Category Manager

Vanderlande•Marietta, GA

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

Vanderlande is seeking a new Category Manager to manage the platforms & steelworks category and execute related strategic sourcing initiatives. You will be part of the Procurement department and report directly into the Head of Regional Direct Spend for North America. As Category Manager, you will develop and execute category strategies to optimize and enhance our procurement activities across our projects. Your leadership will be critical in managing complex sourcing events and fostering strong supplier relationships to ensure our procurement activities align with business objectives and ethical standards. Our global procurement organization enables our projects and business functions by maximizing value and minimizing risks via the procurement of goods and services in the most smart, cost-effective and sustainable way. We ensure a resilient and competitive supplier ecosystem and aim to advance towards best-in-class practices, and ensure the organization is efficient, effective, and future-proof. Furthermore, our procurement organization plays an important role in Vanderlande's transformation from an Engineer-to-Order (ETO) to a Configure-to-Order (CTO) business model. This new model aims at enhancing value for its customers through increased standardization, scalability, and more competitive solutions.

Requirements

Experience (+10 years) in procurement or supply chain management, with a strong understanding of category management processes or equivalent experience in logistics automation
Bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Supply Chain (or similar field) or equivalent work experience
Experience with structural steel engineering, production, and/or construction and installation
Ability to travel up to 20% of the time (domestic and international if needed)

Nice To Haves

Industry-recognized certification (CPSM, CSCP or similar)
Prior experience in the material handling systems industry or similar project-based industry
Experience in platforms and steel sourcing, production, installation, construction, or similar.
Knowledge and practical experience with sourcing methodologies and tools, with familiarity with S2P suites being a plus
Proven ability to support the establishment and management of sourcing events, including stakeholder communication, documentation, and process execution
Experience in developing and maintaining documentation to ensure high-quality and standardized category coordination activities
Excellent communication and collaboration skills to work effectively with cross-functional teams and stakeholders
Entrepreneurial spirit, ability to set own goals and get things done
Good time management, ability to multitask, prioritize and meet deadlines
Excellent negotiation skills, creative thinker, problem solver
Good interpersonal and influencing skills, superior communicator
Sense of customer service, cross functional team player, relationship builder
Ability to deal with fluid situations, incomplete information, flexibility

Responsibilities

Manage assigned categories, gathering business requirements, supporting strategic sourcing events, assisting with the creation of sourcing projects and RfX documents, evaluating proposals, and supporting negotiations.
Manage light strategic sourcing events, conduct auctions, and respond to supplier clarifications.
Act as a liaison between regional and global category teams to align on strategies and initiatives.
Gather business requirements, create/modify project charters and plans within the Category Management tool, support the contract creation process, support the supplier onboarding process, etc.
Lead strategic and complex sourcing events, assisting with tasks such as the creation of the sourcing projects within the S2P Suite, creation of RfX documents, evaluation of proposal based on pre-defined criteria, support the negotiation process, etc.
Coordinate auction events by determining the auction type and strategy, compiling necessary details, inputting functional and technical requirements into the S2P suite, analyzing bids to identify the leading bidder, and selecting preferred suppliers for award recommendation.
When required, review details within Purchase Requisitions (PR) for non-catalog items and request clarification from requester(s).
Coordinate the modification of Item Master Data for assigned categories (suppliers, items, catalogs, prices, etc.) with support from MDM Specialists.