Category Manager

Job Responsibilities

• The individual best suited for this role will be responsible for overseeing the strategic planning, development, and execution of product categories – ensuring the right products are available at the right time, quality and cost from the right suppliers with the right capabilities. Category Planning
• Act as a category-specific subject matter expert, maintain business intelligence, current knowledge of market trends and supply market dynamics, commodity data, and regulatory guidelines and employ best-in-class procurement methodology for assigned categories.
• Work with business units and regional stakeholders to prioritize an evolving portfolio of high-value process improvement and sourcing initiatives.
• Serve as a full partner to the business in evaluating and challenging the status quo to surface value opportunities.
• Analyze and support category-specific cost-saving initiatives through data analysis and market insights gathering.
• Participate in global procurement forums, workshops, and seminars, representing the company and fostering relationships with peers and industry experts. Strategy Development
• Work closely with internal stakeholders such as operations, finance, legal, and supply chain to ensure category strategy aligns with overall procurement strategy and business goals.
• Contribute to identifying potential supply chain risks and support global risk assessment of suppliers.
• Enhance competition by leveraging spend and qualified new suppliers.
• Support opportunity assessments and benchmarking to develop sourcing opportunities.
• Identify and capture profit improvement opportunities beyond leveraged sourcing, e.g., demand management, product specification improvement, insource versus outsource, efficiencies in Ethos’s global supply chain, and other strategic and operational process improvements.
• Facilitate training and development sessions for procurement staff, enhancing their knowledge and skills in category management best practices. Sourcing and Contracting
• Drive sourcing projects emerging from category planning and strategy development.
• Assist in strategic sourcing activities, including RFIs, RFPs, and supplier evaluations, analyze supplier performance and assess potential suppliers to optimize cost and quality.
• Coordinate and lead negotiations; help stakeholders understand trade-offs and benefits of negotiation strategies and outcomes.
• Implement advanced technologies and tools to enhance procurement processes, including e-sourcing, spend analytics, and supplier management platforms.
• Draft and review supplier contracts and agreements, managing supplier relationships.
• Coordinate with regional procurement teams to ensure consistent application of sourcing strategies and sharing best practices. Supplier Relationship Management
• Drive supplier performance management through regular reviews, ensuring adherence to quality standards, delivery timelines, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Establish and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) for the category, providing regular updates to senior management on sourcing performance and strategic recommendations.
• Develop and maintain a robust supplier diversity program, promoting inclusion and broadening the company's supplier base across categories.
• When performance issues emerge, identify root causes and drive for efficient resolution of issues by working across both internal and external stakeholders

Required Skills / Knowledge

• Proficient in Microsoft Office (Outlook, OneNote, OneDrive, Excel, Word PowerPoint), procurement software and tools, including e-sourcing platforms, spend analytics, and supplier management system.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills to drive fact based decision making. In-depth experience with world class strategic sourcing and category management practices.
• Understanding the cost factors that affect internal sources and how sourcing decisions affect the overall business; for example, Should Cost Analysis, Make vs Buy analysis, etc.
• Strong analytical and negotiation skills, with an ability to interpret complex data and drive impactful sourcing decisions.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills for effective engagement with internal stakeholders and suppliers.
• Willingness to travel to engage with suppliers, regional procurement teams, and attend industry events.
• Able to work up, down and across a large organization; connects at all levels, i.e., operations, management, executives.
• Self-confidence and clarity of expression to lead discussions with internal executive audiences, and challenge current practices.

Experience

• 2-4 years of experience in procurement (turbine parts, production/manufacturing/technical services, machine parts, controls, castings, forgings, metals, MRO, and logistics experience preferred).
• Strong strategic planning and analytical skills with a focus on data-driven decision-making.
• Certification in Procurement or Supply Chain Management, such as CIPS (Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply) or CPSM (Certified Professional in Supply Management), is highly desirable.
• In-depth knowledge of global market trends, regulatory compliance, and industry-specific challenges in assigned categories.

Education Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, or related field.

Physical Requirements

• Travel: travel required; 25% travel, some travel is short notice