Category Manager (Direct)

Davis-Standard•Stonington, CT

About The Position

The Category Manager (Direct) will be responsible for developing and executing global sourcing and category strategies aligned with business objectives. This role involves leading strategic sourcing activities for various direct material categories, including metals, machined parts, mechanical assemblies, and fabricated components. The Category Manager will also support indirect categories and manage supplier relationships, performance, and contracts to drive cost savings and mitigate supply chain risk. A strong understanding of manufacturing processes, materials, and market trends is essential, as is the ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams like Engineering and Operations.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain, Engineering, Finance, or a related discipline.
10+ years of progressive experience in strategic sourcing, category management, procurement, or supplier management.
Significant experience managing direct procurement and manufacturing-related categories, particularly metals, machined parts, mechanical components, fabrication, assemblies, and/or high-volume parts.
Experience with strategic sourcing and supplier management across global supply markets.
Experience with one or more strategic indirect categories such as IT, software, professional services, legal, marketing, travel, or P-Card spend.
Strong technical understanding of mechanical manufacturing processes, materials, supplier capabilities, and cost drivers.
Proven experience selecting, developing, and managing strategic suppliers.
Strong contract and commercial negotiation experience.
Demonstrated track record of measurable annual cost savings and cost avoidance.
Experience with benchmarking, should-cost analysis, pricing analysis, and total cost of ownership.
Proven ability to manage supplier capacity, performance, and supply-chain risk.
Excellent negotiation, communication, influencing, and stakeholder-management skills.
Demonstrated ability to influence and communicate effectively with senior leadership.
Strong analytical and project management capabilities.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office, particularly Microsoft Excel.
Ability to prioritize multiple initiatives and operate effectively in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in Business Administration, Engineering, Supply Chain, or a related field preferred.

Responsibilities

Develop and execute global sourcing and category strategies aligned with business objectives.
Lead strategic sourcing activities for metals and metal-related components, machined parts, high-volume parts suppliers, mechanical assemblies, fabricated components, OEM/distribution products, miscellaneous mechanical components, and Tier 2 mechanical suppliers.
Support strategic sourcing and supplier management initiatives for IT hardware and software, professional services, travel/P-Card spend, legal services, and marketing services.
Analyze spend, market conditions, supplier capabilities, cost drivers, and business requirements to identify opportunities for cost reduction, supplier consolidation, and improved commercial terms.
Develop category strategies, sourcing roadmaps, and pipelines of cost savings and cost-avoidance initiatives.
Lead RFIs, RFQs, RFPs, competitive bidding, supplier evaluations, and sourcing events.
Identify opportunities to leverage enterprise-wide purchasing volume and optimize the supplier base.
Manage strategic sourcing for metals, machined parts, fabricated components, mechanical assemblies, high-volume parts, OEM/distribution products, and other direct materials.
Develop a strong understanding of manufacturing processes, materials, supplier capabilities, capacity constraints, and industry trends.
Partner with Engineering and Operations on value engineering/value analysis, design optimization, product cost initiatives, and make-versus-buy decisions.
Ensure suppliers can support current and future production requirements and business growth.
Develop sourcing strategies that balance cost, quality, delivery, capacity, technology, and supply risk.
Establish and maintain strong strategic relationships with key suppliers.
Lead supplier selection, qualification, onboarding, development, and performance management.
Monitor supplier quality, delivery, capacity, cost, service, and overall performance.
Conduct regular supplier performance reviews and Quarterly Business Reviews (QBRs).
Establish measurable supplier performance objectives and drive corrective actions when requirements are not met.
Serve as the primary escalation point for significant supplier quality, delivery, capacity, commercial, and service issues.
Collaborate with suppliers on capacity planning, technology capabilities, product roadmaps, and continuous improvement initiatives.
Develop and execute negotiation strategies that achieve business objectives and reduce total cost of ownership.
Drive year-over-year cost savings and cost avoidance through competitive sourcing, supplier negotiations, supplier consolidation, benchmarking, value engineering, process improvements, and market intelligence.
Conduct total cost, pricing, benchmarking, and should-cost analysis.
Monitor commodity, raw material, labor, logistics, technology, and market trends affecting supplier pricing.
Negotiate pricing, payment terms, lead times, capacity commitments, service levels, warranties, and other commercial terms.
Establish measurable savings targets and maintain visibility to the sourcing pipeline and realized savings.
Negotiate and manage supplier commercial agreements across assigned categories.
Ensure NDAs, SOWs, purchase agreements, master service agreements, software agreements, and other applicable contracts are executed in a timely manner.
Manage the contract lifecycle, including renewals, amendments, pricing reviews, and changes to commercial terms.
Partner with Legal and internal stakeholders to ensure appropriate contractual protections and compliance.
Maintain accurate documentation of sourcing decisions, supplier agreements, pricing, and commercial terms.