Category Manager-Direct Materials

Join the Family - Come work for an exciting company offering great benefits, challenging opportunities, and colleagues who feel more like family. Roles & Responsibilities - Provide thought leadership in developing advanced category strategies and assist in identifying & managing "critical" and/or "preferred" supplier relationships - Manage directly or via dotted line a team of site buyers and/or procurement specialists. - Manage supplier performance and relationships to ensure the organization's expectations are met - Develop, foster and promote relationships with internal functions; routinely discuss processes, policies, and benefits derived through the Strategic Sourcing & Procurement organization - Lead cost savings, supply security, and strategic initiatives for raw materials, packaging, other components along with other sub-categories, including building successful sourcing strategies, driving strategic improvements, and delivering on operational targets, savings goals, and business strategies - Drive and manage multiple sourcing projects simultaneously while providing your internal stakeholders and leaders with regular updates - Utilize sourcing tools to assist in departmental efforts to continually refine and improve sourcing and procurement processes, policies, and tools - Conduct total cost modeling and sensitivity/scenario analysis to help stakeholders understand the trade-offs and benefits of various outcome. - Assist with the analysis and planning for various components of indirect spend categories to ensure operational success and results - Conducting ongoing reviews of categories to inform future category strategies and activities - Partner with multiple corporate functions (e.g., Financial Planning & Analysis, Accounting, Legal, etc.) as part of your sourcing projects and related activities - The selected candidate will take ownership of projects and drive them to completion understanding that the results will have a strong impact on the department's objectives Preferred Qualifications - Bachelor's degree is required, MBA is desired - 7+ years of experience in Strategic Sourcing in a manufacturing environment with exposure to commodity chemicals, additives, packaging, and component parts - Demonstrated capabilities of developing/implementing category strategies, leading sourcing projects, contract negotiations and authoring, and driving savings/value Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities - Strong relationship-building, verbal and written communication, interpersonal, motivational, and influencing skills; coordination across related disciplines and with key stakeholder - Capable of coordinating across business units and sharing critical information, with particular strength in explaining complex concepts and coaching individuals through complex decision-making - Experience coordinating teams, collecting insights, and constructively challenge internal stakeholders with conventional thinking - Deep Understanding of multi-step strategic sourcing processes, sourcing tools, and strategies - Organized and adaptable with demonstrated ability to prioritize projects, meet deadlines, and deliver results - Demonstrated progression in career with increasing responsibilities, including experience leading project teams and resources - Comfortable with organizational change; able to thrive in a rapidly changing business environment Work Environment and Physical Demands Physical demands include sitting for extended periods of time while frequently typing, viewing computer screens and use of mouse/keyboard. Operation of office equipment to include but not limited to telephones, printers, copiers, and sc