Category Manager

Jobtailor; New Jersey; On-site; USD 85,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

Jobtailor in New Jersey is seeking a Category Manager to develop and execute sourcing strategies aligned with business objectives and manufacturing needs.

You will analyze spend, market conditions, supplier capabilities, and cost drivers; lead supplier sourcing activities, including RFx, evaluations, negotiations, and implementation; and drive supplier performance improvements.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent in a related field.
• 3+ years of procurement/category management experience.
• Experience managing procurement categories in manufacturing environments.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute category and sourcing strategies aligned with business objectives.
• Analyze spend, market conditions, supplier capabilities, and cost drivers to identify opportunities for value creation and risk reduction.
• Lead supplier sourcing activities, including supplier qualification, RFx processes, proposal evaluation, negotiations, and implementation.
• Negotiate commercial agreements while balancing cost, quality, delivery, risk, and operational requirements.
• Manage supplier relationships, business reviews, and performance improvement initiatives.
• Stay current on market trends, emerging technologies, and industry best practices within assigned categories.

Skills

Category Management

Supplier Sourcing

Negotiation Skills

Data Analytics

Procurement Experience

Education

Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Business, Engineering, Operations Management, Finance

Tools

Microsoft Office

Data Analytics Tools

Automation Solutions

AI-Enabled Solutions

Job description

• Develop and execute category and sourcing strategies aligned with business objectives.
• Analyze spend, market conditions, supplier capabilities, and cost drivers to identify opportunities for value creation and risk reduction.
• Lead supplier sourcing activities, including supplier qualification, RFx processes, proposal evaluation, negotiations, and implementation.
• Negotiate commercial agreements while balancing cost, quality, delivery, risk, and operational requirements.
• Manage supplier relationships, business reviews, and performance improvement initiatives.
• Stay current on market trends, emerging technologies, and industry best practices within assigned categories.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Business, Engineering, Operations Management, Finance, or related field; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 3+ years of experience in procurement, category management, supply chain, operations, engineering, manufacturing, or a related field.
• Experience managing procurement categories within a manufacturing environment, including direct materials, indirect spend, manufacturing inputs, or services.
• Strong commercial, analytical, negotiation, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to influence stakeholders and collaborate effectively across functions and organizational levels.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and demonstrated aptitude for leveraging data analytics, automation, and AI-enabled solutions.

Core Competencies

Demonstrates expertise in developing and executing sourcing strategies, managing supplier relationships, and leveraging data analytics to drive procurement efficiency. Proficient in negotiation and stakeholder influence within a manufacturing environment.

Highest-signal resume keywords

• Category Management
• Supplier Sourcing
• Negotiation Skills
• Data Analytics
• Procurement Experience

ATS Optimization Keywords

Hard Skills

• Procurement
• Category Management
• Spend Analysis
• Supplier Qualification
• Cost Analysis
• Risk Management
• Commercial Agreements
• Performance Improvement
• Manufacturing Inputs
• Direct Materials

Soft Skills

• Analytical Skills
• Problem-Solving
• Influencing Stakeholders
• Collaboration
• Communication

Industry Keywords

• Supply Chain
• Operations Management
• Manufacturing Environment
• Indirect Spend
• Market Trends

Tools & Technologies

• Microsoft Office
• Data Analytics Tools
• Automation Solutions
• AI-Enabled Solutions