Category Manager

Oil-Dri Corporation of America; Ochlocknee (GA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus

401(k) with company match

Medical, dental, and vision coverage

Paid time off and holidays

Career growth and development

Job summary

Oil-Dri Corporation of America is seeking a Category Manager to own key procurement categories with over $40MM in annual spend. You will develop sourcing strategies, negotiate with suppliers, and manage strategic relationships to improve cost, quality, and supply continuity.

Collaborating with Operations, Planning, Quality, Engineering, and Finance, you will lead cross-functional initiatives and drive total cost improvements without direct authority.

Qualifications

• 5–10+ years in Procurement, Strategic Sourcing, or related field.
• Experience building category strategies and leading sourcing initiatives.
• Strong supplier relationships and performance-management ability.
• Proven contract negotiation and commercial-management skills.
• Experience with cost analysis, TCO, spend analysis, and market intelligence.
• Strong financial, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to lead projects and influence without direct authority.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and presentation skills.
• Proficiency in Excel and PowerPoint; travel about 10–15%.

Responsibilities

• Develop category strategies and sourcing plans aligned with company objectives.
• Analyze spend, supplier markets, cost drivers, and competitive conditions.
• Lead RFI, RFQ, and RFP activities from development through supplier implementation.
• Negotiate contracts, pricing, rebates, payment terms, freight terms, and volume commitments.
• Identify cost reduction, cost avoidance, standardization, and productivity opportunities.
• Own strategic supplier relationships and serve as the primary procurement contact.
• Establish supplier KPIs and lead supplier business reviews and corrective actions.
• Develop contingency plans and explore dual/alternate sourcing options.
• Monitor market, transportation, regulatory, capacity, and raw-material risks.
• Partner with Planning and Operations to improve inventory and lead times.

Skills

Category management

Sourcing strategy

Negotiation

Spend analysis

Total Cost of Ownership

Cost reduction

Excel

PowerPoint

Communication

Relationship management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain / related field

CPSM certification

CPIM certification

CSCP certification

Tools

ERP systems

Job description

Location

Blue Mountain, MS or Ochlocknee, GA

Compensation

Competitive salary + annual bonus

Work Model

Monday - Friday required

• This position is based at an active mine site and requires daily onsite presence. Work conditions may include uneven terrain, climbing ladders, navigating steps, and exposure to varying weather conditions such as heat, rain, or mud.


• Regular in-person attendance consistent with the Company's established work schedule is an essential function of this position to facilitate effective collaboration, communication, and business operations.

Position Summary

The Category Manager owns assigned categories representing more than $40MM in annual spend and serves as the Procurement subject matter expert for those areas. This role develops sourcing strategies, leads negotiations, manages strategic suppliers, improves cost and performance, and protects supply continuity.

The Category Manager partners with Operations, Planning, Quality, Engineering, Finance, and other teams to improve cost, quality, service, supply assurance, and Total Cost of Ownership. This is an individual contributor role that leads cross-functional initiatives without direct authority.

The Opportunity

• Own strategic categories representing $40MM+ in annual spend


• Develop and execute category strategies aligned with business priorities


• Lead competitive sourcing events and supplier negotiations


• Manage key supplier relationships and performance


• Deliver cost savings, cost avoidance, and productivity improvements


• Strengthen supply continuity and reduce supplier risk


• Influence cross-functional decisions without direct authority

Primary Responsibilities

• Develop category strategies and sourcing plans aligned with company objectives


• Analyze spend, supplier markets, cost drivers, and competitive conditions


• Lead RFI, RFQ, and RFP activities from development through supplier implementation


• Negotiate contracts, pricing, rebates, payment terms, freight terms, and volume commitments


• Identify cost reduction, cost avoidance, standardization, consolidation, and productivity opportunities


• Own strategic supplier relationships and serve as the primary Procurement contact


• Establish supplier KPIs covering cost, quality, delivery, service, capacity, and responsiveness


• Lead supplier business reviews, corrective actions, escalations, and performance improvement initiatives


• Develop contingency plans and identify alternate or dual-source opportunities


• Monitor market, transportation, regulatory, capacity, geopolitical, and raw-material risks


• Partner with Planning and Operations to improve inventory, lead times, order quantities, safety stock, and supplier capacity


• Track and report savings and cost avoidance in partnership with Finance


• Ensure sourcing activities follow applicable policies, approvals, contracts, and internal controls

Success Measures

• Achievement of cost savings and cost-avoidance objectives


• Total Cost of Ownership improvements


• Supplier quality and on-time delivery


• Supply continuity and risk mitigation


• Contract and pricing compliance


• Inventory and working-capital improvements


• Successful completion of strategic sourcing projects


• Strong stakeholder and supplier relationships

Candidate Profile

• 5 - 10 years plus of progressive experience in Procurement, Strategic Sourcing, Supply Chain, Material Planning, Operations, or a related field


• Experience developing category strategies and leading strategic sourcing initiatives


• Strong supplier relationship and performance-management experience


• Demonstrated contract negotiation and commercial-management skills


• Experience with cost analysis, Total Cost of Ownership, spend analysis, and market intelligence


• Strong financial, analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills


• Ability to lead projects and influence stakeholders without direct authority


• Strong communication, negotiation, and presentation skills


• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint


• Availability for approximately 10% to 15% travel, with additional travel as business needs require

Preferred Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Business, Finance, Engineering, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience


• CPSM, CPIM, CSCP, or an equivalent certification


• Experience with ERP or procurement systems


• Experience building cost models or competitive benchmarks


• Experience supporting alternate sourcing, dual sourcing, or business‑continuity initiatives

Compensation and Benefits

• Annual bonus opportunity


• 401(k) with company match


• Medical, dental, and vision coverage


• Paid time off and company holidays


• Career growth and professional development opportunities

About Oil-Dri

Oil-Dri Corporation of America is a leading specialty minerals manufacturer serving consumer and business-to-business markets. We offer the stability of an established manufacturing company with the visibility, ownership, and direct impact of a more closely connected organization. Our teammates help Create Value From Sorbent Minerals every day.

Equal Opportunity Statement

Oil-Dri is committed to providing equal opportunity for all teammates and qualified candidates without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, age, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, marital status, mental or physical disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. Accordingly, all employment decisions and personnel actions or programs such as hiring, promotion, discipline, compensation, benefits, transfers, reductions in workforce, and training, etc. will be consistent with the principle of equal employment opportunity.