Category Manager-Direct Materials

Austin Powder; Beachwood (OH); On-site; USD 110,000 - 165,000; Full time

Job summary

Austin Powder in Beachwood, OH, seeks a senior Strategic Sourcing leader to drive category strategies across chemicals, packaging, and components. You will lead a team of site buyers, manage supplier relationships, and partner with finance, legal, and operations to meet cost-saving goals.

The role emphasizes development of sourcing strategies, negotiation, data-driven analysis, and cross-functional collaboration.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree is required; MBA is desired.
• 7+ years of experience in Strategic Sourcing in a manufacturing environment with exposure to commodity chemicals, additives, packaging, and components.
• Experience developing/implementing category strategies, leading sourcing projects, contract negotiations and driving savings/value.

Responsibilities

• Provide thought leadership in developing advanced category strategies and assist in identifying 'critical' and/or 'preferred' supplier relationships.
• Manage directly or via dotted line a team of site buyers and/or procurement specialists.
• Manage supplier performance and relationships to ensure the organization's expectations are met.
• Develop, foster and promote relationships with internal functions; discuss processes, policies, and benefits derived through Strategic Sourcing & Procurement.
• Lead cost savings, supply security, and strategic initiatives for raw materials, packaging, other components and sub-categories; build sourcing strategies and drive improvements.
• Drive and manage multiple sourcing projects; provide stakeholders with regular updates.
• Utilize sourcing tools to refine and improve sourcing processes, policies, and tools.
• Conduct total cost modeling and scenario analysis to help stakeholders understand trade-offs and benefits.
• Assist with planning for indirect spend categories to ensure operational success and results.
• Conduct ongoing reviews of categories to inform future strategies and activities.
• Partner with Financial Planning & Analysis, Accounting, Legal, etc. on sourcing projects.

Skills

Relationship building

Communication

Leadership

Strategic thinking

Negotiation

Cross-functional collaboration

Data analysis

Education

Bachelor's degree

MBA

Tools

SAP Ariba

Job description

Join the Family - Come work for an exciting company offering great benefits, challenging opportunities, and colleagues who feel more like family.

Roles & Responsibilities

• Provide thought leadership in developing advanced category strategies and assist in identifying & managing "critical" and/or "preferred" supplier relationships
• Manage directly or via dotted line a team of site buyers and/or procurement specialists.
• Manage supplier performance and relationships to ensure the organization's expectations are met
• Develop, foster and promote relationships with internal functions; routinely discuss processes, policies, and benefits derived through the Strategic Sourcing & Procurement organization
• Lead cost savings, supply security, and strategic initiatives for raw materials, packaging, other components along with other sub-categories, including building successful sourcing strategies, driving strategic improvements, and delivering on operational targets, savings goals, and business strategies
• Drive and manage multiple sourcing projects simultaneously while providing your internal stakeholders and leaders with regular updates
• Utilize sourcing tools to assist in departmental efforts to continually refine and improve sourcing and procurement processes, policies, and tools
• Conduct total cost modeling and sensitivity/scenario analysis to help stakeholders understand the trade-offs and benefits of various outcome.
• Assist with the analysis and planning for various components of indirect spend categories to ensure operational success and results
• Conducting ongoing reviews of categories to inform future category strategies and activities
• Partner with multiple corporate functions (e.g., Financial Planning & Analysis, Accounting, Legal, etc.) as part of your sourcing projects and related activities
• The selected candidate will take ownership of projects and drive them to completion understanding that the results will have a strong impact on the department's objectives

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree is required, MBA is desired
• 7+ years of experience in Strategic Sourcing in a manufacturing environment with exposure to commodity chemicals, additives, packaging, and component parts
• Demonstrated capabilities of developing/implementing category strategies, leading sourcing projects, contract negotiations and authoring, and driving savings/value

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Strong relationship-building, verbal and written communication, interpersonal, motivational, and influencing skills; coordination across related disciplines and with key stakeholder
• Capable of coordinating across business units and sharing critical information, with particular strength in explaining complex concepts and coaching individuals through complex decision-making
• Experience coordinating teams, collecting insights, and constructively challenge internal stakeholders with conventional thinking
• Deep Understanding of multi-step strategic sourcing processes, sourcing tools, and strategies
• Organized and adaptable with demonstrated ability to prioritize projects, meet deadlines, and deliver results
• Demonstrated progression in career with increasing responsibilities, including experience leading project teams and resources
• Comfortable with organizational change; able to thrive in a rapidly changing business environment

Work Environment and Physical Demands

• Physical demands include sitting for extended periods of time while frequently typing, viewing computer screens and use of mouse/keyboard.
• Operation of office equipment to include but not limited to telephones, printers, copiers, and scanners.
• Repetitive motion of data entry, hand, finger wrist motion and dexterity.
• May include filing and handling paperwork may involve reaching, grasping, or bending.
• Light lifting and carrying of office supplies, files, or boxes (generally under 25 lbs.).
• Will require walking and standing during the office hours.
• Good vision for reading and screen use.
• Clear verbal communication and active listening, often over the phone or video calls.

Austin Powder is an Equal Opportunity and Affiliated Action Employer and is committed to ensuring equal employment opportunities for all job applicants and employees. Employment decisions are based upon job-related reasons regardless of an applicant's race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, disability, marital status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other status protected by law. Austin Powder also participates in E-Verify.

This contractor and subcontractor shall abide by the requirements of 41 CFR 60-1.4(a), 60-300.5(a) and 60-741.5(a). These regulations prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals based on their status as protected veterans or individuals with disabilities, and prohibit discrimination against all individuals based on their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, and for inquiring about, discussing or disclosing compensation. Moreover, these regulations require that covered prime contractors and subcontractors take affirmative action to employ and advance in employment individuals without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status.