Sr. Category Manager

Tarkett•Atlanta, GA

6d•$135,000 - $155,000•Remote

About The Position

The Senior Category Manager – Direct Materials is a leadership role in Tarkett North America’s Corporate Procurement organization. The position develops and executes commercially competitive category management and sourcing strategies across North American operations and owns Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) for critical direct material categories. These include PVC resin, plasticizers, fillers, recycled PVC, PVB, dispersions, and adhesives, with potential expansion to additives and other chemicals based on business needs and demonstrated capability. The role sets strategic direction for supplier relationships and holds suppliers accountable for cost performance, quality, supply assurance, service levels, and continuous improvement. Working through cross-functional teams, the Senior Category Manager partners with plant leadership, R&D, Quality, Operations, Planning, Finance, and senior executives to deliver value through data-driven strategies, governance, negotiation, and problem-solving. The position leads the full TCO sourcing process, from planning and strategy development through sourcing, contracting, supplier qualification, and ongoing performance management. Its work supports operational efficiency, structural cost savings, and Tarkett’s strategic and sustainability objectives. This is a remote role, with travel of up to 25% to supplier and company sites.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain, Finance, Engineering, Chemistry, or a related field.
6–10 years of progressive experience in strategic sourcing, category management, or procurement; alternatively, experience in Production, R&D, or Engineering with significant commercial exposure. Direct-material experience is preferred.
Strong understanding of Total Cost of Ownership principles, strategic sourcing methodology, cost modeling, and contract negotiation.
Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams and influence without direct authority.
Strong communication and collaboration skills, executive presence, and ability to build trust with senior stakeholders.
Excellent written and verbal communication, negotiation, and presentation skills.
Strong analytical capability, including Excel-based cost modeling; proficiency with ERP and e-sourcing systems such as SAP, Ariba, or equivalent.
Ability to problem-solve and develop practical, creative solutions to complex operational challenges.
Ability to work remotely with a high degree of self-direction.
Ability to travel up to 25% to support supplier and company site operations.

Nice To Haves

MBA.
Direct sourcing experience with PVC resin, plasticizers, fillers, PVB, dispersions, adhesives, additives, or specialty chemicals.
Experience sourcing recycled or post-consumer material streams and supporting circular-economy initiatives.
Experience in a multi-plant manufacturing environment; flooring, building products, or plastics processing industry knowledge is strongly preferred.
Expertise in category management from strategy development through execution.
Experience with index-based and formula pricing, commodity risk management, and hedging concepts.
Knowledge of supply markets, cost drivers, and technology trends affecting direct materials.
Strong business acumen and ability to develop fact-based business cases and influence senior stakeholders.
Advanced project management skills and ability to manage multiple initiatives concurrently.
Skill in creating, negotiating, and administering supplier contracts.
Lean, Six Sigma, or continuous improvement training.
Professional certification such as CPSM, CPSD, CIPS, or C.P.M.

Responsibilities

Develop and execute multi-year strategies for PVC, plasticizers, fillers, recycled PVC, PVB, dispersions, and adhesives, optimizing cost, quality, supply assurance, risk, and sustainability performance.
Lead the full category lifecycle using the Strategic Sourcing process, from business case development and market analysis through execution, contracting, and supplier management.
Drive Total Cost of Ownership using market intelligence, cost modeling, should-cost analysis, and competitive benchmarking.
Build feedstock-to-material cost models, including relevant PVC and plasticizer cost linkages, to validate supplier pricing and support fact-based negotiations.
Negotiate complex supply agreements covering pricing, commercial terms, volume commitments, capacity guarantees, and continuity provisions.
Lead Supplier Relationship Management for strategic suppliers, including joint business plans, innovation pipelines, and continuous improvement programs.
Manage supplier relationships and performance, holding suppliers accountable to service-level agreements, KPIs, and cost targets.
Develop category KPIs and supplier scorecards for cost, quality, service, delivery, safety, and productivity.
Analyze market and cost-driver dynamics, including capacity, feedstock, logistics, trade policy, and regulatory changes, and develop mitigation strategies.
Reduce single-source exposure through dual sourcing, qualified alternatives, and regional supply options; maintain category risk assessments and business continuity plans.
Lead cross-functional stakeholder teams to align sourcing strategies with business goals and secure organizational buy-in.
Partner with R&D and Quality on material qualification, specification changes, formulation alternatives, and new product introduction sourcing support.
Advance circularity and sustainability objectives through recycled PVC and post-industrial or post-consumer content sourcing, supplier carbon and EPD data collection, and lower-impact material alternatives.
Partner with Supply Chain and Planning on inventory strategy, working capital, minimum order quantities, lead times, and safety stock levels.
Measure and report category performance, establishing benchmarks and tracking savings, price variance versus index, lead time, service level, and delivery improvements.
Advise and communicate with executive stakeholders, translating business cases and market dynamics into actionable recommendations.
Maintain contract, pricing, and supplier data integrity in enterprise systems and ensure compliance with procurement policy, internal controls, and delegated authority.