Procurement Category Manager, Operations & External Workforce

Wallenius Wilhelmsen group; Northern (KY); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Wallenius Wilhelmsen group is seeking a Procurement Category Manager for Operations & External Workforce to own a strategic global portfolio with significant annual spend. The role reports to the VP Procurement and involves working across Operations, HR and Finance to develop category strategies and deliver measurable value.

The position is hybrid, requiring on-site presence in Parsippany, NJ (Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays).

Qualifications

• Experience in category management or strategic sourcing, with demonstrated savings impact.
• Strong analytical skills; translates data into measurable value.
• Experience in MRO materials, services, or related categories.

Responsibilities

• Develop global category strategies in partnership with Operations, HR and Finance.
• Lead sourcing, supplier selections, negotiations and contracting.
• Monitor supplier market trends and identify opportunities to optimize cost and performance.
• Drive governance, risk management and value creation across global suppliers.

Skills

Category management

Strategic sourcing

Negotiation

Data analysis

Vendor management

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree (Business/Procurement)

Tools

MS Excel

Spend analytics tools

Contract management

Job description

## Procurement Category Manager, Operations & External WorkforceApply: Parsippany, New Jersey, United States: Full time: Posted Yesterday: WD113277We're looking for an experienced and commercially driven **Procurement Category Manager, Operations & External Workforce** to take ownership of a strategically important global procurement portfolio with approximately USD 200 million in annual spend.Reporting directly to the VP Procurement, you will lead a global portfolio spanning MRO materials and services, equipment leasing, external workforce services and selected HR-related categories. The portfolio primarily supports our global operations and processing plants, while also providing procurement leadership across selected HR categories.Working closely with Operations, HR and Finance, you will develop category strategies, lead sourcing initiatives and deliver measurable commercial and operational value. Your decisions will directly influence the cost, availability and performance of materials, equipment, maintenance services and workforce solutions across our global network.This is a rare opportunity to help build a leading procurement function while delivering meaningful commercial and operational improvements across our global network. \\*This is a hybrid role requiring onsite presence in our Parsippany, NJ office (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday)\\***WHAT YOU'LL DO:*** Develop and implement global category strategies in partnership with Operations, HR, Finance and technical stakeholders, aligning business objectives, operational requirements and workforce priorities across a decentralised global organization.* Lead and develop Sourcing & Contract Managers and support the continued growth of a world-class procurement function.* Monitor supplier, service, and labor market developments. Use market intelligence to identify opportunities, manage risk and create commercial advantage.* Look beyond price to understand how specifications, consumption patterns, inventory, availability, supplier models and workforce delivery approaches impact business performance. Lead supplier selections, negotiations, contracting and sourcing initiatives that improve total cost of ownership and operational outcomes.* Challenge demand, standardize specifications, optimize workforce models, aggregate spend, consolidate suppliers and unlock commercial leverage across the business.* Manage key suppliers and establish governance frameworks that drive performance, innovation, supply continuity and long-term value creation.**WHO WE'RE LOOKING FOR:**We're looking for someone who is commercially minded, results-oriented and analytical. You enjoy understanding how businesses operate and are naturally curious about supplier markets, commercial models and the factors that drive performance. **You don't simply negotiate contracts. You identify opportunities, challenge assumptions, connect commercial decisions to operational outcomes and help the business perform more effectively.****WHAT YOU'LL NEED:*** Significant professional experience, of which 5+ years in Category Management, Strategic Sourcing or comparable commercial roles.* Strong analytical skills and a track record of translating data and insight into measurable value.* Experience across MRO materials and services, temporary labor or similar categories.* Strong commercial negotiation, supplier and contract management capabilities.* Bachelor's degree in Business, Procurement, Strategy or a related discipline.* Spanish fluency is an advantage.We recognize that exceptional candidates may not tick every box. If the role excites you and you believe you can make an impact, we'd encourage you to apply.**WHY JOIN US?**This is an opportunity to lead a globally significant portfolio, partner with senior business leaders and help build a leading procurement function. You'll have the freedom to influence strategy, strengthen supplier partnerships and deliver meaningful commercial and operational impact across our global organization.