Sr. Manager, Global Category Management

HRT Solutions•Cary, IL

1d•$145,000 - $155,000

About The Position

We are seeking an experienced and strategic Senior Manager, Global Category Management to lead enterprise‑wide sourcing initiatives and oversee a team of category managers. This role combines hands‑on ownership of high‑impact categories with leadership responsibility for guiding global sourcing strategy, supplier performance, and cost optimization across the organization. Operating within a matrixed, global manufacturing environment, the Senior Manager partners closely with Engineering, Operations, Planning, and Finance to ensure supply continuity, strengthen supplier relationships, and drive long‑term value creation.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Engineering, Business, or a related discipline; an MBA is a plus.
7–10+ years of experience in strategic sourcing or category management, ideally focused on direct materials.
Background working within global or multi‑site manufacturing environments.
3–5+ years of leadership experience managing teams across regions or within a global structure.
Strong negotiation capabilities, analytical thinking, and stakeholder management skills.
Proven ability to lead cross‑functional initiatives and influence outcomes within a matrixed organization.
Excellent communication skills with the ability to engage and present effectively at the executive level.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Excel, PowerPoint), data visualization tools such as PowerBI, and project management applications.

Nice To Haves

Experience sourcing metals, electrical components, or other technical direct‑material categories.
Demonstrated ability to coach, mentor, and develop procurement talent.
Familiarity with ERP and eSourcing platforms (e.g., JDE, Microsoft Dynamics 365, Oracle, Ariba, Coupa).
Background in Lean, Six Sigma, or other continuous improvement methodologies.
Professional certifications such as APICS or ISM (CPIM, CPM, CIRM) are advantageous

Responsibilities

Lead global category strategies for assigned direct material categories.
Manage end‑to‑end sourcing activities including RFx development, negotiations, and supplier selection.
Deliver measurable cost savings, cost avoidance, and value engineering outcomes.
Monitor commodity markets and develop proactive mitigation strategies for cost and supply risks.
Build and maintain strategic supplier relationships for critical categories.
Provide direction, coaching, and oversight to category managers and analysts across multiple categories.
Ensure consistency and quality in category strategies, sourcing approaches, and supplier management practices.
Review and challenge category plans to ensure alignment with business, operational, and financial objectives.
Foster a collaborative, performance‑driven culture focused on capability development and continuous improvement.
Lead executive‑level supplier relationships for both owned and team‑managed categories.
Establish governance frameworks for strategic suppliers, including performance reviews and innovation initiatives.
Oversee supplier risk management and continuity planning across the category portfolio.
Partner with Engineering on product qualification, specification optimization, value engineering, and cost modeling.
Align with planning teams to support demand/supply balancing and long‑term sourcing strategies.
Collaborate with site procurement teams to ensure global strategies are executed effectively at the local level.
Achieve individual category savings targets and support team delivery of broader cost and productivity goals.
Identify and execute value engineering opportunities and supplier innovation initiatives.
Monitor commodity trends and develop forward‑looking cost mitigation strategies.
Ensure compliance with procurement policies, contracts, and ethical sourcing standards.
Drive standardization of sourcing processes, tools, and data across regions and business units.
Support digital procurement initiatives including eSourcing, analytics, and ERP enhancements.