Category Manager II, Commercial Brass

Zurn Elkay Water Solutions; Downers Grove (IL); On-site; USD 112,000 - 163,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive Salary

Medical, Dental, Vision, STD, LTD, AD&

Life Insurance

Matching 401(k)

Health Savings Account

Vacation and holidays

Educational Reimbursement

Employee Stock Purchase Plan

Job summary

Zurn Elkay Water Solutions is seeking a Category Manager to lead strategic sourcing and category activities across assigned spend areas. You will manage supplier relationships, drive cost and performance improvement, and partner cross-functionally to meet financial and operational targets.

Ideal candidates have 7+ years in sourcing or category management within manufacturing or industrial settings, with a Bachelor’s degree in a related field; MBA is a plus.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree is required in a related field; MBA preferred.
• 7+ years of experience in sourcing, category management, or supply chain in manufacturing or industrial environments.

Responsibilities

• Develops and executes category strategies aligned to business objectives, ensuring effective sourcing, supplier alignment, and long-term value delivery.
• Manages complex, multi-year supplier relationships and partners with cross-functional stakeholders (engineering, operations, supply chain, product management).
• Leads sourcing initiatives including RFPs/RFQs, supplier selection, and contract negotiation (pricing, terms, service levels, inventory, risk).
• Drives spend analysis, develops cost savings pipelines, and implements corrective actions to meet financial targets.
• Analyzes market trends, pricing, and supply conditions to inform sourcing strategies and mitigate risk.
• Provides leadership and oversight to sourcing/project managers and cross-functional teams for initiatives.
• Identifies and implements process improvements across sourcing and supply chain activities.
• Tracks and reports on KPIs, category performance, and sourcing progress to leadership.

Skills

Sourcing

Category management

Supply chain

Education

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

MBA preferred

Job description

Zurn Elkay Water Solutions Corporation is a thriving, values-driven company focused on doing the right things. We’re a fast growing, publicly traded company (NYSE: ZWS), with an enduring reputation for integrity, giving back, and providing an engaging, inclusive environment where careers flourish and grow.

Zurn Elkay Water Solutions Corporation is a thriving, values-driven company focused on doing the right things. We’re a fast growing, publicly traded company (NYSE: ZWS), with an enduring reputation for integrity, giving back, and providing an engaging, inclusive environment where careers flourish and grow. Named by Newsweek as One of America’s Most Responsible Companies and an Energage USA Top Workplace, at Zurn Elkay Water Solutions Corporation, we never forget that our people are at the center of what makes us successful. They are the driving force behind our superior quality, product ingenuity, and exceptional customer experience. Our commitment to our people and their professional development is a recipe for success that has fueled our growth for over 100 years, as one of today’s leading international suppliers of plumbing and water delivery solutions.

Headquartered in Milwaukee, WI, Zurn Elkay Water Solutions Corporation employs over 2800 employees worldwide, working from 24 locations across the U.S., China, Canada, Dubai, and Mexico, with sales offices available around the globe. We hope you’ll visit our website and learn more about Zurn Elkay at zurnelkay.com.

If you’re ready to join a company where what you do makes a difference and you have pride in the work you are doing, talk to us about joining the Zurn Elkay Water Solutions Corporation family!

The Category Manager is responsible for the strategic management of sourcing and category activities across assigned spend areas, supporting global business units and operations. This role develops and executes category strategies, manages supplier relationships, and partners cross-functionally to ensure cost, quality, delivery, and performance objectives are achieved. The position drives spend optimization, supplier alignment, and continuous improvement while delivering against financial and operational targets.

Job Responsibilities

• Develops and executes category strategies aligned to business objectives, ensuring effective sourcing, supplier alignment, and long-term value delivery.
• Manages complex, multi-year supplier relationships and partners with cross-functional stakeholders (engineering, operations, supply chain, product management) to support business needs.
• Leads sourcing initiatives including RFPs/RFQs, supplier selection, and contract negotiation (pricing, terms, service levels, inventory, and risk considerations).
• Drives spend analysis, develops cost savings pipelines, and implements corrective actions to ensure delivery against financial targets.
• Analyzes market trends, pricing, and supply conditions to inform sourcing strategies and mitigate risk.
• Provides leadership and oversight to sourcing/project managers and cross-functional teams to ensure effective execution of initiatives.
• Identifies and implements process improvements, driving efficiency, innovation, and simplification across sourcing and supply chain activities.
• Tracks and reports on KPIs, category performance, and sourcing progress to leadership.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Engineering, Business, or related field (MBA preferred)
• 7+ years of experience in sourcing, category management, or supply chain within a manufacturing or industrial environment

The compensation range identified below are a good faith estimate of the salary expected to be paid as performed from these locations. Actual salaries may vary based on compensable factors including but not limited to skillset, experience, education and training, and other relevant business and organizational factors. Most candidates will start in the lower half of the range.

The Salary Range: $112,000-163,000

Total Rewards and Benefits

• Competitive Salary
• Medical, Dental, Vision, STD, LTD, AD&D, and Life Insurance
• Matching 401(k) Contribution
• Health Savings Account
• Up to 3 weeks starting Vacation (may increase with tenure)
• 12 Paid Holidays
• Annual Bonus Eligibility
• Educational Reimbursement
• Matching Gift Program
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan – purchase company stock at a discount!

Equal Opportunity Employer – Minority/Female/Disability/Veteran