Global Category Manager – Facilities, MRO & Office Supplies

Zebra Technologies; Lincolnshire (IL); Hybrid; USD 123,000 - 184,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work arrangement

Competitive benefits package

Performance incentives

Job summary

Zebra Technologies is seeking a seasoned Global Category Manager to lead end-to-end sourcing across Facilities, MRO and related services. This onsite role in Lincolnshire, IL supports global stakeholders through strategic initiatives and strong supplier partnerships.

You will manage complex projects, drive cost improvements, and partner with executives to deliver sustained value, governance, and risk mitigation in a dynamic supply chain. Hybrid work is expected with 3 days in-office.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required and 8+ years of experience.
• Proven track record in indirect strategic sourcing and supplier management.
• Category management expertise across facilities, MRO or cross-category.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end sourcing processes for complex, regional to global projects.
• Develop annual category management plans with stakeholders and strategic objectives.
• Drive cost improvements, supplier reviews, and governance with key suppliers.
• Collaborate with executives to balance RFx, TCO, and business requirements.

Skills

Strategic Category Management

Procurement Transformation

Strategic Sourcing & Execution

Negotiation & Supplier Partnership

Supplier Relationship Management

Stakeholder Influence & Communication

Ambiguity Management

Digital Acumen & AI Application

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Job description

Overview

At Zebra, we are a community of innovators who come together to create new ways of working. United by curiosity and a culture of caring, we develop smart solutions that anticipate our customer’s and partner’s needs and solve their challenges.

Overview

At Zebra, we are a community of innovators who come together to create new ways of working. United by curiosity and a culture of caring, we develop smart solutions that anticipate our customer’s and partner’s needs and solve their challenges. Being part of Zebra Nation means you are seen, heard, valued, and respected. Drawing from our unique perspectives, we collaborate to deliver on our purpose. Here you are part of a team pushing boundaries today to redefine the work of tomorrow for organizations, their employees, and those they serve. You’ll have opportunities to learn and lead in a forward-thinking environment, defining your path to a fulfilling career while channeling your skills toward causes you care about—locally and globally. Come make an impact every day at Zebra.

What We're Looking For

As a member of our global supply chain organization, you will experience an environment where our values for innovation, operational excellence, and a commitment to making a positive impact come to life. Our customer first approach and agility enable us to leverage the creativity of the team to adapt swiftly to challenges and create exceptional value for those we serve. Collaboration and teamwork are at the heart of our operations. We drive an operating model and value set where accountability to one another is genuine and executed with consistency, knowing that we succeed as one. Together, we inspire one another, embrace continuous improvement, and make a meaningful impact! The ideal candidate for this individual contributor role brings deep category expertise, strong leadership capabilities, and a proven track record of managing complex, regional-to-global projects. As a change agent with an innovation mindset, the Global Category Manager will partner closely with business stakeholders to identify, define, and execute strategic initiatives over a 12-to-36-month horizon. This role oversees the end-to-end source-to-contract process and conducts supplier management reviews, with a dedicated focus on Facilities, MRO (Maintenance, Repair, and Operations), and Office Supplies. Location- ***Role is required to be onsite in Lincolnshire, IL office (Hybrid- Minimum of 3 days in the office per week).

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

• Inspire trust and confidence with executive leadership.
• Engage with management team and stakeholder team members to drive strategic initiatives effectively balancing the RFx process and the TCO evaluation of suppliers against the business stakeholder’s requirements and supplier preferences. Recognized as a company expert within his/her field.
• Ability to simultaneously manage 8+ highly complex projects, leading all deliverables, analytics, negotiations and project management details (as needed). These projects will span from a regional to global scope and will support the company’s key strategic priorities. Additionally, these projects will typically impact multiple functions and involve medium to large sized project teams representing multiple business areas.
• Manage full sourcing process for the most complex projects– inclusive of supply market analysis, leverage spend, establishing business requirements, driving requirements, negotiating SOWs, contract terms, executing and monitoring complex contracts, conducting and monitoring supplier business reviews.
• Independently collaborate with key stakeholders to develop annual category management plan that incorporates the stakeholder’s strategy, goals, challenges, constraints and objectives with a 1 to 3- year time horizon – key outputs included but not limited to spend breakdown, strategic sourcing pipeline, process improvements, supplier rationalizations, targeted supplier business reviews, sourcing levers, etc.
• Ability to maintain accountability, delivering against timelines, building relationships and becoming a trusted advisor with business stakeholders, executive management and suppliers.
• Perform significant total cost of ownership evaluations, perform supply-market research, conduct the most complex pricing audits and impact analysis for the pursuit of continuous cost improvements.
• Work collaboratively with suppliers and stakeholders to identify and execute continuous cost improvement programs and resolve significant and unique strategic supplier performance issues to ensure business satisfaction.
• Contribute to measuring success, including savings, innovation related to process improvements, improved delivery and simplified processes
• Maintain a high level of product and industry awareness to keep current on best practices, new suppliers, market trends, etc.

Key Competencies & Experience

• Strategic Category Management: Requires a proven track record of developing and executing multi-year category strategies across a variety of spend areas. The role demands deep subject matter expertise in Human Resources (contingent labor, benefits, HR tech) and Professional Services across multiple disciplines (Consulting, Finance, Supply Chain, Sales, etc.).
• Procurement Transformation & Operational Excellence: Requires demonstrable experience participating in or leading large-scale procurement transformation initiatives, with a history of contributing to the evolution of a procurement function from an operational to a strategic focus.
• Strategic Sourcing & Execution: Expertise in managing a portfolio of complex, global sourcing projects simultaneously, including leading cross-functional teams and proactively managing project risks and dependencies, and change management to ensure successful implementation and adoption.
• Negotiation & Supplier Partnership: A documented history of structuring and leading complex, high-value negotiations for non-standard contracts, with a focus on optimizing total value beyond price (e.g., risk, innovation, long-term partnership). Expertise in contract management, including ensuring compliance with terms, managing obligations, and resolving performance issues, is essential.
• Supplier Relationship Management (SRM): Proven ability to develop and manage strategic partnerships with critical suppliers, including establishing joint governance to drive innovation, mitigate risks, and create mutual, long-term value.
• Stakeholder Influence & Communication: A history of building influential relationships with senior and executive-level stakeholders, responsible for using data-driven insights to build consensus and drive decisions. Ability to deliver compelling, persuasive presentations to any audience, including senior leadership, using data-driven storytelling to influence key decisions and inspire action.
• Ambiguity Management: Expertise in navigating ambiguous business challenges and translating them into clear, actionable strategies with measurable outcomes.
• Digital Acumen & AI Application: High proficiency in using data analytics to create compelling business cases, with a focus on proactively identifying and evaluating opportunities to apply new technologies.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree required
• 8+ years of experience
• Category Management in Facilities, MRO or other cross-category experience
• Proven work experience in the field of Indirect Strategic Sourcing and Supplier Management

Preferred Qualifications

• MBA, CPSM is a plus
• Proven work experience in the field of Indirect Strategic Sourcing and Supplier Management
• Excellent communication skills (listening, providing clear and concise information, using proper language and grammar)
• Project Management
• Demonstrated ability to interface with all levels of management and manage stakeholder issues
• Subject matter expert in Indirect Sourcing & Procurement discipline
• Ability to lead teams collaboratively
• Overseeing highly complex issues and applying advance root cause analysis
• Oversees management and strategy of documented processes
• Advanced analytical skills
• Highly experience in effectively providing direction to manage in a fast-paced, high growth, rapidly changing environment
• Ability to identify and manage process improvements
• Spend Analytics
• Contract Compliance
• Supplier segmentation and score carding
• Executive Presentation
• Demonstrated leadership skills coupled with desire an ability for continuous learning & self-development
• Strong proficiency in spreadsheet software (e.g. Microsoft Excel), presentation software (i.e. Microsoft PowerPoint), Microsoft Word, Oracle iProcurement, Workday Scout, and SpendHQ (or similar programs)

Travel Requirement: Approximately 10-20%

Equal Opportunity Employer

Zebra is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability and protected veteran status, or any other basis prohibited by law. If you are an individual with a disability and need assistance in applying for a position, please contact us at [e-mail].

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Conozca Sus Derechos

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We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation at [e-mail] .

Pay Range

$122,800.00 - $184,200.00 Annual

Incentive Compensation

In addition to base pay, Zebra offers this role the opportunity to earn a performance-based annual cash incentive, at a target equal to 12% of base pay, in accordance with the terms of the applicable incentive plan.

Zebra Total Rewards

Zebra Total Rewards includes more than just pay and is structured to meet the needs of our changing global business and evolving talent. We are committed to providing our employees with a benefits program that is comprehensive and competitive – including healthcare, wellness, inclusion networks, and continued learning and development offerings. We offer community service days, in addition to the traditional insurances, compensation, parental leave, employee assistance program and paid time off offerings depending on the country where you work.

Salary offered will vary depending on your location, job-related skills, knowledge, and experience.

Additionally, all Zebra roles are eligible for cash incentive programs. For example, sales roles have additional opportunity to earn substantial variable compensation tied to quota achievement. In most other roles, the Zebra annual cash incentive program links Company and individual performance together. Some roles may also be eligible for long-term incentive equity awards.

Benefits

We understand the importance of work-life balance and wellbeing, which is why we offer flexibility for our teams including: hybrid work, adaptable hours, Summer Flex Fridays, Focus Fridays, and an annual companywide well-being day to promote revitalization and success.

AI Technology Statement

Zebra Technologies leverages AI technology to evaluate job applications using objective, job-relevant criteria. This approach enhances efficiency and promotes fairness in the hiring process. However, every decision regarding interviews and hiring is made by our dedicated team, because we believe people make the best decisions about people. For more on how we use technology in hiring and how we process applicant data, see our Zebra Privacy Policy.