Sr. Category Manager

Tarkett•Solon, OH

16h•Remote

About The Position

The Senior Category Manager – Real Estate & Facilities Services is a key role within Tarkett North America's Corporate Procurement organization. This position is responsible for developing and executing the strategy for Tarkett's real estate and facilities services category, overseeing a third-party provider responsible for lease administration, project management, and facilities management across Tarkett's real estate portfolio, including offices, showrooms, and owned manufacturing sites. The role will additionally own the utilities management category, ensuring reliable, cost-effective utility services across Tarkett's North American footprint. This individual will set the strategic direction for the outsourced real estate and facilities services relationship, holding the provider accountable for service quality, cost performance, and project delivery. The Senior Category Manager partners closely with plant leadership, finance, workplace stakeholders, and senior executives to enhance value delivery through data-driven strategies, strong governance, and creative problem-solving.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Business, Supply Chain Finance, Engineering or related fields.
Minimum 5-7 years of experience in procurement or strategic sourcing with a preferred focus in the real estate management, facilities management, or utilities management space.
Strong communicator and collaborator with executive presence; able to influence and build trust with senior stakeholders across the organization.
Demonstrated ability to problem-solve and develop creative, practical solutions to complex operational challenges.
Experience managing third-party service providers or outsourced vendor relationships.
Proven ability to manage multiple, geographically dispersed sites and projects concurrently.
Excellent written and verbal communication, negotiation, and presentation skills.
Results-oriented, analytical, and capable of driving measurable outcomes.
Ability to work effectively in a remote capacity.

Nice To Haves

Experience in a manufacturing environment strongly preferred.
Experience with utilities/energy sourcing and management.
Working knowledge or related experience in the real estate management services sector with a focus on 3rd party vendor relationship management and/or facilities management
Ability to travel as needed to support portfolio sites.

Responsibilities

Develop and execute the real estate and facilities management category strategy, overseeing the third-party provider relationship for lease administration, project management, and facilities management across the portfolio of offices, showrooms, and owned manufacturing sites.
Own the utilities management category, including sourcing strategy, contract management, cost oversight, and performance tracking for utility services across the network.
Manage the day-to-day relationship and overall performance of the outsourced real estate/facilities services provider, holding the partner accountable to SLAs, KPIs, and cost targets.
Partner with plant leadership, finance, and workplace stakeholders to align real estate, facilities, and utilities strategy with business needs and growth plans.
Provide oversight of lease administration activities, including lease renewals, terminations, and portfolio optimization decisions across owned and leased sites.
Oversee capital and facilities project execution delivered through the third-party provider, ensuring projects are completed on time, on budget, and to specification.
Develop and manage category KPIs (cost, service, quality, safety) and supplier scorecards for real estate, facilities, and utilities performance.
Identify and implement creative, cost-effective solutions to real estate, facilities, and utilities challenges across a diverse portfolio spanning office, showroom, and manufacturing environments.
Conduct regular business reviews with the service provider and key utility partners to drive continuous improvement and resolve performance gaps.
Analyze real estate, construction, and utilities/energy market dynamics to anticipate cost and risk changes, developing mitigation strategies as needed.
Measure and report category performance, establishing baseline benchmarks and tracking savings, service levels, and delivery improvements.
Negotiate contracts and agreements related to real estate services, facilities management, and utilities to secure long-term value and mitigate risk.
Serve as a trusted advisor and communicator to executive stakeholders, translating complex real estate and facilities issues into clear, actionable recommendations.