Category Manager - Electronics

Marmon Foodservice Technologies; Carol Stream (IL); On-site; USD 104,000 - 156,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, Vision, and Prescription Drug insurance

401(k) with company match

Generous paid time off

Job summary

A leading food service company based in Carol Stream, Illinois, is seeking a Category Manager to lead supply chain strategies. The successful candidate will have over 10 years of category management and procurement experience, along with strong negotiation and analytical skills. Responsibilities include supplier performance management and contract negotiations. Benefits include health insurance, generous paid time off, and a 401(k) plan with a company match.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of category management and procurement experience.
• Strong experience with lean manufacturing techniques applicable to supply chain.
• Willingness to travel as required.

Responsibilities

• Lead category strategies that deliver best business value.
• Establish resource alignment to support initiatives and budget needs.
• Drive supplier negotiations and performance.

Skills

Leadership ability and technical knowledge of professional procurement

Strong analytical and communication skills

Project-management experience

Intermediate to advanced Microsoft Excel skills

Ability to influence cross-functional teams

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Logistics, Engineering, Business Management

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Project

Job description

About The Job

As a key member of Marmon Foodservice Technologies’ Supply Chain team, the Category Manager will lead, develop and implement category and supply resilience strategies, supplier performance management, contract negotiations, and identify and lead cost‑saving opportunities. The role focuses on sourcing electronics components (switches, sensors, PCBAs, power supplies, cords, wire harnesses, e‑boxes, digital touchscreen displays) and ensures strategies support sourcing at lowest total cost of ownership while meeting engineering, quality, commercial, and product roadmap requirements.

What You’ll Do

• Design and execute category strategies that deliver best overall business value (cost, quality, delivery, technology) for MFT, including:
  • Ensuring business requirements are well understood and executed within the category plan.
  • Establishing how to use platforming and commonality of technology and materials across products and other ways to simplify the supply base.
  • Defining expectations for suppliers in terms of new technology, new product development and required service levels to support production and after‑sales processes.
  • Partnering with Operations to determine the outsourcing or insourcing roadmap for each category and key components and subassemblies.
  • Setting geographic expectations for the supply base and achievable levels of localization.
• Establish and align resources to support initiatives, defined strategies, and annual budget needs of the organization.
• Determine goals and objectives of the team and balance priorities.
• Identify and drive continuous improvement, including process and reporting efficiencies.
• Report out and establish monthly review meetings, sharing actions and results.
• Work with Procurement Operations to address supplier delivery issues as needed.
• Drive supplier performance and development through proactive utilization of the Supplier Scorecard.
• Establish relationships with key suppliers critical to the success of MFT.
• Lead supplier negotiations.
• Collaborate cross‑functionally with leadership of other functions to ensure project success.
• Lead the development of the MFT supply strategy, articulate the plan, and execute.
• Demonstrate ability to collaborate effectively with all levels of the organization.
• Articulate complex problems concisely to enable understanding and fast decision‑making.
• Influence across functional teams to ensure the right solutions for the business.
• Maintain a continuous improvement mindset.
• Provide complex and sophisticated data analysis for quick and correct decision‑making.
• Lead change management efforts around the supply chain process while creating alignment and integration internally and externally.
• Take a proactive approach to problem solving.

Who You Are

• Strategic mindset capable of simplifying and presenting complex ideas.
• Strong negotiation skills and ability to negotiate across diverse suppliers worldwide.
• Highly detail‑oriented with a systematic approach, sense of responsibility and positive customer focus.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, written and verbal, including persuasive communication in both positive and negative situations.
• Effective communicator across all levels of the organization.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills with a focus on near‑ and long‑term planning.
• Ability to handle multiple, rapidly changing and conflicting priorities.
• Strong cultural awareness based on past exposure and successful business dealings.

Skills & Experience

• Demonstrated leadership ability and technical knowledge of professional procurement.
• Strong analytical and communication skills.
• Proven project‑management experience and organizational skills.
• Ability to indirectly influence cross‑functional teams to find the right solutions.
• Intermediate to advanced Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Project skills (highly desirable).
• Willingness to travel as required.
• Capacity to work under limited direction.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Logistics, Engineering, Business Management, or an equivalent field.
• 10+ years of category management experience and procurement experience, including direct and indirect categories.
• Strong experience with lean manufacturing techniques and processes that apply to supply chain.

Benefits

• Medical, Dental, Vision, and Prescription Drug insurance plans.
• Health Advocate to help select best health benefits.
• Tax‑advantaged spending accounts for health and dependent care expenses.
• Wellness programs and resources including Telehealth, Mental Health, Fitness, and Family Planning.
• Generous paid time off for personal use, holidays, and parental leave.
• Company‑sponsored life insurance.
• 401(k) with fully vested company match and additional discretionary contribution.
• Financial and retirement advising.

Pay Range

104,000.00 - 156,000.00

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

We are an equal opportunity employer, and all applicants will be considered for employment without attention to their membership in any protected class. If you require a reasonable accommodation to complete your application or any part of the recruiting process, please email your request to [e-mail], and include the title and location of the position.