Sr. Category Manager - Global Indirect Procurement

Vantage Specialty Chemicals • Deerfield, IL

1d

About The Position

The Senior Category Manager – Global Indirect Procurement owns a broad, strategically important global indirect-spend portfolio. The role develops and executes procurement strategies across Capital Expenditures (CapEx), Operating Expenditures (OpEx), professional and business services, and other third-party goods and services. Most company spend is in the United States, with additional spend and stakeholders in Germany and Spain.

This is a senior, hands-on category leadership role requiring independent analysis of complex spend and business data, prioritization of opportunities, development of category strategies, stakeholder influence, negotiation leadership, and delivery of initiatives through implementation and measurable results. The role also leads and develops a small team of 1–2 procurement professionals, while focusing primarily on category ownership, strategic sourcing, commercial results, business impact, and continuous improvement of team efficiency.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Procurement, Business, Finance, Engineering, Economics, or a related discipline.
• 10+ years of progressive experience in procurement, strategic sourcing, category management, or a related commercial function.
• Experience managing large, complex indirect-spend portfolios across relevant categories such as CapEx, OpEx, professional services, business services, facilities, MRO, or other third-party spend.
• Proven track record of delivering measurable cost savings, commercial value, and supplier negotiation outcomes.
• Strong analytical capability, including experience using spend data, Excel, ERP, procurement, or business intelligence tools to support decisions.
• Demonstrated ability to influence senior stakeholders and communicate clearly across business, supplier, and international teams.
• Experience leading and developing a small team.

Responsibilities

• Lead global indirect-spend strategy and performance across categories, delivering value through cost, supplier, risk, and process improvements.
• Lead strategic sourcing and commercial management from strategy development through negotiation, contracting, and implementation.
• Use analytics and business intelligence to identify opportunities, guide decisions, and measure category performance.
• Build trusted stakeholder partnerships and influence alignment around procurement priorities, value, and commercial decisions.
• Develop and manage supplier strategies that strengthen performance, value, innovation, and risk mitigation.
• Lead, develop, and hold a small procurement team accountable while building capability and continuous improvement.
• Drive high-value initiatives from analysis through execution while improving procurement processes, governance, and ways of working globally.

Benefits

• Medical insurance
• Health savings account (HSA)
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• Flexible spending accounts (limited purpose, dependent care, and commuter/parking)
• Life and AD&D insurance
• Accident, hospital indemnity, and critical illness insurance
• Short- and long-term disability
• Employee assistance program (EAP)
• Identity theft protection
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• 401(k) with company match

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior