Category Manager Travel & Indirect

About the job

As the Category Manager – Travel & Indirect Services, you will be responsible for defining and executing global and regional category strategies across a broad network of stakeholders. You will partner closely with senior leadership, Business Area, and global category teams to build a best-in-class Travel program and manage key Indirect service providers. You will shape the direction of Hydro’s Travel category, drive operational excellence, and ensure a seamless global rollout of the Travel as a Service operating model together with GBS Finance. Your Indirect category responsibilities will further allow you to influence strategic service areas and optimize supplier performance across the Group.

What you will be doing

• Develop and execute global strategy, sourcing, and supplier management for the Travel category
• Support GBS Finance to successfully roll‑out Travel as a Service, ensuring optimized commercial position plus alignment of processes, systems, and service levels across all Hydro entities
• In the Indirect Categories (Compliance, Legal, Marketing, Business Consultancy, Finance) you are expected to build strong, trust‑based relationships with senior functional leaders, positioning yourself as their strategic procurement advisor, ensuring that sourcing strategies are fully aligned with business objectives while constructively challenging established practices to drive continuous improvement
• Conduct strategic sourcing events, complex negotiations, benchmarking, and long‑term supplier performance management
• Develop and execute data‑driven category strategies, leveraging market insights, supplier intelligence, and spend analysis to deliver sustainable cost‑reductions, TCO improvements, and process optimization
• Implement and elevate Supplier Relationship Management practices, including QBRs, KPIs, and performance improvement plans

Additional information: The role requires a travel presence of up to 10%, with periodic international travel(mainly within Europe), generally a few times annually, for meetings with suppliers and relevant stakeholders.

What we offer you

• Whether it’s developing skills or advancing your expertise even further, we’ll support you with continuous learning and development opportunities, to help discuss and steer your long-term Norsk Hydro career path. You’ll be welcomed from day one into an inclusive, trusting environment guided by three core values – Care, Courage and Collaboration
• A high‑visibility, high‑impact role at the center of Hydro’s global procurement team
• The opportunity to lead a strategically important global category and indirect service portfolio
• A multicultural environment with colleagues across Hungary, Norway, Brazil and India
• Strong opportunities for professional development and exposure to senior leadership

What will make you successful?

Qualifications & Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, commerce, or related field
• Fluent English language knowledge
• At least 10 years of experience in procurement, category management, or strategic sourcing, with deep expertise in the Travel category (must-have)
• Demonstrated success in transforming Travel programs, including TMC sourcing, travel policy development, and the implementation of global travel tools to enhance operational excellence
• Additional experience in Indirect services (Legal, Compliance, Marketing, Business consultancy and Finance) is a strong advantage
• Experienced in managing complex supplier portfolios and leading high-stakes negotiations
• Highly proficient in Microsoft Office and video conferencing tools

Personal skills:

• Adept at influencing senior stakeholders and aligning diverse business needs
• Proven ability to lead large cross‑functional initiatives and drive change across global organizations
• Excellent communication skills with a collaborative, forward‑leaning mindset
• Strong analytical abilities, including TCO analysis, cost modeling, and strategic decision-making