Category Manager – Industrial Real Estate & Third Party Labor (Japan)

We are looking for a high-performing procurement professional to manage two of the most strategic spend categories within Maersk Contract Logistics Japan:

• Industrial Real Estate (IRE)
• Third Party Labor

Together, these categories represent a significant portion of the operational cost base and play a critical role in enabling business growth, operational excellence, and customer service delivery across Japan.

As Category Manager, you will be responsible for developing category strategies, leading sourcing initiatives, managing supplier relationships, and partnering with internal stakeholders to deliver commercial value and business outcomes.

This role provides an excellent opportunity for a commercially minded procurement professional to gain exposure to senior business stakeholders, strategic decision-making, and high-impact procurement categories within one of the world's leading integrated logistics companies.

Key Responsibilities

1. Category Strategy & Sourcing

• Develop and execute category strategies for Industrial Real Estate and Third Party Labor across Japan.
• Lead sourcing initiatives, RFx processes, supplier negotiations, and contract renewals.
• Identify cost optimization, value creation, and risk mitigation opportunities.
• Monitor market trends, supplier developments, and industry best practices to support strategic decision-making.
• Build and maintain a healthy supplier ecosystem to support business growth and operational requirements.

2. Supplier & Commercial Management

• Manage relationships with landlords, developers, labor providers, and other strategic suppliers.
• Lead commercial negotiations to achieve optimal business outcomes.
• Support contract governance, supplier performance management, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Drive supplier accountability through structured performance reviews and business engagement.

3. Stakeholder Partnership

• Act as the primary procurement business partner for stakeholders across Contract Logistics and related business functions in Japan.
• Translate business requirements into sourcing and category strategies.
• Provide commercial guidance and market insights to support operational and investment-related decisions.
• Build trusted relationships with senior stakeholders and support alignment between procurement and business objectives.

4. Industrial Real Estate Management

• Support site sourcing, lease negotiations, renewals, expansions, and exit activities.
• Coordinate with internal stakeholders and external partners on real estate-related projects and initiatives.
• Maintain visibility of market developments, rental trends, and logistics real estate opportunities across Japan.
• Contribute to portfolio planning and long-term network development discussions.

5. Third Party Labor Category Management

• Develop sourcing and supplier management strategies for labor service providers.
• Support workforce-related procurement initiatives in partnership with operational stakeholders.
• Monitor market conditions, labor availability trends, and supplier competitiveness.
• Drive commercial and contractual improvements across the labor supplier portfolio.

6. Financial Management & Governance

• Prepare business cases, commercial analyses, and procurement recommendations.
• Support budgeting, forecasting, and investment approval processes where required.
• Ensure compliance with procurement policies, governance requirements, and contracting standards.
• Provide regular reporting on category performance, savings delivery, supplier performance, and key initiatives.

What Success Looks Like

During your first 12 months, you will:

• Develop category strategies for Industrial Real Estate and Third Party Labor.
• Establish strong relationships with key business stakeholders and suppliers.
• Deliver measurable commercial value through sourcing and negotiation activities.
• Improve supplier performance and contract governance.
• Become a trusted procurement advisor supporting business growth and operational excellence in Japan.

Qualifications

Required

• 5-7 years of experience in Procurement, Strategic Sourcing, Category Management, Supply Chain, Commercial Management, or related fields.
• Proven experience leading sourcing projects and supplier negotiations.
• Strong stakeholder management and business partnering capabilities.
• Demonstrated analytical, financial, and commercial acumen.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a dynamic business environment.
• Excellent communication and influencing skills.
• Business-level Japanese and English language capabilities.

Preferred

• Experience in one or more of the following categories:
  • Real Estate
  • Facilities Management
  • Workforce Services / Third Party Labor
  • Logistics
  • Supply Chain Services
• Experience working in a multinational organization.
• Experience managing cross-functional projects and stakeholders.
• Exposure to logistics, warehousing, transportation, or industrial operations.

Maersk is committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace, and we embrace different styles of thinking. Maersk is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applicants without regard to race, colour, gender, sex, age, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, marital status, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, medical condition, pregnancy or parental leave, veteran status, gender identity, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.
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