering.
• Oversee NPI sourcing from concept through production, driving early supplier involvement and design‑to‑cost.
• Identify, qualify, and select suppliers based on capability, cost, risk, and scalability.
• Lead pricing, contract, and NRE negotiations, and manage long‑term agreements.
• Drive supplier performance through KPIs and run executive reviews and multi‑year development plans.
• Maintain a global supply risk framework covering geopolitical, financial, capacity, and quality risks.
• Collaborate with Supplier Quality and Engineering on readiness, PPAP/APQP, and compliance.
• Ensure adherence to governance, legal, and regulatory requirements.
• Drive productivity pipelines and annual cost improvements.
• Apply value engineering, spec optimization, consolidation, should‑cost analysis, and supply base optimization.
• Optimize total landed cost: logistics, duties, MOQs, tooling, and regional sourcing.
• Partner with Engineering and Product teams on design, material choices, and technology roadmaps.
• Align category and commodity strategies with future product plans.
• Ensure early procurement involvement to validate cost and supply feasibility.
• Lead and develop global teams across sourcing, supplier quality, risk, cost engineering, and procurement operations.
• Build capabilities in digital procurement, analytics, supplier innovation, and advanced sourcing.
• Promote a culture of accountability, transparency, and data‑driven decision‑making.
• Drive adoption of digital procurement tools, automation, analytics, and AI‑enabled sourcing.
• Enhance procurement maturity with standardization, governance, and category excellence.
• Support ESG, sustainability, and responsible sourcing initiatives.

What You Need to Be Successful:

• Bachelor’s degree with a preference for business administration or economics
• Progressively responsible and successful experience in global procurement organizations
• At least 10 years of experience in strategic sourcing, cost analysis and supply chain optimization of technical plastics, metal parts and/or mechanical subassemblies for non-automotive industrial use.
• Seniority and independence to negotiate with managing directors / owners / sales managers as peers
• Have a solid understanding of the procurement process and skills to lead category management activity globally.
• Excellent analytics and presentation skills, experience with data visualization tools like SAP BI or Qlik.
• Excellent interpersonal, organizational, verbal and written communication skills required in Hungarian and English, with experience operating across global teams in a multi-cultural environment.

Bonus Points if You Have:

• Knowledge of modern procurement tools such as SAP, iValua, Ariba
• Previous experience with analytics tools like BI, Qlik Sense

What makes you eligible

• Willingness to work in a hybrid model, with at least two days per month at the office
• Willingness to travel regionally

What We Offer:

• HARMAN is offering a unique opportunity for growth and development in the dynamic and exciting world of consumer and professional electronics.
• We provide a flexible work schedule that allows you to work from home.
• At HARMAN, we value diversity and inclusivity and foster a friendly and supportive global working atmosphere. We believe in investing in our employees through career development opportunities, professional training, and competitive market-based compensation. As part of our commitment to employee well-being, we also offer a commuter travel package, environment allowance, and interesting collective health insurance scheme, pension, and employee discounts on world-class HARMAN/Samsung products (JBL, HARMAN Kardon, AKG, etc.).
• As a HARMAN employee, you will have access to professional development opportunities through HARMAN University's business and leadership academies, internal talent management leadership acceleration programs, and our "Be Brilliant" employee recognition and rewards program.

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