Category Manager (m/w/d)

Job Description

The Category Manager is responsible for the strategy and performance of assigned spend categories. This role balances the selection and development of strategic suppliers, negotiation of contracts, facilitation of new sourcing projects, supplier relationship management and cross-functional partnership to deliver cost, service and risk objectives aligned with business priorities.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement category strategies aligned with business needs.
• Manage the overall relationship with Suppliers & develop road map with strategic suppliers
• Negotiate, implement and monitor compliance of supply agreements with strategic suppliers.
• Partner closely with legal department in the development of effective supply agreements.
• Drive and ensure suppliers are held accountable to meet continuous improvement initiatives both from a strategic perspective including capacity, quality control and continuous improvement, risk management, business continuity cost reduction and value creation on a year-over-year basis.
• Ensure Supplier and overall category strategy have the capacity to enable continuity of supply and ability to provide required technical and operational capability.
• Manage pricing and discounts/rebates of assigned categories and suppliers
• Rationalize/optimize the categories' supply base balancing between cost and risk.
• Understand and monitor current commodity market conditions/trends, developing technologies, supply chain capacity/ capability, product knowledge, customer requirements and supply/demand challenges.
• Develop cost baseline for commodity & inflation forecasts for assigned categories of spend.
• Establish a strong network and foster collaboration with customers, suppliers, key stakeholders, and category team members.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of relevant categories of spend and suppliers therein. Ability to influence product design standards, implement process control, and quality systems. Understands product requirements and offers innovative solutions.
• Sourcing/purchasing experience in a manufacturing environment with some knowledge of MRP and inventory replenishment strategies
• Lean Manufacturing, DMF, and/or Six Sigma preferred.
• Ability to influence within a dynamic team and operating environment.
• Experience with project management is preferred. Demonstrates strong organizational and follow up skills.
• Strong analytical, financial and communication skills.
• Ability to read technical drawings.
• High ethical standards.
• Excellent written, verbal, analytical, negotiating and interpersonal skills

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree required
• Minimum of 5 years' experience

Travel

• Local Travel: 10-25%
• Overnight/North America: 10-25%

Working Conditions

• Office Environment - Must be able to remain in a stationary position 50% of the time and occasionally move about inside the office to access file cabinets, office machinery, etc. Required to have close visual acuity to perform an activity such as: preparing and analyzing data and figures; transcribing; viewing a computer terminal; extensive reading. May be required to exert up to 50 pounds of force occasionally to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body.
• Customer/Partner Locations - Employee may visit customer or partner locations that may be comprised of office, manufacturing floor, laboratory environments and construction sites depending on the location and reason for visit.