Category Manager

City of Vancouver - CA; Vancouver; Hybrid; CAD 111,000 - 139,000; Full time

Job summary

Join the City of Vancouver as a Category Manager responsible for managing procurement strategies that support the city’s operations. You will lead cross-functional teams, drive cost-reduction initiatives, and incorporate sustainability into procurement practices. A Bachelor's degree and significant experience are required for this role, which offers a dynamic and inclusive work environment committed to community service.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of experience in procurement, project management, or similar.
• Strong communication and report writing abilities.
• Ability to supervise and coach others.

Responsibilities

• Manage procurement portfolio and supplier evaluations.
• Establish cost improvement targets and report on savings.
• Negotiate vendor contracts and manage compliance.

Skills

Negotiation

Project Management

Organizational Skills

Interpersonal Skills

Leadership

Analytical Skills

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Business or related field

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

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Located on the traditional, ancestral and unceded lands of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Peoples, Vancouver has a commitment to becoming a City of Reconciliation. Vancouver consistently ranks as one of the world’s most liveable and environmentally sustainable cities. Named among Canada's Top 100 Employers, BC's Top Employers, and Canada's Greenest Employers, the City of Vancouver seeks colleagues who can help shape and embody our core commitments to sustainability, reconciliation, equity and outstanding quality of life for all residents.

Consider joining our committed team of staff and being part of an innovative, inclusive and engaging workplace. Working at the City of Vancouver and within the public service can be a rewarding career where you play a key role in ensuring impartial and equitable access to services, upholding ethical governance, and addressing the needs of citizens with integrity and dedication.

Main Purpose and Function

The Category Manager is responsible for managing the procurement portfolio of a wide range of categories of goods and services to support the City’s business operations. Works as part of a shared services procurement organization, this position is responsible for managing the portfolio spend, developing cost reduction strategies, conducting rigorous market analyses, recommending short-term and long-term strategic sourcing opportunities, providing risk/benefit analysis, leading/facilitating supplier evaluations, negotiations, and change management efforts, managing cost reduction programs and transactional activities in pursuit of total cost of ownership savings and providing overall value to the organization. This position promotes a continuous process improvement culture and recommends changes in methods, and procedures to impact financial and operational. The Category Manager is responsible for the strategic procurement activities of the assigned portfolio and oversee the work of others in the department, guiding the development and implementation of deliverables while managing staffing their workload and working conditions. The position develops and implements strategic sourcing initiatives and vendor management strategies by reviewing and seeking out new technologies and processes to optimize not only the vendor selection but the entire cost cycle across the organization. The Category Manager incorporates a sustainability and total cost of ownership perspective as an integral component for the products and services procured for the City.

Specific Duties/Responsibilities

• Oversees the procurement of a portfolio of commodity categories, leading cross-functional categories, with multidisciplinary project teams, managing multiple concurrent projects
• Develops market intelligence specific to the assigned portfolio of commodities including but not limited to analysis of supplier capabilities and offerings, competitive landscape, market trends, impact of various factors on cost, price and availability of assigned categories
• Identifies and establishes continuous improvement and total cost of ownership reduction opportunities in collaboration with Business Partners. Continuous improvement and reduction opportunities may impact financial and operational areas as well as staffing workloads, working conditions, changes in positions and staffing levels.
• Establishes annual cost improvement targets and regularly reports savings results.
• Conducts periodic Business Partner reviews, addressing both Performance metrics and continuous improvement activities
• Manages existing contracts for compliance, supplier optimization / rationalization, commercial terms, improvements, modifications or renewal. Monitors use of category-related agreements and regularly reports leakage spend
• Tracks and reports key performance indicators for suppliers of the category portfolio, as well as managing any modifications to the portfolio
• Supports and negotiates the establishment of vendor contracts for strategic purchases and large spot buys when no existing contract exists. Negotiates over terms and conditions, scope, delivery and performance
• Develops and sustains processes and procedures for efficient sourcing and procurement.
• Supports eCommerce relationship with suppliers including electronic catalogue maintenance, approving price change requests, interface with eProcurement systems, resolution of pricing discrepancies, and total cost analysis
• Manages cross-functional teams to execute the category-specific sourcing strategies, including the development of requirements. Along with the Assistant Manager, Contracts and Administration other managers in the department responsible for :
  • Hiring, training, reviewing of work performance and provides coaching to contract specialists/buyers/project teams
  • Evaluation of performance, authorization of vacation, overtime and other leaves
  • Handling of disciplinary matters along with active participation in the grievance proce
• Develops and sustains processes and procedures for efficient sourcing and procurement, supported by information technology such as ERP and/or e-Sourcing systems
• Assigns, supervises and reviews the work of staff to ensure efficient, timely and consistent delivery of services, as required
• Remains flexible and able adapt to changing circumstances.
• Demonstrates persistence in overcoming obstacles and resilience.
• Works closely with senior managers, other internal stakeholders, and the Chief Procurement Officer to identify and achieve the category goals
• Other duties/responsibilities as assigned

Education and Experience:

Bachelor's Degree in Business or other related degree program, and a minimum of 5 years of experience in one or more of the following areas: program management, project management, supply chain planning, contract management, negotiations, vendor performance management, business analysis, business case development, or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Working applied knowledge in leading project teams to achieve quantifiable savings by applying various strategic sourcing and category management methods.
• Working knowledge of strategic sourcing methodology.
• Strong negotiation and oral communication skills
• Strong organizational and time management skills.
• Excellent report writing skills to prepare documentation for procurement strategies and contract award approval documentation
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Strong leadership skills and political awareness.
• Ability to be innovative in devising procurement solutions.
• Results Self-motivated and results oriented.
• Ability to supervise, evaluate, coach, and develop others.
• Ability to build and maintain effective working relationships at all levels of the organization and with the public.
• Proficient using the Microsoft Office Suite

Where operationally appropriate and subject to change, the City of Vancouver has a Flexible Work Program. This program allows staff to work a hybrid work week from locations that are a daily commutable distance from their work at a City worksite. At this time this position is eligible to be part of the Flexible Work Program.

Business Unit/Department:Finance & Supply Chain Mgmt (1150)

Affiliation:Exempt

Employment Type:Regular Full Time

Position Start Date: August, 2025

Salary Information: Pay Grade RNG-091: $111139to $138924 per annum

At the City of Vancouver, we are committed to recruiting a diverse workforce that represents the community we so proudly serve . Indigenous peoples, people of colour, 2SLGBTQ+ persons including all genders and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply. Accommodations will be provided upon request during the selection process.Learn more aboutour commitment to diversity and inclusion .

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In addition to uploading your cover letter and resume, part of the application process may include answering application questions related to the preferred requirements of the role which may take approx. 5-10 minutes. Cover letters should express interest and highlight additional information relevant to the position and resumes should include a summary of skills and experience related to the position.