Global Category Manager - Lead People. Enable Sales. Grow the Category.

Are you a commercially driven leader who knows how to bring people together, create clear direction and priorities, build strong relationships with sales, and turn category opportunities into business results? If so, you might be the perfect fit as our new Global Category Manager at ABENA. Leading people, strengthening commercial collaboration and growing the category As Global Category Manager for Waste Management, you will take responsibility for both the commercial development of the category and the continued development of a young, evolving team. An important part of your role will be to strengthen supplier development, risk mitigation and commercial mindset, strengthening the connection between the category and our sales organizations across markets. You will have global end-to-end responsibility for the category and act as a bridge between your team, sourcing, suppliers, subsidiaries, sales and other stakeholders in a global organization. You will lead and develop a team of currently five colleagues. The team is still building its foundation, so we are looking for a leader who enjoys creating clarity and structure, developing people, and building a strong team culture. This is a role for someone who thrives with ownership, enjoys developing people and teams, and is motivated by seeing the direct impact of their leadership on both performance and profitability. Your role and responsibilities

• Lead the development of the global Waste Management category, setting a clear commercial direction and driving profitable growth, margin improvement, and overall category performance.
• Lead, coach, and develop a team of 5 colleagues, creating clear direction, structure, engagement, and strong day-to-day collaboration.
• Build the capabilities and ways of working in a relatively new team, helping both individuals and the team grow in maturity and performance.
• Drive sourcing and supplier strategies with a strong focus on commodity management, especially within plastics, including price negotiations, supplier development, and risk mitigation.
• Drive a harmonized and scalable global assortment aligned with customer needs and market opportunities.
• Support subsidiaries with pricing, assortment decisions, tenders, and product positioning.

What we’re looking for

• Experience from category management, sourcing, procurement, or product ownership in an international organization
• Leadership experience and a genuine interest in developing people, especially in a young or newly established team
• Knowledge on how to create structure, motivation, and momentum in a team that is still building its foundation
• A strong commercial profile, motivated by ownership, performance improvement, and measurable business results
• Confidence in stakeholder management and ability to influence across functions and markets without relying solely on formal authority
• A clear communicator and professionally experienced in English and Danish

Your Team, Our Culture and Values You will lead a young and relatively new team with strong potential and a collaborative mindset. The team is characterized by commitment to results and a willingness to spar and grow together. As leader, your task will be to develop the team further, create clarity and direction, and help build a strong foundation for long-term success. This is therefore an exciting opportunity for a leader who enjoys combining business responsibility with people development. Your leader at ABENA will be Head of Procurement Nicko Rasmussen Olesen, who describes his leadership style as follows: “I believe in an open and result-oriented dialogue, and I appreciate and respect the knowledge you bring to the table. Openness and trust are key values for me, as I delegate and trust that the freedom to choose the best approach is best governed by you – micromanagement is the last thing you should expect! You can expect that I strive to achieve transparency, straightforwardness and a genuine relation – no facade.” Your workplace will be located at the ABENA Headquarters in Aabenraa, Denmark. At ABENA, you become part of a global company with a clear purpose: making a real difference in people’s everyday lives. Across the organization, we are guided by three core values: Trust, Fairness, and Cooperation. They shape how we work together, make decisions, and take responsibility for moving ABENA forward. We look forward to hearing from you and receiving your application If you are interested in the position, please send your CV as soon as possible. We review applications as we receive them and will close the search once we have found our new colleague. Read more about our recruitment process here. If you are curious to know more about the job, you are welcome to contact Head of Procurement Nicko Rasmussen Olesen on phone +45 6026 9822.