Sr. Category Lead

H.B. Fuller•St. Paul, MN

1d•$87,000 - $107,000

About The Position

The Senior Sourcing Category Lead will lead the full lifecycle of capital equipment sourcing, including defining sourcing strategies, managing RFQs, evaluating technical and commercial proposals, selecting suppliers, and negotiating commercial terms. The role will partner closely with Engineering and Operations to translate technical requirements into competitive sourcing events and optimized total cost of ownership. This position will drive supplier selection decisions, negotiate pricing, payment terms, warranties, service agreements, and delivery schedules, and ensure suppliers meet quality, lead‑time, and performance expectations. The role will also support cost optimization initiatives, identify savings opportunities, and balance near‑term project needs with long‑term supplier strategy. In addition, the role will work cross‑functionally with Finance, Legal, Project Management, and site stakeholders to ensure alignment on budgets, CAPEX approvals, risk mitigation, and execution timelines. Strong stakeholder communication, organization, and project management skills are critical, as multiple sourcing events and projects will run in parallel.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required: business, supply chain, engineering, or related field.
Three or more years of experience in sourcing, procurement, or supply chain roles.
Proven experience running RFQs, leading supplier selection, and negotiating commercial terms for complex equipment or services.
Experience using ERP, S&OP, or payment systems for purchasing, data management, or contract workflow.
At least one year of experience supporting manufacturing or industrial operations.
Ability to work independently, manage multiple priorities, and complete tasks with limited direction.
Demonstrated ability to work cross‑functionally with Engineering, Operations, Finance, and senior stakeholders.
Strong commercial acumen, cost‑optimization mindset, and understanding of total cost of ownership.
Excellent organization, communication, and project management skills.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree and at least one year of industry experience.
One or more years of advanced experience in sourcing analytics or category management.
Proficiency in data analysis, problem‑solving, written communication, and stakeholder partnership; additional language capability (e.g., Spanish) is beneficial.

Responsibilities

Execute sourcing events and support the development of category strategies for CAPEX.
Lead end‑to‑end sourcing for capital equipment and CAPEX projects, including strategy development, RFQs, supplier evaluation, selection, and commercial negotiations.
Partner with Engineering, Operations, Finance, Project Management, and site leadership to translate technical and business requirements into effective sourcing outcomes.
Negotiate pricing, payment terms, warranties, service agreements, and delivery schedules to optimize total cost of ownership and mitigate risk.
Drive cost optimization initiatives through market analysis, benchmarking, and supplier strategy development.
Manage supplier performance for capital projects, ensuring quality, delivery, and contractual compliance.
Coordinate cross‑functional stakeholders and manage multiple sourcing projects simultaneously with strong organization and communication.