Category Manager

Littelfuse; United States; Remote; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Littelfuse, headquartered in Chicago, IL, seeks an experienced procurement professional to lead global category management for materials across EII facilities. The role focuses on strategy, supplier consolidation, and cost reduction initiatives across molding, rubber, resin, silver contacts, and related categories.

You will collaborate with cross-functional teams, drive negotiations, monitor market trends, and support supplier development worldwide.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of procurement experience with a focus on category management.
• Experience developing strong, mutually beneficial relationships with key stakeholders.
• Ability to analyze and interpret multiple data sets and present concise analysis.
• Skilled in sourcing, contracting and negotiation.
• Experience setting category strategy using models like Porter’s Five Forces, SWOT, and chessboard.

Responsibilities

• Manage category strategy with cross-functional teams to consolidate and renationalize the supplier base.
• Negotiate price and terms; conduct regular business reviews with strategic suppliers and drive corrective actions.
• Develop and execute annual cost reduction plans with cost models; partner with engineering on cost-saving projects.
• Collaborate with regional category managers; source new suppliers and expand supplier base.
• Monitor industry trends and market conditions; deliver market intelligence to cross-functional teams.

Skills

Procurement

Category management

Data analysis

Sourcing negotiation

Stakeholder mgmt

Excel

PowerPoint

Cost modeling

English fluency

Tools

Excel

PowerPoint

Job description

Littelfuse (NASDAQ: LFUS) is a diversified industrial technology manufacturing company shaping solutions for the safe and efficient transfer of electrical energy. Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, USA, we serve customers across industrial, transportation, and electronics markets worldwide. With approximately 16,000 employees we design and manufacture innovative technologies that support electrification, energy efficiency, and advanced automation. Our global reach is matched by a culture that empowers innovation and long-term growth. Guided by our principles We Care, We Succeed With Our Customers, and We Own the Outcome, we work collaboratively, think boldly, and deliver solutions that move industries forward.

Reporting to the EII Sr. Category Manager. This role is designed as an individual contributor, candidate will take direct responsibility for categories such as Molding, Rubber, Resin, silver contacts, Fasteners, etc. Role has global category management responsibility for materials consumed at all EII facilities globally. Key responsibilities include: management of category, setting category strategy, maintaining AVL, lead sourcing, commercial negotiation, RFQ, supplier management, Multisource, rebalancing, consolidation, Cost models and supporting special initiatives as necessary. Collaboration and networking with other category managers and other regions are key for the role, this role will need to support supplier development and negotiations from other global categories within the region you are based.

About the Job

• Manage category strategy and work with cross-functional team to implement strategy on different product lines, consolidate and renationalize our global supplier base, transfer more spend/allocation to strategic suppliers;
• Manage suppliers in cost, quality, delivery and service to ensure the competitiveness of Littelfuse (including price and commercial terms negotiation), regular business review with strategic suppliers, drive actions for poor performance suppliers
• Develop and execute annual cost reduction plan (including VeVa projects, CoS and negotiation) to achieve annual cost reduction targets with cost model implementation, work with engineering team to implement cost saving projects on time; negotiate payment term to ensure competitive DPO
• Collaborate with other Category managers on the other regions and support and/or lead negotiations, find new suppliers and help developed other sources within your region.
• Monitor industry trends, rules, performance, market conditions; collection of market, competitors’ status and information analysis. Work closely with cross-functional teams to deliver the market intelligence, industry insight;

About You

• 10+ years of experience in procurement, especially focused on category management.
• 10+ years experience with manufactured products (industrial end markets experience preferred). Experienced developing strong, mutually beneficial relationships with key stakeholders.
• Ability to analyze and interpret multiple sets of data and work out concise, insightful analysis.
• Skilled in sourcing process, contracting and negotiation.
• Ability to think deeply when analyzing the data and presenting the result.
• Experience setting category strategy and applying strategy setting models such as Porters 5 forces, SWOT analysis, AT Kearney Chessboard, etc.
• Ability to interact and engage with peers with good communication skills.
• Able to work independently and under pressure as well as be a strong team player, always seeking to improve team and organizational performance.
• Self-management skills and self-started attitude highly valued.
• English communication, both verbal and written is a must.
• Proficiency with Excel, PowerPoint, etc. Strong communication skill, rich project management skill. Cost modeling knowledge.

At Littelfuse, we support employee growth and development. Guided by our culture principles, our teams work together to deliver value for customers and make a positive impact in the communities where we operate. We are an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering an inclusive workplace where everyone has the opportunity to grow and contribute. We offer competitive compensation and benefits, performance-based incentives, flexible work arrangements, and development opportunities.