Category Manager I

Viega • Mantua, OH

37d • $81,000 - $106,000

About The Position

The Category Manager is responsible for developing and executing Sourcing Strategy for their assigned categories. Recommending supplier selection and negotiating with suppliers based on the long term category sourcing and business product strategy and TCO. Establishing and maintaining contractual and business relationships with the suppliers. Communicating with Business Units and Corporate Department influencers and users on the selection.

Requirements

• Knowledge of computer programs, including Microsoft Office, Visio, BW, LiveLink
• Advanced knowledge of ERP systems; SAP
• Expert knowledge of manufacturing and supply chain processes, matrix or strategic pricing, and supplier markets.
• Strong negotiator with proven experience in setting negotiation strategies and conducting negotiations.
• Extensive knowledge of the basic types of commercial agreement structures and the function and purpose of key legal terms.
• Strong experience assessing risk and concisely explaining complex issues to principal business owners.
• Extremely customer-focused and takes the time to understand the needs of the business.
• Experience working in a large, global, highly matrixed organization.
• Strong analytical skills including the ability to quickly synthesize, distill and draw conclusions on large amounts of disparate data.
• Ability to manage multiple simultaneous projects requiring frequent communication, organization, time management, and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Passionate self-starter with the highest integrity and ethics.
• Bachelor's Degree in Supply Chain, Business, Economics, or related field
• 10+ years of related source to pay experience in Purchasing and Strategic Sourcing
• Category specific procurement experience required
• In-depth experience in best-in-class procurement practices (category management, benchmarking, should-cost models, RFX, reverse auction, contracting, etc.)

Responsibilities

• Frequent and successful negotiations of machinery and related services
• Ability to facilitate the purchasing process of many different projects simultaneously
• Ability to collaborate with multiple areas of the business on each project
• Project Management- Having a completely transparent understanding of where the projects are at in status
• Project Management- Being able to effectively report various project statuses at any time
• Ability to proactively drive results and effective project completion with little direction
• Establishing strong relationships with internal business stakeholders; building a strong understanding of strategic business direction, requirements, and priorities across assigned suppliers and/or spend categories.
• Developing global sourcing strategies to deliver against business objectives for internal clients.
• Evaluating supplier core competencies and competitive positioning using industry cost models and bench-marking analysis.
• Managing the fundamentals of sourcing and supplier engagement activities including RFx, spend pattern analysis, contract analysis, bid evaluation, negotiations, and supplier consolidation.
• Identifying sourcing opportunities by leveraging spend analysis tools and engage with stakeholders to consolidate requirements over categories, suppliers and geographies.
• Work with business and finance leaders to identify and drive savings and controllership improvements, focusing on total cost of ownership.
• Providing guidance to internal stakeholders on procurement strategies
• Prepare and hold business reviews with stakeholders to review vendor performance, future opportunities, and/or challenges
• May be required to travel up to 50% of the time.

Benefits

• Medical, Dental, Vision
• Wellness Program
• Health Savings Account (HSA) with a company contribution
• Voluntary Benefits (Life, AD&D, Disability)
• 401(k) retirement plan with a 7.5% company contribution
• Time Off Programs - 22 days Paid Time Off (PTO), 9 Company Holidays, 2 Volunteer Days

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Industry: Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees