Description

The Category Manager is responsible for developing and executing sourcing strategies for assigned categories, recommending supplier selection, negotiating contracts, and establishing and maintaining supplier relationships. This role communicates strategy to executive committees, business units, and corporate stakeholders, aligning sourcing initiatives with long‑term business objectives and total cost of ownership.

• Establish strong relationships with internal departmental and executive business stakeholders; build understanding of strategic direction, requirements, and priorities across assigned suppliers and spend categories.
• Provide leadership and guidance to team Buyers and Procurement Specialists on category strategy implementation and issue resolution.
• Develop and maintain strategic category database; provide training to team Buyers and Procurement Specialists on category expertise.
• Develop global sourcing strategies to meet business objectives for internal clients.
• Evaluate supplier core competencies and competitive positioning using industry cost models and benchmarking analysis.
• Manage sourcing and supplier engagement activities including RFx, spend pattern analysis, contract analysis, bid evaluation, negotiations, and supplier consolidation.
• Identify sourcing opportunities by leveraging spend analysis tools and consolidate requirements across categories, suppliers, and geographies.
• Work with business and finance leaders to drive savings and controllership improvements, focusing on total cost of ownership.
• Provide guidance to internal stakeholders on procurement strategies.
• Prepare and hold business reviews with stakeholders to assess vendor performance, future opportunities, and challenges.

Requirements

• May be required to travel up to 50% of the time.
• Knowledge of computer programs, including Microsoft Office, Visio, BW, LiveLink.
• Advanced knowledge of ERP systems; SAP.
• Expert knowledge of manufacturing and supply chain processes, matrix or strategic pricing, and supplier markets.
• Strong negotiator with proven experience in setting negotiation strategies and conducting negotiations.
• Extensive knowledge of commercial agreement structures and key legal terms.
• Strong experience assessing risk and concisely explaining complex issues to principal business owners.
• Extremely customer‑focused and takes time to understand business needs.
• Experience working in a large, global, highly matrixed organization.
• Strong analytical skills; ability to quickly synthesize, distill, and draw conclusions from large, disparate data sets.
• Ability to manage multiple simultaneous projects requiring frequent communication, organization, time management, and problem‑solving.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Extensive experience presenting at the executive level and developing business cases.
• Bachelor’s Degree in Supply Chain, Business, Economics, or related field.
• Masters in a business or supply chain related field and/or MBA preferred.
• 15+ years of source‑to‑pay experience in Purchasing and Strategic Sourcing.
• Category‑specific procurement experience required.
• In‑depth experience in best‑in‑class procurement practices (category management, benchmarking, should‑cost models, RFX, reverse auction, contracting, etc.).

Benefits

The base salary ranges from $95,000 to $130,000 annually, adjusted for factors such as education, experience, and geographic market (KS, CO, or OH). The role is eligible for a discretionary annual bonus based on company and individual performance.

Benefits include medical, dental, and vision coverage, a wellness program, and a company‑contributed Health Savings Account. Employees receive a 401(k) plan with a 7.5% company match, 22 days of paid time off, 9 company holidays, 2 volunteer days, and voluntary life, AD&D, and disability insurance.

Training + Development

Interview process

Visa Sponsorship

Security clearance