Category Manager
About The Position
The Category Manager leads assigned procurement projects and sourcing categories, overseeing their full spend lifecycle. The role provides leadership in strategic sourcing, procurement, contract management, supplier relationship management, inventory management, and material standardization. It develops, negotiates, executes, and maintains strategic sourcing agreements for materials, equipment, and services used by internal customers. The position identifies cost-reduction opportunities and captures total cost of ownership savings by aggregating sourcing volumes. It develops and executes project-driven sourcing activities for high-spend, high-impact, and often complex categories across business units. Working collaboratively with Supply Chain, Procurement, business units, and operating companies, the Category Manager develops strategies and contracts that incorporate corporate spend and savings goals, support business needs, and help the company operate efficiently in a competitive and changing environment. The role also develops and manages metrics to measure program progress and actions.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in a related field and at least 8 years of relevant work experience; alternatively, an associate's degree in a related field and at least 9 years of relevant work experience; or a high school diploma or equivalent and at least 10 years of relevant work experience.
- Project management skills.
- Investigative nature and a process-oriented mindset.
Nice To Haves
- MBA or purchasing certification.
- Experience with lean manufacturing, kaizen, continuous improvement, or similar production tools.
- The ideal candidate will have 8 years of supply chain or related experience.
- Experience in utilities or operations/manufacturing settings.
Responsibilities
- Develop and manage company strategies to control costs within budgetary limits, generate savings, rationalize inventory, and maximize available working capital.
- Lead assigned procurement projects and sourcing categories across the full spend lifecycle.
- Develop, negotiate, execute, and maintain strategic sourcing agreements for materials, equipment, and services.
- Identify cost-reduction opportunities and capture total cost of ownership savings by aggregating sourcing volumes.
- Develop and execute strategic, project-driven sourcing activities for high-spend, high-impact, and complex categories across business unit stakeholders.
- Establish implementation timing and support resources, including analysis, benchmarking, contract development and maintenance, standardization events, and communications.
- Perform supplier relationship management and contract administration for assigned programs.
- Work with Supply Chain teams to align buying strategies and contracts with inventory strategies and operating company needs.
- Leverage technology to create internal process efficiencies.
- Communicate program performance metrics to appropriate management levels.
- Work with business units and Supply Chain on demand management strategies.
- Assist in optimizing logistics processes and collaborate with supply chain colleagues on solutions to operating problems.
- Develop and manage metrics and measurements to track program progress and related actions.
- Build effective relationships and collaborate with business unit customers and suppliers to maintain customer satisfaction.
- Interface with business unit leadership to report progress toward goals.
- Champion initiatives that support shared business objectives and business unit needs.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
