Category Manager – Towage

Marcura

. Own the commercial performance, renewal and improvement of all PortsDirect towage provider agreements.

Posted 11/12/2026full-timeLondon • United KingdomMid-LevelSeniorWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

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Demonstrates expertise in procurement and sourcing within the towage and maritime sectors, focusing on supplier relationship management, commercial negotiation, and contract management. Proven ability to analyze market competitiveness and develop strategic sourcing plans across multiple ports.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Commercial NegotiationSupplier Relationship ManagementProcurement And Sourcing ExpertiseContract ManagementAnalytical Rigor

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

ProcurementSourcingContract ManagementCommercial BenchmarkingTowage Operations Knowledge

Soft Skills

CollaborationOwnershipPersistence

Certifications & Qualifications

CIPS Qualification

Industry Keywords

TowageShip OperatingPort ServicesSupplier Category ManagementMarket Competitiveness

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Own the commercial performance, renewal and improvement of all PortsDirect towage provider agreements.
Build a port-by-port sourcing plan using customer demand, addressable volume, existing coverage, alternative suppliers and network gaps.
Expand the contracted network into priority ports currently outside scope, focusing on agreements customers are likely to use.
Negotiate pricing and terms against realistic, like-for-like volume and service requirements.
Assess final customer cost, including relevant fees and charges, alongside supplier tariffs and discounts.
Maintain evidence of market competitiveness and identify out-of-parity agreements.
Establish the causes of noncompetitive agreements and lead renegotiation or alternative sourcing plans.
Manage supplier relationships and performance across availability, responsiveness, service quality, invoice accuracy and compliance with agreed terms.
Maintain accurate contract records covering terms, expiry, coverage, achievable volume, benchmarks, exceptions and corrective actions.
Start renewals ahead of expiry.
Work with Customer Success to understand underused agreements and remove supplier-side barriers.
Share market insight with other category managers.

Requirements

What you’ll need

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain, Maritime or a related field, or equivalent practical experience
No certification required; a procurement qualification (e.g., CIPS) is an advantage
3+ years of commercial or procurement experience with a towage company or ship operator
Experience in towage, ship operating or port services; experience owning a supplier category end to end preferred
Commercial negotiation
Procurement and sourcing judgment, including when to renegotiate, re-source or walk away
Analytical rigor
Ownership and persistence
Firm, constructive supplier relationship management
Collaboration
Ability to manage a global supplier base while working remotely
Knowledge of towage operations, including factors affecting price, capacity and service across ports
Procurement and sourcing expertise, including category ownership, port-by-port sourcing plans, tendering and supplier performance management
Commercial benchmarking using fair, like-for-like comparisons on total customer cost, service specification, port specifics and achievable volume
Contract management, including building and maintaining a contract register and benchmarking evidence

Benefits

Comp & perks

Exposure to strategic, monetization, and commercial product development.
Mentorship from experienced product and growth leaders.
The opportunity to see the full product lifecycle, from discovery to revenue impact.
The chance to make a measurable impact on business and customer KPIs.