Category Manager, Direct Materials

King Technology, Inc.; Minnetonka (MN); On-site; USD 120,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

King Technology, Inc. in Minnesota is seeking a senior sourcing leader to drive category strategies across chemicals, packaging, and contract manufacturing. You will lead complex NPD sourcing, manage supplier selection, and push for cost savings with cross-functional teams.

Ideal candidates bring 8+ years in strategic sourcing, strong negotiation, and expertise in supplier risk, ERP-driven analytics, and contract management. This role emphasizes integrity, safety, and value creation.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in supply chain, business, engineering, chemistry, or related field.
• 8+ years of progressive experience in strategic sourcing, category management, or procurement, with chemicals/packaging experience.
• Experience in sourcing and managing contract manufacturers.
• Experience in plastics.
• Proven track record delivering cost savings.
• Strong negotiation and contract management skills.
• Advanced analytical skills including cost modeling and spend analysis.
• Preferred CPSM/CSCP/CPIM; MBA a plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead sourcing for complex and new-to-market NPD projects and guide the NPD buyer.
• Drive supplier evaluations, recommendations, and selection with input from manufacturing.
• Bring supplier innovations into NPD, partnering with R&D early in development.
• Support make-vs-buy evaluations with cross-functional teams.
• Own supplier qualification end-to-end including financial vetting and onboarding.
• Develop category strategies for chemicals, packaging, and contract manufacturing.
• Drive cost reductions and track savings using approved methodologies.
• Lead supplier relationship management and risk planning.

Skills

Sourcing leadership

Negotiation

Category management

Cost modeling

ERP systems

Contract management

Supplier relationship management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in supply chain, business, engineering, chemistry, or related field

Tools

ERP systems

Job description

Grow, innovate, and enrich lives with us.

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• Base Pay $120,000.00 - $140,000.00 / Year

Description

King Technology is a Minnesota-based innovator that designs and manufactures smart water care solutions for pools and hot tubs. Known for its patented technologies and purpose-driven culture, King Technology is committed to making water care easier while “Enriching Lives Daily” for customers, employees, and communities.

Our Mission and Values:

Mission: Brilliant water care through radical invention, life-enriching ingredients and unique delivery systems.

Values: At King, we are Excellent, Courageous, and Selfless, committed to Integrity and Safety.

Essential Functions:

• Lead sourcing for complex and new-to-market NPD projects, and guide the NPD buyer, who owns bidding and MPA pricing and leads less complex projects.


• Drive supplier recommendations, evaluations, and selection, making final supplier and pricing decisions with the NPD buyer, using capacity and capability input from manufacturing engineering.


• Bring supplier innovation on materials, formulations, and packaging into the NPD process, partnering with R&D early in development.


• Support make-vs.-buy evaluations with manufacturing, quality, engineering, and local General Management


• Own the supplier qualification process end to end, including financial vetting, capability and risk assessment, and onboarding standards.


• Partner with the Sr. Manager, Manufacturing Engineering & Quality, who owns quality qualification, audits, and first-article approval, so suppliers are fully qualified before the first production order.

3. Category Strategy

• Develop and execute category strategies for chemicals, packaging, and contract manufacturing, prioritizing the most impactful opportunities by spend, risk, and growth.


• Maintain market intelligence on pricing, capacity, tariffs, regulatory changes, and supply trends, and translate it into sourcing recommendations.


• Own master production agreements and supply contracts, including pricing mechanisms, payment terms, advance payment protections, and quality and service requirements.


• Drive supplier consolidation and segmentation to build a focused, high-performing supply base.

4. Cost Reduction

• Set and deliver annual cost savings objectives and targets in partnership with finance, R&D, quality, purchasing, manufacturing and engineering.


• Build and manage a savings pipeline using negotiation, competitive bidding, value engineering, specification changes, supplier consolidation, and improved contract terms.


• Track and report savings using an approved methodology.

5. Supplier Performance, Risk, and Partnership

• Lead supplier relationship management with key contract manufacturers and suppliers, including scorecards and business reviews.


• Own supply risk and continuity planning, including dual sourcing, supplier financial monitoring, and contingency plans for critical materials.


• Partner with planning and purchasing to align supply plans, lead times, and capacity with demand.


• Lead sourcing for capital equipment and other non-NPD needs as assigned.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in supply chain, business, engineering, chemistry, or a related field, or equivalent experience.


• 8+ years of progressive experience in strategic sourcing, category management, or procurement, with significant experience in chemicals and/or packaging.


• Experience sourcing and managing contract manufacturers.


• Experience in plastics.


• Proven track record supporting new product development and launches.


• Demonstrated results delivering measurable cost savings.


• Strong negotiation and contract management skills, including supply agreements, pricing structures, and payment terms.


• Advanced analytical skills, including cost modeling and spend analysis, with working knowledge of ERP systems.


• Preferred: consumer products, water treatment, pool and spa, or regulated chemical products (e.g., EPA/FIFRA-registered products).


• Preferred: CPSM, CSCP, or CPIM certification; MBA a plus.


• Alignment with and ability to support an organizational culture centered on faith, family, work, and core values.


• Embrace and foster company values: At King, we are Excellent, Courageous, and Selfless, committed to Integrity and Safety.

What is it like working at King Technology?

Our culture is built on our Mission, Vision, and Values. They are more than words on a wall. They guide how we work, how we treat one another, and how we serve our customers every day.

At King Technology, you'll find people who lead with Integrity, act with Courage, strive for Excellence, prioritize Safety, and demonstrate a Selfless attitude in their interactions with teammates, customers, and partners. These values are reflected in everyday actions, from small acts of kindness to major business decisions.

We believe our differences make us stronger, and each team member contributes their own talents, experiences, and perspective to our culture. Together, we create an environment that encourages collaboration, innovation, accountability, and personal growth.

We're looking for people who not only have the right skills, but who genuinely align with our values and want to make a positive impact on their team, our customers, and our community.

Join us at King Technology and help shape a culture where people, purpose, and innovation thrive together.