Category Analyst

Randstad USA; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Randstad USA is seeking a Category Management Specialist in Houston to drive strategic sourcing and lifecycle management across assigned spend categories. You will partner with internal stakeholders to develop and execute category strategies, negotiate terms, and manage end-to-end contracting processes to deliver value.

The role emphasizes collaboration with procurement and operations, demand planning, and supplier performance reviews, with a focus on cost savings and risk mitigation in a

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a related field is required.
• Advanced degree preferred.

Responsibilities

• Develop and present business plans to key stakeholders for spend categories under assigned areas of responsibility.
• Generate and execute Category strategies and SRM programs consistent with the approved framework.
• Lead Strategic Sourcing events following the outlined BlueBook sourcing methodology.
• Manage the end-to-end sourcing and contracting process (including RFPs) for assigned commodities and services.
• Monitor, assess, and adjust sourcing strategies based on supplier and market intelligence.
• Implement multiple sourcing strategies leveraging Total Cost of Ownership (TCO), Lease vs. Buy, and Economic Value models.
• Establish and maintain a network with key internal stakeholders and business customers to understand service/commodity needs.
• Coordinate and drive activities related to the annual planning process across Procurement organizations and Operations.
• Develop strategies to maximize savings within the Capital Maintenance Plan, Expense Plan, and emerging projects.
• Collaborate with Group Procurement, Supply Chain Operations Support, Purchasing Services, Strategic Initiatives, Americas Clusters, and the Global Procurement Group.
• Support emergency preparedness and response situations to promote business continuity and the safety of employees, contractors, and customers.
• Negotiate commercial and legal terms and conditions for significant or aggregated project-based spend.
• Manage the complete contract lifecycle for all Frame Agreements within assigned categories.
• Assist with contract start-up functions involving appropriate department managers.
• Evaluate existing contract relationships to identify realized savings, new cost-reduction opportunities, risk mitigation strategies, and commercial terms enhancements.
• Partner with Legal to ensure full compliance with all applicable internal and external regulatory requirements, policies, and procedures.
• Work closely with the Supplier Relationship Management Specialist for key suppliers within assigned areas.
• Build a consistent, repeatable series of KPIs to gauge supplier performance and develop actionable improvement plans.
• Facilitate periodic business reviews with key suppliers and track action items resulting from meetings.
• Participate in identifying emerging opportunities within the supply community.
• Leverage market intelligence to evaluate, negotiate, and manage annual price fluctuations and anticipate supply chain challenges.
• Utilize Supply Chain technology for Contract Management, SRM, and Spend Analysis.
• Understand the Hermes code structure and accurately quantify managed vs. unmanaged spend.
• Ensure strict compliance with internal processes, including contract filing, bidding, and value creation reporting processes.
• Provide various reporting packages and analytics as requested by leadership.

Skills

Strategic Sourcing

Contract Negotiation

Spend Analysis

Demand Planning

Stakeholder Collaboration

KPI Development

SRM

Education

Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Finance, Accounting, or a related business field

Advanced degree (Master's/MBA) in Business, Management, or a related field

Job description

As a critical member of the Category Management team, this role provides comprehensive support across all assigned business units. The Specialist is responsible for proactively managing spend, including strategic sourcing, contract negotiation and lifecycle management, commercial negotiations, supplier relationship management support, demand planning, and customer interface. This position actively assists the Category Manager and team members in the development, deployment, and execution of Category Management strategies.

Essential Job Functions

Category Strategy & Sourcing

• Develop and present business plans to key stakeholders for spend categories under assigned areas of responsibility.
• Generate and execute Category strategies and Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) programs consistent with the approved framework.
• Lead Strategic Sourcing events following the outlined BlueBook sourcing methodology.
• Manage the end-to-end sourcing and contracting process (including RFPs) for assigned commodities and services.
• Monitor, assess, and adjust sourcing strategies based on supplier and market intelligence.
• Implement multiple sourcing strategies leveraging Total Cost of Ownership (TCO), Lease vs. Buy, and Economic Value models.

Stakeholder Collaboration & Demand Planning

• Establish and maintain a network with key internal stakeholders and business customers to understand service/commodity needs and remain connected on key issues.
• Coordinate and drive activities related to the annual planning process across Procurement organizations and Operations.
• Develop strategies to maximize savings within the Capital Maintenance Plan, Expense Plan, and emerging projects.
• Collaborate with Group Procurement, Supply Chain Operations Support, Purchasing Services, Strategic Initiatives, Americas Clusters, and the Global Procurement Group.
• Support emergency preparedness and response situations to promote business continuity and the safety of employees, contractors, and customers.

Contract Management & Negotiations

• Negotiate commercial and legal terms and conditions for significant or aggregated project-based spend associated with managed categories.
• Manage the complete contract lifecycle for all Frame Agreements within assigned categories.
• Assist with contract start-up functions involving appropriate department managers.
• Evaluate existing contract relationships to identify realized savings, new cost-reduction opportunities, risk mitigation strategies, and commercial terms enhancements.
• Partner with Legal to ensure full compliance with all applicable internal and external regulatory requirements, policies, and procedures.
• Work closely with the Supplier Relationship Management Specialist for key suppliers within assigned areas.
• Build a consistent, repeatable series of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to gauge supplier performance and develop actionable improvement plans.
• Facilitate periodic business reviews with key suppliers and track action items resulting from meetings.
• Participate in identifying emerging opportunities within the supply community.
• Leverage market intelligence to evaluate, negotiate, and manage annual price fluctuations and anticipate supply chain challenges.
• Utilize Supply Chain technology for Contract Management, SRM, and Spend Analysis.
• Understand the Hermes code structure and accurately quantify managed vs. unmanaged spend.
• Ensure strict compliance with internal processes, including contract filing, bidding, and value creation reporting processes.
• Provide various reporting packages and analytics as requested by leadership.

Marginal / Periodic Functions

• Perform other duties and projects as assigned by management.

Organizational Relationships

• Supervision Received: Direct reporting to the Category Manager.
• Supervision Given: As delegated or identified by the Category Manager.

Qualifications & Requirements

Education

• Required: Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Finance, Accounting, or a related business field.
• Preferred: Advanced degree (Master's/MBA) in Business, Management, or a related field.

_____________________

Equal Opportunity Employer: Race, Color, Religion, Sex, Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, National Origin, Age, Genetic Information, Disability, Protected Veteran Status, or any other legally protected group status.

This posting is open for thirty (30) days.