Job Description
Category Manager
Position Summary
The Category Manager is responsible for leading strategic sourcing initiatives, supplier negotiations, and supplier relationship management across our client’s global supply base. This role develops and executes global category strategies that optimize supply assurance, cost, quality, delivery, flexibility, and risk mitigation while supporting the company’s long-term operational and financial objectives.
The Category Manager collaborates closely with Global Supply Chain teams, regional leadership, engineering, operations, and suppliers to drive continuous improvement, innovation, and total cost of ownership reduction across assigned categories and commodities.
Key Responsibilities
Category Strategy & Management
- Develop and execute global category strategies aligned with business objectives, including cost savings, supply continuity, risk mitigation, and service level improvements.
- Conduct global market analysis, pricing assessments, benchmarking, and supplier evaluations to support sourcing decisions.
- Monitor market conditions, technology trends, and supply/demand dynamics to proactively identify risks and opportunities.
- Build deep category expertise through external research, supplier intelligence, and cost-driver analysis.
- Develop and maintain should-cost models and total cost of ownership analyses for assigned commodities.
- Serve as the subject matter expert and center of knowledge for assigned categories, sharing market intelligence and sourcing insights with key stakeholders.
- Identify competitive sourcing opportunities and analyze industry sourcing strategies and cost structures.
Strategic Sourcing & Supplier Management
- Lead strategic sourcing initiatives across multiple manufacturing locations and business units.
- Build and lead cross-functional teams to define sourcing strategies that improve cost, quality, delivery, and supplier performance.
- Analyze spend data and market trends to prioritize sourcing opportunities and drive measurable savings initiatives.
- Consolidate global spend where appropriate to increase leverage and improve supplier partnerships.
- Identify, qualify, and develop high-potential suppliers on a global scale.
- Negotiate pricing, contracts, terms and conditions, warranties, intellectual property protections, inventory strategies, and risk mitigation provisions.
- Manage supplier relationships, performance metrics, and issue resolution activities to ensure operational excellence.
- Drive annual cost reduction initiatives with targeted year-over-year savings objectives.
Performance & KPI Management
- Establish and manage supplier performance metrics including cost, quality, delivery, responsiveness, and service levels.
- Develop strategic supplier agreements that improve long-term value and operational performance.
- Monitor supplier compliance and continuous improvement initiatives to ensure alignment with organizational goals.
Project & Program Management
- Support New Product Introduction (NPI) initiatives by coordinating sourcing, supplier selection, and qualification activities globally.
- Manage multiple sourcing and supply chain projects simultaneously while maintaining schedules, deliverables, and stakeholder alignment.
- Collaborate with internal teams to support operational, engineering, and business initiatives.
- Participate in special sourcing and supply chain projects as assigned.
Qualifications
Education & Experience
- Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Engineering, Supply Chain Management, or a related field required.
- Minimum of 4 years of progressive experience in Strategic Sourcing, Category Management, Procurement, or Supply Chain Management within a global manufacturing environment.
- Demonstrated success leading strategic sourcing initiatives and delivering measurable cost savings and supplier performance improvements.
- Experience negotiating long-term supplier agreements and managing supplier risk.
- Strong understanding of global supply chain operations, sourcing methodologies, and procurement best practices.
Skills & Competencies
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to interpret market data and financial information.
- Proven ability to build consensus and lead cross-functional teams in a global environment.
- Excellent negotiation, communication, and relationship management skills.
- Ability to effectively communicate with stakeholders at all organizational levels.
- Proficiency in sourcing analytics, supplier management, and cost modeling tools.
- Self-motivated with strong organizational and project management capabilities.
- Willingness to travel up to 25% globally.
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