Category Manager - Channel & Directed Spend

Vallen•Belmont, NC

About The Position

The Category Manager – Channel & Directed Spend is responsible for owning and executing category strategies across assigned product categories, with a strong emphasis on Channel and Directed spend optimization, supplier value capture, and profitable growth. This role leads fact-based negotiations, drives early quick-win savings opportunities, and partners closely with Sales, Integrated Supply, Sourcing, Finance, and Operations to optimize assortment, pricing, and supplier performance. The Category Manager plays a critical role in eliminating low-value spend, consolidating volume with strategic partners, and delivering measurable margin and cost improvements.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain, Finance, Marketing, or related field.
2–4 years of experience in category management, sourcing, procurement, or commercial roles, preferably in B2B or industrial distribution environments.
Demonstrated experience leading supplier negotiations and delivering measurable cost, margin, or pricing improvements.
Strong analytical and financial skills; ability to work comfortably with spend data, pricing analysis, and business cases.
Ability to manage multiple initiatives simultaneously and execute with speed and discipline.
Strong communication and stakeholder management skills across commercial, operational, and finance teams.
Experience with ERP systems and analytics tools (Excel required; Power BI/Tableau a plus).

Responsibilities

Category Strategy & Execution: Develop and execute category plans aligned to enterprise objectives, including assortment optimization, pricing actions, and supplier strategies.
Channel Spend & Value Capture: Identify, prioritize, and execute low-hanging savings opportunities (pricing gaps, rebates, volume leverage, SKU rationalization) to drive near-term and sustained run-rate impact.
Supplier Negotiations: Lead data-driven supplier negotiations using structured fact packs and line-review methodologies; quantify, secure, and track commercial outcomes.
Supplier Management: Own strategic supplier relationships, performance reviews, cost reduction initiatives, and continuous improvement efforts.
Analytics & Fact-Based Decision Making: Analyze Category and Supplier level sales to identify opportunities, build business cases, and support negotiations and category decisions.
Spend Consolidation: Partner with Integrated Supply and Industrial teams to eliminate tail suppliers, redirect volume, and ensure smooth execution of supplier transitions.
Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with Sales, Finance, Operations, IT, and Marketing to ensure category initiatives are executed effectively and aligned with customer needs.
Market & Competitive Insights: Monitor market pricing, competitor behavior, and product alternatives to strengthen negotiation leverage and category positioning.
Performance Tracking & Governance: Track savings realization, run-rate impact, and in-year benefits; ensure results are documented and sustained.
Other duties as assigned by departmental leadership.