Strategic Sourcing Category Manager

Ulta Beauty, Inc. • Bolingbrook, IL

2h • $88,200 - $125,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

Ulta's Sourcing Manager is an exciting opportunity to take your procurement career to the next level. You'll lead several indirect categories, focusing on Growth & Development and Supply Chain. Categories will include but are not limited to: Store Fixtures (shelving, gondolas, wall units, etc.), Flooring, Lighting, Loss Prevention (security guards, equipment, monitoring, etc.), and select Supply Chain purchases.
You’ll also partner with key stakeholders and be responsible for managing sourcing associates.
As a Manager, your work will be valuable and visible; a combination of project-based work and recurring responsibilities.
Key strategic efforts will include developing category strategies, elevating your team, and building strong business partner relationships. Other project-based work will directly impact our bottom line, including expense reduction and avoidance, risk mitigation, supply assurance, efficiencies, and innovation.
To recap, as a Sourcing Manager, you’ll:
Lead, train, and develop a team of sourcing professionals
Deliver savings and other types of value
Build strong relationships with department leaders
Develop category strategies and oversee the development of your team’s category strategies
Facilitate strategic sourcing events and requests for proposals (RFP)
Track and negotiate key supplier agreements
Drive continuous improvement within the sourcing organization

Requirements

• Qualified candidates will have a Bachelor's degree in a related field and a minimum of seven (5) years of relevant sourcing, or procurement experience, including people leadership.
• Track record of managing direct reports that succeed and grow
• A history of curiosity, education, and personal growth
• Excellent working knowledge of sourcing, contracting, and procurement best practices
• Proven negotiation skills and deep understanding of negotiation strategies; professional certifications or training is a plus
• Thorough understanding of contracts with the ability to create, draft, prepare, revise, review and negotiate complex contract terms
• Confident verbal and written communicator. Ability to present to various levels (C-suite to Front Desk) and audiences (1:1 to large teams) inside and outside of the organization
• Experience leading cross-functional teams
• Strong partnering and influencing skills across multiple levels within the organization
• Advanced proficiency with Excel and PowerPoint. Comfort with Microsoft Teams and SAP Ariba.
• The ability to learn sourcing, purchasing, and contracting software systems (training provided)
• Creative, unselfish problem solver
• A collaborative and inclusive mindset

Nice To Haves

• Prior consulting experience preferred
• Project management skills and experience is a plus
• Participation in external industry events, membership in sourcing, purchasing or contracting organizations such as ISM, SIG, ProcureCon, or others
• CPSM, CPM, CCM and related certifications preferred

Responsibilities

• Analyze spend data and market trends to contribute to sourcing category strategies
• Meet with department stakeholders, and our Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A) partners regularly to plan sourcing, contracting, and procurement activities that support Ulta's overall plan
• Partner with stakeholders to optimize value, improve processes, rationalize Ulta's supply base, leverage Ulta's growth, and reduce costs.
• Cultivate and strengthen relationships with our suppliers, internal partners, affiliates and professional organizations
• Monitor and track expiring contracts for the categories and departments you support
• Champion the sourcing, contracting, and procurement process throughout the organization
• Conduct and oversee our key bids/quotes (RFP) and contracting activities, using eSourcing and eContract Management software as appropriate
• Draft, negotiate and lead the finalization of complex agreements; including developing negotiation strategies and ensuring stakeholder collaboration
• Serve as liaison between Legal Services and internal stakeholders
• Ensure Purchase Orders, SOWs, and Contracts are documented correctly, routed appropriately, and properly stored.
• Empower your team to achieve and grow - listen, coach, and support
• Lead by example - follow our Sourcing Expectations; deliver regular, candid feedback to teammates when they have questions or miss the mark
• Practice empathy, celebrate wins, and add to the positive culture we're all proud to be part of

Benefits

• eligible associates to earn additional compensation pursuant to the Company’s bonus plan
• Full-time positions are eligible for paid time off, health, dental, vision, life and disability benefits.
• Part-time positions are eligible for dental, vision, life, and disability benefits.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager