Transportation Category Manager

Company Description

Veolia has acquired Clean Earth. As Clean Earth completes its integration into Veolia, recruiting and hiring for this role is being managed in partnership with the Clean Earth talent acquisition team. Veolia in North America is the top-ranked environmental company in the United States for three consecutive years, and the country’s largest private water operator and technology provider as well as hazardous waste and pollution treatment leader. It offers a full spectrum of water, waste, and energy management services, including water and wastewater treatment, commercial and hazardous waste collection and disposal, energy consulting and resource recovery. Veolia helps commercial, industrial, healthcare, higher education and municipality customers throughout North America. Headquartered in Boston, Veolia has more than 10,000 employees working at more than 350 locations across North America

Job Description

In this key role, as part of our Veolia's Clean Earth Division, the Transportation Category Manager is responsible for leading assigned categories and vendors in an efficient, effective, and reliable manner. Responsible for developing category and vendor sourcing strategies, drafting solicitations, leading negotiations, monitoring vendor performance and optimizing company supplier spending. The category manager is also responsible for helping Clean Earth and Procurement achieve its financial and operational targets.

Primary Responsibilities (Essential Functions):

• Develop and execute category strategies for assigned Transportation categories, ensuring alignment with the company’s procurement and business goals.
• Assist in procurement planning to ensure alignment with financial objectives and project timelines.
• Manage portfolio of Transportation Service Agreements and Rate Agreements
• Successfully manage strategic vendor relationships across the portfolio.
• Lead RFPs, RFQs, and negotiation processes for contracts within Clean Earth’s transportation space and demonstrate year on year cost savings and avoidance.
• Lead new carrier vetting and onboarding.
• Ensure accurate tracking and compliance monitoring of transportation spend and apply intervention activities internally and externally to facilitate meeting company targets.
• Collaborate with Legal, Risk, EHS functions and critical stakeholders to finalize contract terms, ensure risk mitigation, and maintain compliance with regulatory and organizational standards.
• Ensure contract terms align with insurance requirements, mitigating liabilities and supporting organizational risk management policies.
• Collaborate with cross functional teams to understand business needs and identify opportunities for value creation.
• Optimize vendor performance by establishing and monitoring KPIs, conducting QBRs and ensuring compliance with SLA’s and contract terms.
• Drive cost optimization initiatives through TCO analysis and joint process improvement opportunities with carriers and internal stakeholders.
• Partner closely with key stakeholders and assigned Functional teams to support strategic initiatives and operational needs.
• Maintain and enhance positive carrier relationships to foster collaboration & efficiency.
• Provide mentorship and guidance to junior Procurement team members fostering professional growth and development.
• Ensure appropriate WMBE carrier vetting and tracking
• Perform other duties as assigned to support the procurement team and Clean Earth organization.

Qualifications

Basic Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree required (prefer coursework in supply chain/business, economics, operations, finance).
• Minimum 5 years of procurement experience with a track record of tangible results.
• Minimum 3 years of which should be in the Transportation Management or Transportation Procurement space.
• Strong business acumen and able to lead a team that supports operations with a focus on both internal and external customer satisfaction.
• Ability to accept ownership and take charge to lead and influence to deliver desired outcomes.
• Experience providing project management and team leadership for procurement initiatives.
• Ability to collaborate and influence key internal business stakeholders up to VP level and externally with Senior Leadership of our critical supplier partners.
• Excellent written and oral communication and presentation skills.
• Advanced consulting, influencing, and negotiation skills – ability to ensure strategic alignment with multiple parties.
• Moderate to complex understanding of financial analysis and budget management as it relates to procurement decision making.
• Knowledge of personal computer applications required (Word, and ERP systems (especially Oracle), intermediate/advanced excel).
• Strong project management and leadership skills: Ability to assign priorities in a fast-paced and changing environment.
• Highly self-motivated to develop strategic, tactical, and operational direction.
• Ability to collaborate and bridge across functional boundaries.
• Ability to travel as necessary (up to 25%).

Preferred Qualifications:

• MBA or equivalent
• Procurement experience working within a large, multi-site organization
• Hazardous waste industry experience
• Oracle procurement experience

Additional Information

Benefits: Comprehensive benefits package includes paid time off policies, as well as health, dental, vision, life insurance, tuition reimbursement, paid volunteering and more. In addition, commencing no later than January 1, 2027, benefits package will include participation in an employer sponsored 401(k) plan, to save for retirement. Pay and benefits for employees represented by a union are outlined in their collective bargaining agreement. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer! All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. Disclaimer: The salary, other compensation, and benefits information is accurate as of the date of this posting. The Company reserves the right to modify this information at any time, subject to applicable law