Principal Capital Equipment Category Lead

Dart Container•Mason, MI

About The Position

The Principal Category Specialist leads Procurement activities for strategic business transformation initiatives while providing ongoing category management in partnership with the assigned department. This position plays a critical role in driving sourcing, supplier negotiations, contract development, and business case analysis for high-impact projects with significant impact on the company's operational and financial performance.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree with an emphasis in business, supply chain management, logistics, finance, engineering, or a related field of study
Advanced experience in procurement, strategic sourcing, and supply chain
May require advanced knowledge of transportation networks, distribution operations, freight management, and logistics cost drivers
Experience supporting large-scale supply chain transformation or network optimization projects
Demonstrated success leading complex sourcing initiatives and supplier negotiations
Strong knowledge of commercial contract structures, terms and conditions, and contract risk management
Exceptional business case development and financial modeling capabilities
Strong commercial acumen with experience developing and executing executive-level materials
Proven ability to communicate effectively with senior executives, including C-suite leadership and Boards of Directors
Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills
Ability to operate independently in a fast-paced, highly visible project environment
Familiar with change management best practices

Nice To Haves

Professional certifications such as CPSM, CSCP, CPIM, PMP, or equivalent

Responsibilities

Lead procurement activities supporting strategic department projects from sourcing strategy through contract execution
Partner with other internal departments such as Logistics, Operations, and/or Finance teams to address supplier issues, service escalations, pricing requests, contract amendments, and continuous improvement opportunities
Serve as the primary Procurement business partner for the assigned function, supporting both strategic initiatives and ongoing operational requirements
Develop and execute negotiation strategies with specialty providers, companies, partners, and/or related suppliers
Drive supplier selection processes including RFIs, RFPs, bid evaluations, and commercial assessments
Build comprehensive business cases, financial analyses, and total cost of ownership models to support executive decision-making
Partner with cross-functional teams such as Supply Chain, Logistics, Operations, Finance, Engineering, Legal, and/or Executive Leadership
Draft, review, negotiate, and manage commercial contracts and statements of work in collaboration with Legal
Identify and quantify cost savings, operational improvements, risk mitigation opportunities, and service enhancements
Prepare and deliver executive-level presentations and recommendations for leadership reviews, steering committees, and board meetings
Develop and execute category strategies for assigned department spend areas, including annual planning, market assessments, supplier performance reviews, and savings initiatives
Provide procurement expertise and market intelligence regarding logistics industry trends, supplier capabilities, and commercial best practices
Ensure procurement activities align with corporate governance, compliance, and risk management requirements
Support implementation planning and supplier transition activities as needed