Specialist, Category Management

L3Harris Technologies•City of Rochester, NY

2d•$63,500 - $117,500

About The Position

The Category Management function assists with developing and implementing commodity sourcing strategies through organizational and marketplace assessments. The Specialist works with cross-functional teams to analyze supplier performance, identify potential risks, recommend mitigation strategies, and support capability and capacity assessments. The role also participates in supplier negotiations and applies business acumen and interpersonal skills to leverage organizational scale for the best possible quality, technology, cost, and delivery for customers. The position supports category strategy development and execution, supplier relationship management, market research, negotiation planning, and coordination with internal customers and sector teams. It also supports new product introductions with preferred suppliers to achieve targeted bill-of-materials costs and program objectives. Travel may be required up to 25%. The schedule is a 9/80 schedule: employees work 9 out of every 14 days, totaling 80 hours, and have every other Friday off.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree and 4 years of prior experience; or a 2-year post-secondary/AA degree and 8 years of prior experience; or a graduate degree and 2 years of prior related experience.
In lieu of a degree, a minimum of 8 years of prior related experience.

Nice To Haves

Experience in supply chain, procurement, engineering, or data management.
Experience conducting spend analysis, market research, or supplier assessments.
Experience working in a matrixed or decentralized environment.
Proficiency in Microsoft Outlook, Excel, Word, Project, and PowerPoint.
Six Sigma Green Belt or other Lean experience.
Technical background.
Supplier or customer interaction experience, internal or external.
Ability to excel in a team environment by developing relationships and sharing knowledge.
Experience with data analysis, financial modeling, or cost analysis.
Familiarity with ERP systems such as SAP or Oracle, or procurement platforms.

Responsibilities

Support development and execution of the category strategy for the segment.
Communicate regularly with supply chain leadership and functional teams about category status, challenges, and opportunities.
Coordinate continuously with internal customers to understand evolving business objectives, expectations, and requirements.
Manage supplier relationships and segmentation based on key enterprise priorities.
Manage and analyze supplier matters, take appropriate actions, and create risk mitigation strategies.
Participate in on-site supplier events, including SBRs and industrial capability and capacity assessments.
Develop market insights using research and data on industry developments, supply-and-demand dynamics, emerging technologies, and leading-edge practices.
Partner with team members on negotiations involving total cost of ownership, make-versus-buy analyses, inventory reduction programs, security of supply, and data analysis; develop negotiation strategies through closure, including approaches, fallback positions, acceptable terms and conditions, and contracts.
Serve as a subject matter expert and partner continuously with internal customers to understand evolving business objectives, expectations, and specific requirements.
Coordinate with sectors to deliver new product introductions with preferred suppliers, targeted BOM cost, and program objectives and milestones.
Establish a strong network and foster collaboration with sector and segment teams, suppliers, key stakeholders, and category team members.
Travel up to 25%.