Category Manager, Metals & Fasteners

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in Arizona, +11 more locations.

📋 Description

• Formulate and implement sourcing strategies for metals, fabricated components, and fastener categories.

• Assess market trends, cost drivers, and industry indices, including CRU and other pertinent market benchmarks.

• Develop and sustain category strategies that align with business goals, supplier capabilities, and operational needs.

• Create cost models, should-cost analyses, and forecasting tools.

• Discover opportunities for cost savings, supplier consolidation, and long-term value enhancement.

• Oversee the assigned category portfolio while maintaining visibility into spending, pricing, and supplier performance metrics.

• Identify, assess, qualify, and cultivate strategic supplier relationships.

• Lead negotiations with suppliers regarding pricing, lead times, service levels, inventory strategies, and capacity commitments.

• Establish and nurture supplier relationships to ensure quality, timely delivery, responsiveness, and ongoing improvement.

• Evaluate supplier performance using KPIs and implement necessary corrective actions.

• Assess supplier capacity and formulate risk mitigation plans.

• Assist with direct-buy, distributor, and vendor-managed inventory (VMI) initiatives.

• Collaborate with Engineering, Operations, Quality, and Supply Chain teams on product cost, manufacturability, and supply continuity.

• Influence material selection and initiatives focused on cost-effective design.

• Suggest alternative materials, fabrication methods, and sourcing strategies.

• Aid in the qualification of new suppliers, product launches, and supplier transition projects.

• Coordinate sourcing activities across various manufacturing locations.

• Ensure material availability aligns with production schedules and customer commitments.

• Manage supplier lead times, inventory strategies, and replenishment programs.

• Support inventory optimization initiatives across multiple sites.

• Track, analyze, and report on category spending, savings performance, supplier scorecards, and supply chain metrics.

• Act as a key escalation point for issues regarding supplier delivery, capacity, and performance.

• Develop assessments of supplier risks and contingency plans.

• Ensure adherence to trade regulations, company sourcing policies, and procurement standards.

• Promote sustainability, ethical sourcing, and supplier diversity initiatives.

• Propel continuous improvement projects aimed at cost reduction, supplier performance enhancement, inventory optimization, and process standardization.

• Collaborate with Logistics, Quality, and Operations teams to bolster end-to-end supply chain performance.

⛳️ Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Engineering, Materials Science, Operations Management, or a related discipline.

• Over 5 years of experience in sourcing, procurement, or category management within a manufacturing or industrial setting.

• Experience in sourcing metals, fabricated components, industrial hardware, fasteners, or associated direct material categories.

• Strong comprehension of commodity markets, metals pricing, fabrication processes, and cost drivers.

• Proven experience in developing category strategies, conducting supplier negotiations, and implementing cost-reduction initiatives.

• Ability to interpret engineering drawings and effectively collaborate with technical teams.

• Experience managing extensive SKU portfolios and intricate supplier networks.

• Excellent analytical, negotiation, communication, and problem-solving abilities.

• Proficiency in ERP systems, supplier performance management tools, and Microsoft Office applications.

• Familiarity with sourcing across carbon steel, stainless steel, aluminum, copper, and industrial fastener categories.

• Knowledge of CRU indices, commodity forecasting, and should-cost modeling.

• Experience supporting multi-site manufacturing operations.

• Understanding of fabrication processes such as laser cutting, punching, machining, welding, forming, and finishing.

• Experience with supplier quality management, global sourcing, trade compliance, and sustainability initiatives.

• Background in HVAC, data center infrastructure, industrial equipment, or manufacturing of engineered products.

🏝️ Benefits

• Health insurance.

• Dental insurance.

• Vision insurance.

• Life insurance.

• Short-term disability (STD).

• Long-term disability (LTD).

• Flexible Spending Account (FSA).

• Health Savings Account (HSA).

• 401(k) Plan with company contributions.

• Meaningful growth opportunities.