Category Analyst

Rutgers University; Piscataway Township (NJ); On-site; USD 65,000 - 98,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a proactive Category Analyst to join its University Procurement Services. This role is essential in managing the complete procurement lifecycle, independently sourcing products and services, and ensuring compliance with university policies. The ideal candidate will excel in building relationships with suppliers and university departments while driving strategic spending initiatives. With a focus on customer service, the Category Analyst will identify procurement needs and enhance contract utilization. This position offers a dynamic work environment with ample opportunities for professional growth and development.

Benefits

Comprehensive benefits program

Diverse and inclusive workplace

Opportunities for professional development

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration or related field required.
• Two years of strategic sourcing/procurement experience needed.

Responsibilities

• Manage the full procurement lifecycle for designated categories.
• Negotiate supplier contracts and ensure compliance with policies.
• Facilitate procurement processes and develop scopes of work.

Skills

Strategic Sourcing

Analytical Skills

Project Management

Communication Skills

Customer Service

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business Administration

Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management

Tools

Jaggaer

Oracle

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

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Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, is a leading national research university and the State of New Jersey’s preeminent, comprehensive public institution of higher education. As one of the largest employers in the State of New Jersey, Rutgers University is committed not only to the students and the State that we serve, but also to the faculty and staff who work on our campuses. Ranked in 2022 by Forbes as a top 100 best large employer in America, Rutgers’ commitment to its employees includes maintaining and fostering a safe, diverse, and respectful workplace environment, creating employment opportunities for our nation’s military veterans, and ensuring accessibility and accommodation for individuals with disabilities.

University Finance and Administration ( UFA ) advances Rutgers’ strategic priorities through the management of all central financial, administrative, and student information systems and processes. We supply the university’s financial community the professional guidance, services, tools, and information needed to make the informed decisions that contribute to Rutgers’ standing as an academic, health, and research powerhouse. We are deeply committed to our guiding principles and the core values that are critical for the long-term strategic growth of our division and the university. For more information, please visit https://finance.rutgers.edu/ .

Posting Summary

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey is seeking a proactive and detailed Category Analyst to join University Procurement Services. Reporting to an Assistant Director, the Category Analyst will play a pivotal role in management the full procurement lifecycle for any designated categories within an identified threshold including independently sourcing products and services across the university in alignment with Rutgers University policies and best practices in strategic sourcing. This position serves as the primary point-of-contact for day-to-day procurement requests and contract-related matters. The Category Analyst, working within a category sourcing plan, provides excellent customer service and works directly with customers to identify and support procurement needs, identify suppliers, and establish and monitor term contracts.

Among they key duties of this position are the following:

• Exercises independent review and approval of requisitions up to assigned values. Insures the validity of informal bid process and waiver of bid procurements through market analysis and research. Ensures compliance with university guidelines, policies, and procedures.
• Negotiates supplier contracts or agreements to ensure they best reflect university policies.
• Develops and manages effective relationships with suppliers and university departments.
• Within any of the assigned categories, negotiates supplier contracts and drives strategic spending through them.
• Helps increased contract utilization through policies and incentives, as well as through marketing and customer service strategies.
• Finds opportunities to reduce spend by soliciting competing supplier quotes Standardizes and manages demand for commonly purchased goods and services. Independently conducts category sourcing to make purchasing easier and more efficient for client base.
• Facilitates the procurement process, develops clear and accurate scopes of work, and conducts meetings with suppliers and department end-users.
• Identifies opportunities to leverage the University’s category historical spend through category sourcing initiatives while maintaining or improving the quality of products and services. Executes category-sourcing initiatives by calculating base line spend and savings for category sourcing initiatives.
• Collaborates with category subject matter experts for recommendations to develop category sourcing requirements and supplier evaluation criteria.
• Assists with implementing strategic sourcing methodology and process for assigned category and communicates, educates and obtains support for Strategic Sourcing methodology and process from key stakeholders throughout the University system.
• Researches past category/supplier spend by using reporting tools and makes recommendations to stakeholders and procurement management.
• Administers and manages term contracts, including monitoring suppliers’ performance and adherence to service level agreements and Key Performance Indicators during the life of the contracts.
• Analyzes use of both University and state term contracts and works with suppliers and customers to identify and investigate continuous improvement opportunities within the category management-sourcing group and throughout the Procurement function.
• Performs independent review of purchase order open and close requests submitted by University departments, reviews status of orders in Jaggaer and Oracle systems to determine appropriate resolution of request and communication of action taken.
• Bachelor’s degree, preferably in Business Administration, Purchasing, Supply Chain Management, or a related field or an equivalent combination of education and/or experience.
• Two (2) years of strategic sourcing/procurement experience.

Certifications/Licenses

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Must be able to think critically and analytically and possess basic math skills
• Must demonstrate excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Must have strong project management skills and problem-solving abilities and a strong professional presenceMust demonstrate the ability to work across category areas as required.
• Must demonstrate thorough understanding of strategic sourcing and possess the ability to work independently.
• Strong interpersonal and customer service skills including the ability to foster relationships while maintaining compliance with policies and procedures.
• Must be a team player and have the ability to balance multiple tasks at the same time.
• Must be capable of successfully managing significant strategic sourcing projects with limited management involvement.
• Must possess strong computer skills including proficiency with the Office suite of products.
• Must have experience in working with automated purchasing system.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in a multiple commodity categories.
• Experience with Jaggaer procurement system.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

Special Conditions

Posting Number

Posting Number 25ST0903

Posting Open Date

Posting Open Date 05/01/2025

Special Instructions to Applicants

Regional Campus

Home Location Campus

Home Location Campus Off Campus

City

City Piscataway

State

State NJ

Position Information Recruitment/Posting Title Category Analyst Job Category URA-AFT Administrative Department UFA-Procurement Services Overview Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, is a leading national research university and the State of New Jersey’s preeminent, comprehensive public institution of higher education. As one of the largest employers in the State of New Jersey, Rutgers University is committed not only to the students and the State that we serve, but also to the faculty and staff who work on our campuses. Ranked in 2022 by Forbes as a top 100 best large employer in America, Rutgers’ commitment to its employees includes maintaining and fostering a safe, diverse, and respectful workplace environment, creating employment opportunities for our nation’s military veterans, and ensuring accessibility and accommodation for individuals with disabilities.

University Finance and Administration ( UFA ) advances Rutgers’ strategic priorities through the management of all central financial, administrative, and student information systems and processes. We supply the university’s financial community the professional guidance, services, tools, and information needed to make the informed decisions that contribute to Rutgers’ standing as an academic, health, and research powerhouse. We are deeply committed to our guiding principles and the core values that are critical for the long-term strategic growth of our division and the university. For more information, please visit https://finance.rutgers.edu/ . Posting Summary Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey is seeking a proactive and detailed Category Analyst to join University Procurement Services. Reporting to an Assistant Director, the Category Analyst will play a pivotal role in management the full procurement lifecycle for any designated categories within an identified threshold including independently sourcing products and services across the university in alignment with Rutgers University policies and best practices in strategic sourcing. This position serves as the primary point-of-contact for day-to-day procurement requests and contract-related matters. The Category Analyst, working within a category sourcing plan, provides excellent customer service and works directly with customers to identify and support procurement needs, identify suppliers, and establish and monitor term contracts.

Among they key duties of this position are the following:

• Exercises independent review and approval of requisitions up to assigned values. Insures the validity of informal bid process and waiver of bid procurements through market analysis and research. Ensures compliance with university guidelines, policies, and procedures.
• Negotiates supplier contracts or agreements to ensure they best reflect university policies.
• Develops and manages effective relationships with suppliers and university departments.
• Within any of the assigned categories, negotiates supplier contracts and drives strategic spending through them.
• Helps increased contract utilization through policies and incentives, as well as through marketing and customer service strategies.
• Finds opportunities to reduce spend by soliciting competing supplier quotes Standardizes and manages demand for commonly purchased goods and services. Independently conducts category sourcing to make purchasing easier and more efficient for client base.
• Facilitates the procurement process, develops clear and accurate scopes of work, and conducts meetings with suppliers and department end-users.
• Identifies opportunities to leverage the University’s category historical spend through category sourcing initiatives while maintaining or improving the quality of products and services. Executes category-sourcing initiatives by calculating base line spend and savings for category sourcing initiatives.
• Collaborates with category subject matter experts for recommendations to develop category sourcing requirements and supplier evaluation criteria.
• Assists with implementing strategic sourcing methodology and process for assigned category and communicates, educates and obtains support for Strategic Sourcing methodology and process from key stakeholders throughout the University system.
• Researches past category/supplier spend by using reporting tools and makes recommendations to stakeholders and procurement management.
• Administers and manages term contracts, including monitoring suppliers’ performance and adherence to service level agreements and Key Performance Indicators during the life of the contracts.
• Analyzes use of both University and state term contracts and works with suppliers and customers to identify and investigate continuous improvement opportunities within the category management-sourcing group and throughout the Procurement function.
• Performs independent review of purchase order open and close requests submitted by University departments, reviews status of orders in Jaggaer and Oracle systems to determine appropriate resolution of request and communication of action taken.
• Works on other projects as assigned.

Position Status Full Time Hours Per Week Daily Work Shift Work Arrangement FLSA Nonexempt Grade 05 Position Salary Annual Minimum Salary 65741.00 Annual Mid Range Salary 81857.00 Annual Maximum Salary 97972.00 Standard Hours 37.50 Union Description URA-AFT Administrative Payroll Designation PeopleSoft Benefits Rutgers offers a comprehensive benefit program to eligible employees. For details, please go to http://uhr.rutgers.edu/benefits/benefits-overview . Seniority Unit Terms of Appointment Staff - 12 month Position Pension Eligibility ABP Qualifications Minimum Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree, preferably in Business Administration, Purchasing, Supply Chain Management, or a related field or an equivalent combination of education and/or experience.
• Two (2) years of strategic sourcing/procurement experience.

Certifications/Licenses Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Must be able to think critically and analytically and possess basic math skills
• Must demonstrate excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Must have strong project management skills and problem-solving abilities and a strong professional presenceMust demonstrate the ability to work across category areas as required.
• Must demonstrate thorough understanding of strategic sourcing and possess the ability to work independently.
• Strong interpersonal and customer service skills including the ability to foster relationships while maintaining compliance with policies and procedures.
• Must be a team player and have the ability to balance multiple tasks at the same time.
• Must be capable of successfully managing significant strategic sourcing projects with limited management involvement.
• Must possess strong computer skills including proficiency with the Office suite of products.
• Must have experience in working with automated purchasing system.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in a multiple commodity categories.
• Experience with Jaggaer procurement system.

Equipment Utilized Physical Demands and Work Environment Special Conditions Posting Details Posting Number 25ST0903 Posting Open Date 05/01/2025 Special Instructions to Applicants Regional Campus Rutgers University-New Brunswick Home Location Campus Off Campus City Piscataway State NJ Location Details Pre-employment Screenings All offers of employment are contingent upon successful completion of all pre-employment screenings. Immunization Requirements

Under Policy 100.3.1 Immunization Policy for Covered Individuals , if employment will commence during Flu Season, Rutgers University may require certain prospective employees to provide proof that they are vaccinated against Seasonal Influenza for the current Flu Season, unless the University has granted the individual a medical or religious exemption. Additional infection control and safety policies may apply. Prospective employees should speak with their hiring manager to determine which policies apply to the role or position for which they are applying. Failure to provide proof of vaccination for any required vaccines or obtain a medical or religious exemption from the University will result in rescission of a candidate’s offer of employment or disciplinary action up to and including termination.

Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity Statement It is university policy to provide equal employment opportunity to all its employees and applicants for employment regardless of their race, creed, color, national origin, age, ancestry, nationality, marital or domestic partnership or civil union status, sex, pregnancy, gender identity or expression, disability status, liability for military service, protected veteran status, affectional or sexual orientation, atypical cellular or blood trait, genetic information (including the refusal to submit to genetic testing), or any other category protected by law. As an institution, we value diversity of background and opinion, and prohibit discrimination or harassment on the basis of any legally protected class in the areas of hiring, recruitment, promotion, transfer, demotion, training, compensation, pay, fringe benefits, layoff, termination or any other terms and conditions of employment. For additional information please see the Non-Discrimination Statement at the following web address: http://uhr.rutgers.edu/non-discrimination-statement

Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

• * Do you have a Bachelor’s degree, preferably in Business Administration, Purchasing, Supply Chain Management, or a related field or an equivalent combination of education and/or experience?
  • Yes
  • No
• * Do you have at least two (2) years of strategic sourcing/procurement experience?
  • Yes
  • No

Required Documents

Resume/CV

Cover Letter/Letter of Application

Optional Documents

List of Professional References (contact Info)

It is university policy to provide equal employment opportunity to all its employees and applicants for employment regardless of their race, creed, color, national origin, age, ancestry, nationality, marital or domestic partnership or civil union status, sex, pregnancy, gender identity or expression, disability status, liability for military service, protected veteran status, affectional or sexual orientation, atypical cellular or blood trait, genetic information (including the refusal to submit to genetic testing), or any other category protected by law. As an institution, we value diversity of background and opinion, and prohibit discrimination or harassment on the basis of any legally protected class in the areas of hiring, recruitment, promotion, transfer, demotion, training, compensation, pay, fringe benefits, layoff, termination or any other terms and conditions of employment. For additional information please see the Non-Discrimination Statement .

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (NJLAD), if you have a disability and would like to request an accommodation with regard to your access to and/or your participation in the application and selection processes (for example, the online application process or interviews), please call 848-932-4444 or e-mail us .

Rutgers University is an equal access/equal opportunity institution. If you have trouble accessing this page because of a disability, please contact us at 732.745.7378 or via email at [e-mail] .

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To learn more about Rutgers University’s commitment to diversity and inclusion on its campuses, click here .