Strategic Sourcing and Category Manager

Strategic Sourcing and Category Manager

Overview

We are partnering with a large, complex manufacturing organization to identify a Strategic Sourcing and Category Manager to support direct spend categories within a highly engineered, product-driven environment. This role plays a critical part in developing and executing category strategies, strengthening supplier relationships, and driving cost optimization while ensuring continuity of supply.

The ideal candidate brings deep experience in strategic sourcing, supplier negotiations, and category management within construction, industrial manufacturing, or similarly complex industries. This position requires strong business acumen, data-driven decision making, and the ability to collaborate across multiple internal functions.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute strategic category roadmaps, including supplier development and long-term sourcing strategies
• Analyze total spend, pricing structures, commercial terms, and market trends to inform sourcing decisions
• Lead supplier relationship management efforts, including performance monitoring, corrective actions, and continuous improvement initiatives
• Drive year-over-year cost reduction through should-cost analysis, process improvements, and innovative sourcing strategies
• Manage purchase price variance containment and avoidance while maintaining material availability
• Conduct RFQs, RFPs, and RFIs; lead negotiations; evaluate suppliers; and support supplier selection decisions for direct spend categories
• Partner closely with internal stakeholders across finance, operations, project management, and field teams
• Implement supplier performance metrics, KPIs, and dashboards to track progress and outcomes
• Support the development and execution of commercial agreements in collaboration with legal partners
• Lead quarterly business reviews with key suppliers to assess performance, align on corrective actions, and identify joint improvement opportunities
• Collaborate with finance teams to track, validate, and report savings initiatives in accordance with established guidelines

Required Skills

• Extensive experience in strategic sourcing and category management within direct spend environments
• Strong background in supplier negotiations and contract management in complex, fast-changing markets
• Proven expertise in total cost of ownership analysis and data-driven sourcing decisions
• Experience working with ERP platforms, sourcing tools, spend analytics, and contract management systems
• Ability to build strong, trusted relationships with internal stakeholders and external suppliers
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to present to senior leadership
• Strong analytical mindset with the ability to translate complex or ambiguous data into actionable insights
• Demonstrated leadership, collaboration, and influence across cross-functional teams
• Willingness to travel periodically as business needs require

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in industrial manufacturing, OEM environments, or similarly regulated and engineered industries
• Bachelors degree in engineering, supply chain management, or business; advanced degree preferred
• Professional certifications in supply chain, procurement, project management, or continuous improvement methodologies
• Working knowledge of enterprise procurement and procure-to-pay platforms
• Comfort operating in matrixed organizations with competing priorities

How to Apply

If this role aligns with your background and interests, please submit your resume for confidential consideration. Qualified candidates will be contacted to discuss next steps.