Senior Category Manager (Logistics)

Cynet Systems•Lake Zurich, IL

About The Position

The Senior Category Manager (Logistics) will develop, own, and execute multi-year logistics category strategies for 4PL, transport, and distribution across the Americas. This role is responsible for translating global category direction into regionally executable strategies, ensuring alignment with U.S. regulatory requirements, market conditions, and operational realities. The position involves leading complex sourcing events, negotiating contracts, leveraging market intelligence, and building strategic partnerships with logistics providers. A key focus is on delivering cost savings, service improvements, and supplier-led innovation while ensuring compliance, resilience, and sustainability. The role requires strong analytical skills, advanced negotiation capabilities, and exceptional stakeholder engagement at senior leadership levels.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in supply chain, Business, Engineering, or a related discipline.
10+ years of procurement or category management experience.
5+ years specializing in logistics (4PL, transport, distribution).
Proven experience managing high-value logistics contracts within complex, multinational environments.
Demonstrated ability to deliver cost savings, service improvements, and supplier-led innovation through strategic sourcing.
Deep expertise in US logistics regulations, cold chain requirements, and Good Distribution Practice (GDP) standards.
Strong commercial judgment and advanced negotiation capability.
Exceptional stakeholder engagement and influence at senior leadership levels.
Highly analytical with well-developed market intelligence and data analysis skills.
Comfortable operating in matrixed, global organizations.
Hands-on, results-oriented leadership style with a continuous improvement mindset.
Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, Copilot a plus.
Experience with digital procurement platforms (e.g., SAP Ariba or equivalent) and AI technologies.
Working knowledge of ERP systems for sourcing, contracting, and supplier management.
Commitment to corporate values and adherence to company standards and management systems related to Health, Safety, Environment, Energy, and Quality (HSEEQ).
Willingness to work in a global, multicultural environment and travel as required.
Ability to operate effectively during periods of change and transformation.

Nice To Haves

MBA or professional certifications (e.g., CPSM, CSCP, CIPS, Lean Six Sigma) strongly preferred.
Background in a regulated industry such as pharmaceuticals, biotech, or medical devices strongly preferred.
Familiarity with analytics, dashboards, Power BI and data visualization tools a plus.

Responsibilities

Develop, own and execute multi-year logistics category strategies for 4PL, transport, and distribution across the Americas, fully aligned with global procurement objectives and business priorities.
Translate global category direction into regionally executable strategies, reflecting U.S. regulatory requirements (FDA, DOT), market conditions, and operational realities.
Lead category planning, demand forecasting, and initiative prioritization to support growth, product launches, and network changes.
Ensure category strategies address service resilience, total cost of ownership, compliance, and sustainability.
Convert category strategies into structured annual sourcing roadmaps with clear value, risk, performance outcomes and sustainable pipeline management.
Lead complex sourcing events including RFPs, negotiations, supplier selection, and contract awards for high-value logistics services.
Negotiate robust commercial and service agreements covering rates, SLAs, climate/temperature control requirements, business continuity, and innovative commitments to deliver measurable value.
Leverage and apply market intelligence, freight and energy indices, benchmarking, and analytics to drive fact-based sourcing decisions and stakeholder recommendations.
Ensure full compliance with procurement governance, financial controls, and risk management standards.
Build and deploy strategic partnerships with leading global and regional logistics providers via a globally defined ecosystem consistent across the Americas.
Surface regional market insights and partnerships to inform global supplier strategy and portfolio decisions.
Implement structured supplier performance management, including KPIs, scorecards, QBRs, and continuous improvement plans for supplier consolidation, innovation partnerships, and risk mitigation.
Feed regional insights on capacity, performance, and emerging providers into global supplier strategy decisions.
Act as a trusted commercial and strategic partner to Supply Chain, Quality, Regulatory, Finance, Legal, and regional business leaders.
Ensure logistics sourcing decisions fully support GDP, cold chain, and product integrity requirements.
Influence senior stakeholders by providing data-driven insights, market intelligence, and clear articulation of trade-offs and recommendations.
Support logistics-related transformations, network redesigns, and digital initiatives from a procurement perspective.
Deliver measurable and sustainable outcomes in cost efficiency, service excellence, risk reduction, and environmental impact.
Drive initiatives to reduce the carbon footprint of transport and distribution, including modal shifts, supplier sustainability programs, and packaging optimization.
Improve cost transparency across sub-categories through standardized rate cards, engagement models, and spend analytics.
Contribute to the evolution of procurement processes, tools, policies, and governance frameworks.
Promote cross-regional collaboration and best-practice sharing across Global Indirect Procurement.
Ensure compliance to company documents, programs and activities related to Health, Safety, Environment, Energy, and Quality Management Systems.