Category Manager - Electronics

JMJ PHILLIP; Carol Stream (IL); On-site; USD 140,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical Insurance

Dental & Vision

401(k) Match

Paid Time Off

Wellness programs

Professional development

Collaborative culture

Job summary

JMJ PHILLIP is seeking an experienced Category Manager - Electronics to lead sourcing strategies for electronic components and related technologies, driving total cost of ownership improvements and stronger supply resilience.

The role oversees category strategy development, supplier relationship management, contract negotiations, and cross‑functional collaboration with engineering, operations, quality, and product teams to optimize performance and enable new product introductions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required in Supply Chain, Engineering, Business, Logistics, or a related field.
• 10+ years of category management or strategic procurement experience.
• Experience sourcing electronic components and managing complex supplier relationships.
• Strong negotiation, analytical, and project management skills.
• Experience working with cross-functional teams in a manufacturing environment.
• Excellent communication, organizational, and leadership abilities.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, particularly Excel.
• Willingness to travel as required.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement category sourcing strategies aligned with business objectives.
• Optimize total cost of ownership while maintaining quality, delivery, and technology standards.
• Identify opportunities to standardize components and simplify the supplier base.
• Build and maintain strategic relationships with key suppliers.
• Conduct supplier evaluations, performance reviews, and ongoing development initiatives.
• Drive supplier scorecard programs and continuous performance improvement.
• Lead contract negotiations and pricing discussions with suppliers.
• Identify and execute cost-saving opportunities while ensuring supply continuity.
• Support annual budgeting and procurement planning initiatives.
• Partner with engineering, operations, quality, and product development teams to support sourcing requirements.
• Assist with new product introductions and supplier selection.
• Align procurement strategies with production and business goals.
• Develop supply resiliency strategies to minimize disruptions.
• Monitor supplier capacity, lead times, and market conditions.
• Support localization and outsourcing initiatives where appropriate.
• Maintain procurement metrics and supplier performance dashboards.
• Prepare forecasts, reports, and category performance reviews.
• Use data analysis to support strategic sourcing decisions.
• Drive process improvements within procurement operations.
• Support Lean initiatives and supply chain optimization projects.
• Promote best practices across sourcing and supplier management activities.

Skills

Negotiation

Analytical

Project management

Leadership

Communication

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Engineering, Business, Logistics, or related field

Tools

Excel

MS Office

Job description

We are seeking an experienced Category Manager - Electronics to lead sourcing strategies, supplier relationships, and procurement initiatives for electronic components and related technologies. This role is responsible for developing category strategies that optimize total cost of ownership, strengthen supply chain resilience, improve supplier performance, and support business growth through strategic sourcing and cross-functional collaboration.

Position Responsibilities

Category Strategy Development

• Develop and implement category sourcing strategies aligned with business objectives.
• Optimize total cost of ownership while maintaining quality, delivery, and technology standards.
• Identify opportunities to standardize components and simplify the supplier base.

Supplier Relationship Management

• Build and maintain strategic relationships with key suppliers.
• Conduct supplier evaluations, performance reviews, and ongoing development initiatives.
• Drive supplier scorecard programs and continuous performance improvement.

Contract Negotiation & Cost Optimization

• Lead contract negotiations and pricing discussions with suppliers.
• Identify and execute cost-saving opportunities while ensuring supply continuity.
• Support annual budgeting and procurement planning initiatives.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with engineering, operations, quality, and product development teams to support sourcing requirements.
• Assist with new product introductions and supplier selection.
• Align procurement strategies with production and business goals.

Supply Chain & Risk Management

• Develop supply resiliency strategies to minimize disruptions.
• Monitor supplier capacity, lead times, and market conditions.
• Support localization and outsourcing initiatives where appropriate.

Reporting & Performance Analysis

• Maintain procurement metrics and supplier performance dashboards.
• Prepare forecasts, reports, and category performance reviews.
• Use data analysis to support strategic sourcing decisions.

Continuous Improvement

• Drive process improvements within procurement operations.
• Support Lean initiatives and supply chain optimization projects.
• Promote best practices across sourcing and supplier management activities.

Prerequisites

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Engineering, Business, Logistics, or a related field.
• 10+ years of category management or strategic procurement experience.
• Experience sourcing electronic components and managing complex supplier relationships.
• Strong negotiation, analytical, and project management skills.
• Experience working with cross-functional teams in a manufacturing environment.
• Excellent communication, organizational, and leadership abilities.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, particularly Excel.
• Willingness to travel as required.

Certifications (Preferred, but Not Required)

• Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM)
• Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP)
• Lean Manufacturing Certification
• Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt
• Project Management Professional (PMP)

What the Role Offers

• Salary Range: $140,000 - $150,000
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• 401(k) with company match.
• Paid time off and company holidays.
• Wellness programs and employee assistance resources.
• Professional development and career advancement opportunities.
• Collaborative and innovative work environment.
• Opportunity to lead strategic sourcing initiatives with significant business impact.

Why Carol Stream?

Carol Stream is home to a strong manufacturing and distribution network, making it an ideal location for supply chain and procurement professionals. The area offers access to leading industrial organizations, a highly skilled workforce, and excellent transportation infrastructure. Professionals in this region benefit from opportunities to collaborate across engineering, operations, and supplier networks while advancing their careers in a dynamic and growing manufacturing environment.