Senior Category Manager

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in United States.

📋 Description

• Formulate and implement long-term category strategies for direct material categories such as PVC, plasticizers, fillers, recycled PVC, PVB, dispersions, and adhesives.

• Oversee the entire strategic sourcing lifecycle, from developing business cases and conducting market analyses to strategy implementation, contracting, supplier qualification, and ongoing supplier management.

• Enhance Total Cost of Ownership by leveraging market intelligence, cost modeling, should-cost analysis, and competitive benchmarking.

• Create and sustain feedstock-to-material cost models to validate supplier pricing and facilitate fact-based negotiations.

• Negotiate intricate supply agreements that encompass pricing, commercial terms, volume commitments, capacity guarantees, and continuity provisions.

• Manage Supplier Relationship Management for strategic suppliers, including the formulation of joint business plans, innovation pipelines, and continuous improvement initiatives.

• Supervise supplier performance and relationships according to SLAs, KPIs, and cost targets.

• Establish category KPIs and supplier scorecards.

• Examine capacity, feedstock, logistics, trade policies, and regulatory changes, and devise mitigation strategies.

• Mitigate single-source risks through dual sourcing, qualified alternatives, and regional supply options.

• Keep category risk assessments and business continuity plans up to date.

• Lead cross-functional teams involving stakeholders from Operations, R&D, Quality, Finance, Planning, and Sustainability.

• Collaborate with R&D and Quality on material qualifications, specification alterations, formulation alternatives, and sourcing for new product introductions.

• Promote circularity and sustainability goals through sourcing of recycled materials, collection of supplier carbon and Environmental Product Declaration data, and exploration of lower-impact alternatives.

• Work alongside Supply Chain and Planning on inventory strategies, working capital management, minimum order quantities, lead times, and safety stock levels.

• Assess and report on category performance, savings, price variances, lead times, service levels, and delivery enhancements.

• Provide insights to executive stakeholders by converting complex business cases and market dynamics into actionable recommendations.

• Ensure the integrity of contracts, pricing, and supplier data within enterprise systems while upholding procurement policy compliance.

⛳️ Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain, Finance, Engineering, Chemistry, or a related field.

• A minimum of 6–10 years of progressive experience in strategic sourcing, category management, or procurement, or in Production, R&D, or Engineering with significant commercial exposure.

• Preference for direct materials experience.

• Strong comprehension of TCO principles, strategic sourcing methodologies, cost modeling, and contract negotiation.

• Capability to lead cross-functional teams and influence without direct authority.

• Excellent communication, collaboration, and executive presence.

• Superior written and verbal communication, negotiation, and presentation abilities.

• Strong analytical skills, including proficiency in Excel-based cost modeling.

• Familiarity with ERP and e-sourcing systems such as SAP, Ariba, or similar.

• Ability to devise solutions to problems and develop innovative, practical approaches.

• Competence to work effectively in a remote setting with a high level of self-direction.

• Willingness to travel up to 25% of the time.

• Preferred direct sourcing experience in PVC resin, plasticizers, fillers, PVB, dispersions, adhesives, additives, or specialty chemicals.

• Experience in sourcing recycled or post-consumer material streams is a plus.

• Background in multi-plant manufacturing is preferred.

• Familiarity with the flooring, building products, or plastics processing industries is strongly preferred.

• Experience in category management from strategy development to execution is preferred.

• Knowledge of index-based and formula pricing, commodity risk management, and hedging concepts is preferred.

• Understanding of supply markets, cost drivers, and technology trends affecting direct materials is preferred.

• Strong business acumen and the ability to create fact-based business cases is preferred.

• Advanced project management capabilities are preferred.

• Skills in supplier contract creation, negotiation, and administration are preferred.

• Training in Lean, Six Sigma, or continuous improvement methodologies is preferred.

• Professional certifications such as CPSM, CPSD, CIPS, or C.P.M. are preferred.

🏝️ Benefits

• Competitive benefits, compensation, and retirement plan options.

• Opportunities for career advancement.

• Job stability.

• Flexible work arrangements.

• Commitment to prioritizing safety.

• Focus on renewable energy and closed-loop recycled water processes.

• Dedication to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and water usage.

• An inclusive workplace environment.

• Equal opportunity employment.