Group Category Manager

Position Description

As a Group Category Manager for direct materials, your goal will be to provide guidance and leadership to a team of Category Managers across multiple electrical commodities in the development and implementation of global strategies for a business unit and/or enterprise. Collaborate with key stakeholders in other business units to ensure consistency and application of a supply base in accordance with Sourcing, Production and New Product Development.

Job Responsibilities

• Managing the Strategic Sourcing Team across multiple commodities, developing and implementing global strategies, and defining supply chains that significantly impact enterprise financial and operational objectives.
• Leading the implementation of sourcing strategies for new product programs to achieve program goals.
• Establishing direct linkage with key stakeholders of associated commodities across the enterprise to ensure the integration of business needs into sourcing strategies.
• Utilizing the strategic sourcing processes to select suppliers based on improved material margins through Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) model, quality, delivery, capability, reliability of supply, and reduced lead times.
• Contributing to the negotiations of supplier agreements, including payment terms, pricing, freight, raw material fluctuation management, and reduced inventory levels.
• Driving spend and opportunity reviews by category, initiating ideation sessions to ensure a proper savings pipeline is maintained to drive sustainable performance.
• Identifying, developing, and implementing innovative sourcing strategies, leveraging best in class technology insights impacting components and commodities across the enterprise, including use of should cost models.
• Consulting with Strategic Sourcing Director to negotiate complex, long-term agreements with key suppliers for multiple plants and/or business units globally.
• Maintain knowledge of current and future commodity market conditions.
• Work with Senior Category Managers to ensure business transformation and continuous improvement goals are being met. Gather feedback on enhancement of the strategic sourcing process, and identifies opportunities and recommends changes in existing commodity strategies to assure business unit and enterprise leverage.
• Manage high level, strategic supplier relationships for their assigned value chains. Defines and communicates long-term strategic sourcing strategies, the category vision and expectations for suppliers, outlining, performance gaps to goals, and improvements to ensure business objectives are met.
• Work with suppliers to establish performance goals with respect to cost, quality and delivery.
• Manage key supplier risk issues, facilitates internal working groups, and develops appropriate mitigation plans.
• Performing a full range of managerial responsibilities which may include but not be limited to: interviewing, hiring, coaching and developing employees; planning, assigning and directing work; EEO/AA; performance management; department budget.

Job Skills Requirements

Required Qualifications:

• Minimum of 10 years of progressive sourcing experience within a manufacturing environment.
• Minimum of three years of management experience.
• Possess extensive experience in Supply Management and building strong supplier relationships.
• Proven track record in developing and executing strategic plans, influencing skills, managing complex projects, and leading collaborative relationships, in a cross-functional team environment preferably in the manufacturing industry.
• Knowledge of purchasing, negotiation techniques, quality, and supplier relationship development.
• Ability to effectively prioritize and manage multiple projects meeting aggressive deadlines.
• Established interpersonal skills and the ability to effectively work with and manage a diverse group of people in a team environment
• Highly developed analytical and communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Strong experience in ERP systems, SAP preferred.
• Electrical category management sourcing experience.
• Continuous improvement experience through six sigma, lean principles, Kaizen, and process excellence.
• Professional certifications through Association for Supply Chain Management (ASCM) or equivalent.

Travel up to 20% both domestically and internationally

Education

Experience Requirements

• Minimum of ten years of progressive experience in sourcing preferably in a manufacturing environment

• Minimum three years of management experience, preferred

Physical & Environmental Requirements