Sourcing Category Manager

Job Title

Position Overview

Job Description Overview

The primary focus of the Sourcing Category Manager role is to be responsible for all category activities for the spend areas in their domain. These activities include developing annual plans and sourcing strategies that will drive best in class management of spend areas. This role is in charge of driving year-over-year total value improvement/savings for the company. The Sourcing Category Manager will lead and perform supplier and category management activities. This role will need to dig in to uncover key data and information that can be analyzed and developed into insights that inform fact-based decision-making.

The role will work significantly with resources from business partners through-out Shaw who are internal customers. An important aspect of this role is developing highly collaborative and influential roles with their business partners. Being aware and in tune with the goals of the business are critical to ensure proper alignment and support with the business unit resources. Being able to influence business partners is critical for this person to be successful in the role. This role must have a high degree of customer service orientation. A successful candidate will be adept at understanding the situation and how that ties to business objectives and adjust strategies to deliver results.

Responsibilities

• Leading strategic sourcing events and supplier negotiations
• Analyzing spend data and other resources to identify savings opportunities and uncover additional insights
• Communicating with functional department leadership to highlight potential savings opportunities, understand the requirements of the business, and support decision-making
• Managing supplier performance and relationships to ensure the organization’s expectations are met
• Conducting ongoing reviews of categories to inform future category strategies and activities
• Developing category strategies and sourcing approaches based on data insights and category knowledge
• Tracking performance of the owned categories against targeting and ensure proper reporting
• Validating projected savings from sourcing events and other sources
• Identifying needs of the functional departments regarding procurement-related education and supporting development of training sessions/materials
• Manage requirements and relationship between Sourcing and Business
• Ensure the sourcing strategy is consistent with the business strategy
• Manage communication and travel to suppliers
• Ensure the proposed business strategy follows corporate, regulatory or compliance policies
• Be embedded in the business
• Responsible for sourcing KPI’s related to the business
• Ability to build trusting and credible relationships

Financial and business acumen

• Use a Total Cost of Ownership evaluation method when making sourcing decisions.
• Responsible for continuing programs of exploration for new materials, suppliers, and processes to achieve the best possible quality, reliability, prices, continuity, and delivery.
• Use strategic sourcing best practices to maximize value in terms of cost savings / avoidance, demand management, risk reduction, and supplier performance.
• Analyze market data to determine industry and consumer trends.
• Strategically develop and implement category strategies covering commodities, services and supplier processes throughout a global enterprise to deliver maximum value, leverage, and standardization.
• Drive usage of cost modeling to validate commodity strategies and to understand significant cost drivers.
• Develop an overall vendor base which creates and sustains a competitive advantage, utilizing global market exploitation, leveraging spend, and leveraging of technologies.
• Provide support to new program teams as required to meet target costs and establish program cost models.
• Ability to negotiate and write master supply agreements.
• Overseeing and ensuring compliance of the Procure to Pay Process within their categories and spend areas.

Competencies

• Demonstrate Strategic Influence
• Practice Entrepreneurial Behavior
• Make Effective Decisions
• Lead Change
• Coach and Develop Others
• Build Trusting Relationships

Requirements

• 5+ years of experience in procurement, operations, and/or supply chain related roles
• Bachelor’s degree is required. Advanced degree preferred - Accredited four year degree in supply chain management, sourcing, business, finance, manufacturing, engineering or equivalent work experience
• Related professional designations and certifications, such as CPSM, MBA, APICS preferred
• Strategic Procurement management of areas. Candidates should have knowledge of industry
• Experience in developing and leading category strategies
• Demonstrated financial and business acumen

Work Shift

Shaw is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to providing a workplace free of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation. It is our policy to recruit, hire, train, and promote individuals in all job classifications without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, veteran status, gender identity, or any other legally protected status.