Category Manager

Jobtailor; Rogers (MN); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Jobtailor is seeking an experienced procurement leader to act as a trusted advisor to Operations and Engineering, developing multi-year category strategies and leading full-cycle sourcing processes. You will negotiate complex contracts, manage supplier performance, and drive cost optimization across multiple commodities.

You’ll collaborate cross-functionally, monitor essential procurement metrics, and stay ahead of industry trends to ensure compliant, high-value partnerships.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Economics, Supply Chain, MIS, or related field; MBA preferred.

Responsibilities

• Act as a trusted procurement advisor to cross-functional teams across Operations, Engineering, and other departments.
• Develop and execute multi-year category strategies for assigned commodities.
• Manage full-cycle sourcing processes such as RFIs and RFPs.
• Lead commercial negotiations encompassing pricing, SLAs, data privacy, IP rights, and liability clauses.
• Facilitate cross-functional collaboration and provide strategic guidance.
• Oversee supplier partnerships, ensuring SLA, KPI, and regulatory compliance.
• Monitor and report procurement metrics including cost optimization, contract coverage, and supplier performance.
• Maintain awareness of emerging technology trends and industry standards relevant to procurement.

Skills

Strategic Sourcing

Category Management

Contract Negotiation

Supplier Performance Management

Cost Optimization

Project Management

Influence Skills

Adaptability

Education

Bachelor’s Degree

MBA Preferred

Tools

RFIs

RFPs

Pricing Negotiation

Service Level Agreements

Data Privacy

Intellectual Property Rights

Liability Clauses

Job description

Role Overview

• Act as a trusted procurement advisor to teams across Operations, Engineering, and other departments, building strong partnerships and supporting business goals.
• Develop and execute multi-year category strategies for your assigned commodities.
• Manage full-cycle sourcing processes such as RFIs and RFPs.
• Lead commercial negotiations encompassing pricing, service level agreements (SLAs), data privacy, intellectual property rights, and liability clauses.
• Facilitate productive cross-functional collaboration and provide strategic guidance.
• Oversee and nurture supplier partnerships, ensuring compliance with SLAs, KPIs, and regulatory requirements.
• Monitor and report essential procurement metrics, including cost optimization, contract coverage, and supplier performance.
• Maintain awareness of emerging technology trends and industry standards relevant to procurement.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Economics, Supply Chain, MIS, or a related field required; MBA preferred.
• A minimum of five years' experience in strategic sourcing or category management, preferably within direct commodities.
• Demonstrated success in negotiating complex contracts, managing vendor performance, and delivering measurable cost optimization.
• Adaptability to changing business conditions.
• Great project management and influence skills.

Core Competencies

Demonstrates expertise in strategic sourcing and category management, with a strong focus on contract negotiation, supplier performance management, and cost optimization. Proven ability to build cross-functional partnerships and execute procurement strategies aligned with business goals.

Highest-signal resume keywords

• Strategic Sourcing
• Category Management
• Contract Negotiation
• Supplier Performance Management
• Cost Optimization

ATS Optimization Keywords

Hard Skills

• Full-Cycle Sourcing
• RFIs
• RFPs
• Pricing Negotiation
• Service Level Agreements
• Data Privacy
• Intellectual Property Rights
• Liability Clauses
• Procurement Metrics
• Cost Optimization

Soft Skills

• Project Management
• Influence Skills
• Adaptability

Certifications & Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree
• MBA Preferred

Industry Keywords

• Procurement
• Supplier Partnerships
• Compliance
• KPI
• Emerging Technology Trends
• Industry Standards