Senior Category Manager

Role Summary

The Senior Category Manager is a strategic procurement leader over categories spanning direct (production material) and indirect spend. Role involves people leadership over more junior category leads with focus on talent development and providing direction on prioritization of key programs to drive cost and cash improvements. The Senior Category Manager will also lead strategic direct and indirect commercial reviews and be a point of escalation for key supplier negotiations.   He/she manages all tactical & strategic sourcing activities with the suppliers in his/her responsibility.  (= “One voice to supplier)
 

Main Tasks

• Executes material group management/category strategies and initiatives 
• Provides people leadership and mentorship over 2+ team members
• Supports target setting and cost/cash program funnel to meet and/or exceed company annual targets
• Influences senior stakeholders across the business where necessary to drive collaborative, high performance culture
• Supports the business and reports regarding negotiations, supplier selection in projects, supplier panel optimization, ratio projects, cost reduction development, supplier development, initiated sourcing decisions, etc.
• Supports planning and forecasting in agreement with Lead Buyer and/or material group manager
• Manages RFQs and price estimations in customer or market projects and in serial production for his/her commodity 
• Initiates and manages re-sourcing, dual sourcing and continuous improvement activities (cost reduction) and supports Ratio Project Management
• Actively supports and acts in close collaboration by providing “in-time” price- and other project relevant information, e.g. sourcing status, supplier feedback on timing and specification 
• Negotiations & Contracting:  Strives for optimal value delivery, securing best pricing, service level agreements, business continuity and risk mitigation, and drives best in class commercial terms 
• Outlines sourcing decision recommendations through objective data analysis following negotiations 
• Contract management over supplier / parts lifetime for all contracts in his/her responsibility
• Organizes Technical Reviews with cross functional departments; such as RD/Engineering
• Initiates target price / cost analysis calculation (pre- and post SOP)
• Manages escalation issues 
• Updates Purchasing Analyst with commercial material/supplier relevant data in Sage
• Supports supplier quality assurance, complaint management and "top focus" supplier meetings 
• Assists with cross functional projects related to their perspective material group (Packaging)
• Additional duties and materials as assigned

Your Profile

Education:
Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Business Administration or other related field; MBA preferred

Experience:

• Minimum 5-7 years procurement experience 

Required Skills:

• People leadership 
• Strong Negotiating Skills
• Contract Management skills
• Microsoft Office tools (Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Outlook)
• Problem solving and negotiating skills
• Collaborate cross functionally
• Ability to travel up to 70%

Preferred Experience and Skills:

• Experience working with Sage X3 or SAP
• Manufacturing background
• Knowledge and expertise in direct and/or indirect spend categories