Category Manager II | Strategic Procurement

APS•Phoenix, AZ

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Category Manager II is a specialized procurement role that is responsible for a specific category of goods or services. The Category Manager is charged with strategic sourcing, creating a category plan and providing oversight in the category. Drives the strategic management of supply chain initiatives and spend optimization for a specific subcategory or major project having significant impact on organizational and business unit goals and objectives. Category spend typically above $25M and SRM Supplier spend impact of 3-4 key suppliers. Drives development and implementation of supply chain strategies, targets, and schedules to achieve goals and objectives for cost management, supplier management (including supplier diversity) and process improvement.

Requirements

A four year Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Business, Engineering or other job-related discipline from an accredited college or university
Plus five (5) years materials or services procurement experience with significant exposure to strategic supply chain management issues.
In lieu of bachelor's degree, professional certification (e.g., CPM, CPSM) plus nine (9) years of significant, closely-related materials/services/supply chain experience
OR Associate's degree in business or related discipline, professional certification (e.g., CPM, CPSM) plus seven (7) years of significant, closely-related materials/services/supply chain experience.
Experience in conducting supplier negotiations.
Experience in reviewing and redlining contracts.
Experience in RFx processes such as request for proposal, request for information, request for quote and/or request for bid.

Nice To Haves

MBA or master's degree in related discipline.
Professional certification (e.g., CPM, CPSM).
Working knowledge and understanding of procurement and work management systems.
Proficiency in specific subcategory and supply chain programs, techniques, tools, concepts (including Total Cost of Ownership).
Exceptional verbal and written communication, interpersonal and presentation skills.
Using Microsoft Office applications.
Experience with inventory management.

Responsibilities

Develops and implements supply chain strategies for a specific category or subcategory to achieve targeted supply chain results for cost management, supplier management including supplier diversity, and process improvements.
Influences the spending decisions of business stakeholders by providing recommendations supported by data driven insights, leveraging market intelligence, should cost modeling, various negotiation methods and total cost of ownership analysis, all within a continuous improvement framework.
Determines strategy and resources for supporting procurement requirements of complex major projects including planning, integration and execution of the entire project and compliance of agreements.
Drives category management methodology to achieve maximum lifecycle value from major spend categories.
Influences the development and implementation of processes to maximize value.
Coordinates supply chain processes to achieve expected results.
Interfaces with internal customers, suppliers and supply chain staff (primarily buyers) to execute strategies and achieve expected results.
Manages supplier relationships, including setting and tracking performance indicators to anticipate and minimize performance issues.
Identifies root cause and develops solutions when significant issues arise.
Influences the selection, deployment and management of strategies, tools, processes and people to execute the company's annual portfolio of sourcing projects.
Contributes and participates on cross-functional teams to achieve savings targets while balancing other business requirements.
Supports projects of large capital, significant complexity, scope and reach.
Drives productivity improvement and process improvement efforts.
Supports new practices in supply chain management to achieve continuous improvement objectives.