Category Manager (Indirect Procurement) - Belron Canada

Belron Canada; Montreal; On-site; CAD 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a Category Manager for Indirect Procurement to oversee a significant budget and a diverse portfolio. This role is pivotal in driving strategic sourcing, supplier management, and cost optimization across various non-product-related categories. The successful candidate will collaborate with internal teams to ensure alignment with business goals, negotiate contracts, and implement innovative solutions to enhance supplier performance. Join this dynamic organization and contribute to their commitment to excellence and sustainability in the automotive glass sector, where your expertise will make a tangible impact on both the company and the community.

Benefits

Health Insurance

Retirement Plan

Employee Discounts

Professional Development

Flexible Work Hours

Qualifications

• Proven experience in procurement and supplier management with a focus on indirect goods.
• Strong analytical skills to conduct market analysis and identify cost-saving opportunities.

Responsibilities

• Lead RFPs and negotiations to secure favorable supplier terms and manage contracts.
• Develop category strategies aligned with business objectives and monitor supplier performance.

Skills

Strategic Sourcing

Supplier Management

Cost Optimization

Negotiation Skills

Market Analysis

Risk Management

Cross-Functional Collaboration

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Business or related field

MBA or relevant certification

Tools

Procurement Software

Data Analysis Tools

Job description

Automotive glass technology is helping transform how we experience the road. At Belron Canada, the home office of Speedy Glass, Lebeau vitres d’auto and Vanfax, we take this seriously, which is why we invest tirelessly in developing our people to realize their full potential.

We welcome applications from everyone and are firmly committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace, taking pride in ensuring every member of our team feels empowered.

The Category Manager - Indirect at Belron Canada is responsible for overseeing all procurement activities related to indirect goods and services, excluding direct materials and logistics, with a managed spend of approximately CA$100M. This role involves managing a diverse portfolio that includes packaging, chemicals, HR services, marketing agencies, IT, facilities, and other non-product-related categories, focusing on strategic sourcing, supplier management, and cost optimization.

The Category Manager will develop and implement sourcing strategies to align with business objectives, negotiate and manage supplier contracts to secure favorable terms, monitor market trends to identify opportunities for innovation and cost savings, ensure compliance with procurement policies, and collaborate with internal stakeholders to understand and address their requirements. Additionally, the Category Manager will identify and mitigate procurement risks, lead initiatives to improve supplier performance, and work closely with the finance team to forecast and manage category budgets effectively.

This role plays a critical part in driving efficiency, sustainability, and value creation across the organization’s indirect procurement categories.

Responsibility: Sourcing and Contract Management

• Lead complex RFPs and negotiations to secure favorable terms for pricing, material, and quality, ensuring compliance with company requirements.
• Develop and manage supplier contracts, ensuring all terms are met and risks are mitigated.
• Conduct spend analysis, participate in and manage projects pertaining to potential savings, single source, and standardization of material.
• Supervise the Indirect Buyer who manages day-to-day relationships with certain technical indirect suppliers.
• Identify, analyze, and realize cost reduction opportunities.

Responsibility: Strategic Supplier Management

• Develop and execute a comprehensive category strategy that aligns with the overall business objectives of Belron Canada.
• Cultivate and maintain strong, strategic partnerships with key suppliers to ensure long-term, mutually beneficial relationships.
• Monitor supplier performance and implement improvement plans using formal business reviews and scorecards to ensure optimal service levels and continuous improvement.
• Maintain excellent relations with suppliers, communicating clearly and with respect.
• Take appropriate action in case of suppliers or subcontractor non-conformities and follow up on corrective actions. Follow up on quality issues with suppliers.
• Establish and track key performance indicators (KPIs) for supplier performance and category management.

Responsibility: Category/Market Analysis and Risk Management

• Conduct thorough market analysis to stay abreast of industry trends, pricing dynamics, and potential risks.
• Identify opportunities for cost savings, process improvements, and innovation within the supply chain.
• Identify and mitigate risks within the supply chain, including supply disruptions, quality issues, and financial risks.
• Develop contingency plans to address potential supply chain disruptions.
• Prepare and present regular reports to senior management on category performance, market trends, and strategic initiatives.

Responsibility: Cross Functional Collaboration

• Collaborate with internal stakeholders, including Retail, HR, Finance, IT, and Marketing, to ensure alignment and support for category strategies.
• Work with Belron Global to leverage global initiatives, adopt best practices, and implement the rolling procurement policy to drive consistency and efficiency across categories.
• Act as a liaison between suppliers and internal teams to resolve issues and ensure smooth operations.

Responsibility: Budgeting and Financial

• Work with department heads to budget indirect costs for all categories.
• Perform audits on a regular basis to ensure suppliers are billing according to the terms of their contracts.

We believe that genuine care can make a real difference in the customer experience, and it begins with making a difference in the careers of our team members.

Belron Canada is an integral part of the Belron International family, a global leader in auto glass repair and replacement, and forward-facing digital camera calibration. Belron Canada alone operates 325+ service centres, 2 distribution centres, and 26 warehouses across 10 provinces, and is home to over 1,200 employees.

Our pursuit of excellence commits us to providing sustainable world-class care for our communities and the climate.

If you value your career as we value our employees and our customers, there’s no better time to join Belron Canada and #BringOutYourBest with us!