Category Manager III

Zurn Elkay Water Solutions; Downers Grove (IL); On-site; USD 125,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive Salary

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

Life Insurance

Matching 401(k) Contribution

Health Savings Account

Vacation, 3 weeks + tenure

12 Paid Holidays

Annual Bonus Eligibility

Educational Reimbursement

Matching Gift Program

Employee Stock Purchase Plan

Job summary

Zurn Elkay Water Solutions Corporation in Downers Grove, IL seeks a Category Manager to lead procurement category strategies across sites. You will drive cost, quality and delivery, collaborate with engineering, supply chain and operations, and manage supplier relationships globally to deliver savings and value.

The role requires 5+ years in category management in industrial manufacturing, travel up to 25%, and experience sourcing from low-cost regions.

Qualifications

• BA/BS in Engineering or Supply Chain required.
• “5+ years of experience as a Category Manager in an industrial manufacturing environment.”
• “Willingness to travel domestically and internationally ~25%.”
• “Experience sourcing in low-cost regions.”
• “Experience working with multiple locations globally.”
• “Proven success in change management and a stretch environment.”

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute category strategies to optimize cost, quality and delivery.
• Lead cross-functional sourcing activities with BU’s product teams and suppliers.
• Negotiate and draft supply agreements including terms and prices.
• Analyze market conditions to forecast pricing and availability.
• Provide KPI reporting and progress updates on strategic sourcing plans.

Skills

Category management

Strategic sourcing

Supplier management

Global travel

Change management

Market analysis

Education

BA/BS in Engineering or Supply Chain

Job description

The Company 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.

The Company 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.

This category Manager will provide leadership and strategic direction for assigned procurement categories within Zurn Elkay Water Solutions. This role is responsible for developing and executing category strategies that align with company objectives, ensuring cost competitiveness, quality, and delivery performance across multiple sites. The Category Manager will collaborate with cross‑functional teams, suppliers, and stakeholders to drive value, mitigate risk, and support sustainability initiatives.

• Maintains the highest level code of conduct and ethics.
• Create and implement category strategies to optimize cost, quality and delivery
• Manages complex multi-year customer / supplier relationships aligned to enable our front‑end portfolio strategies
• Plans, organizes, directs, controls, and communicates strategic sourcing activities related to BU products and other assigned commodities aligning cross functional supply, engineering, technical support, product management, and operations groups.
• Conducts brainstorming sessions at Zurn Elkay facilities with cross functional teams to identify strategic commodities and deployment priorities on cost saving initiatives.
• Provides oversight to sourcing/project managers on the deployment of projects with internal and external stakeholders.
• Collaborates with internal stakeholders to identify, screen and qualify strategic suppliers. Works with global facilities to create regional and global material cost savings funnels that align with commercial strategies and financial targets.
• Drives spend analysis, including counter measures for projects that fall short of plan and makes decisions to remedy the issues to get the teams back on track to meet or exceed plan.
• Possesses an understanding of total cost of ownership.
• Proactively assesses internal and external process improvements and influences effective change and drive innovation and continuous improvements.
• Collaborates with global business units on the preparation of Request for Proposals (RFPs), Request for Quotations (RFQ’s) and leads the screening and supplier selection process.
• Negotiate and drafts supply agreements, including: payment terms, deliveries, price, freight terms, currency exchange, raw material commodity fluctuation, inventory levels.
• Analyzes market and delivery conditions to determine present and future (industry trends in pricing and availability that will impact the business) material availability and prepares market analysis reports.
• Responsible for timely reporting to agreed‑upon KPI’s and presenting Strategic Sourcing plans, activities and progress.

Qualifications

• BA or BS degree preferably in Engineering or Supply Chain competency. Minimum in a business/industrial related field.
• At least 5 years of experience as a Category Manager in an industrial manufacturing environment with experience in an Engineering, Supply Chain, or similar position.
• Proven success of strategically working with suppliers or customers.
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally ~25%.
• Experience sourcing in low-cost regions.
• Experience working with multiple locations globally.
• Proven success in a change management and “stretch” 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: $125,000-180,000

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