Sourcing Category Manager

ProDriven Global Brands•Austin, TX

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Sourcing Category Manager manages commercial relationships with suppliers in assigned core commodity and product categories across the organization. Working independently and with suppliers and internal stakeholders, the role develops and executes category, contract, and supply-management strategies to secure supply, control risk, manage costs, and support new product development. The position leads supply-base management strategies that meet the business’s operational, commercial, and technical requirements. The role is hybrid, with a minimum of four days per week in the office for collaboration, teamwork, and business needs. This requirement may change as business needs evolve. Domestic and international travel of 10%–20% is required.

Requirements

Five to seven years of progressive direct Procurement experience, including at least three years of direct-materials category-management experience.
At least three years of project or program management experience in a supply-chain, procurement, product-development, or manufacturing environment.
Understanding of sourcing, materials management, and logistics.
Experience with direct-materials categories, including commodities such as textiles, fall protection, fasteners, fabricated metals, hardware, and locks, and/or finished-goods sourcing.
Intermediate Microsoft Outlook, Word, and PowerPoint skills.
Intermediate Microsoft Excel skills.
Ability to work independently; assertiveness and self-direction.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
Adaptability and ability to multitask.
Strong communication, interpersonal, and facilitation skills.
Excellent negotiation and cost-management skills.
Ability to influence and work through others, collaborate as part of a team, and drive and execute change.
Strong organization, attention to detail, and ability to manage competing priorities.
Ability to excel in a highly matrixed, cross-functional environment and remain flexible.
Willingness to travel domestically and internationally 10%–20%.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in business/finance, engineering, or a related field; equivalent work experience is accepted.
Certifications such as CPM, CPSM, CPIM, PMP, Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, or Lean Six Sigma Green Belt.
Language skills in English, Spanish, or Mandarin.

Responsibilities

Develop and execute strategic sourcing and supply-management strategies to improve supplier performance, reduce costs, minimize risk, and capture innovation.
Develop, negotiate, and manage long-term agreements with key suppliers, including contract manufacturers, to minimize risk and total cost of ownership.
Transform and optimize the supply base using strategic sourcing tools and processes.
Build and maintain effective business relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
Develop and present cost models to understand purchased-component and service cost drivers, and use negotiation and cost-management tools to obtain competitive pricing.
Monitor market trends and maintain subject-matter expertise in assigned areas.
Set supplier performance expectations, monitor supplier performance, and drive compliance.
Ensure continuity of supply by proactively managing critical supply issues and securing supplier capacity for current and future needs.
Visit supplier manufacturing facilities to evaluate capacity, processes, secondary operations, value-add, size, and systems.
Develop and present product costs for designs, alternative designs, and new technologies during planning and concept-design phases.
Introduce new suppliers, products, processes, and technologies to Design and Engineering to support brand competitiveness.
Identify cost-reduction opportunities through supplier and requirements consolidation, alternative sourcing, labor reduction, warranty reduction, working-capital reduction, and value analysis/value engineering.
Lead cross-functional and supplier team meetings to execute sourcing initiatives, cost-reduction efforts, and productivity projects.
Perform other duties assigned within the scope of the role.
Perform essential job functions and duties with or without reasonable accommodation.