Senior Category Cost Manager

Jobtailor; Massachusetts; On-site; USD 140,000 - 185,000; Full time

Job summary

Jobtailor in Massachusetts seeks an experienced cost engineering leader to drive cost transparency and optimization across assigned categories. You will lead cost analysis, engage suppliers, and collaborate with engineering and operations to align cost models with design and production realities.

The role requires 8–10+ years in strategic sourcing or cost engineering, strong stakeholder influence, and a proven track record in making buy/build decisions while maintaining global procurement

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in a related field; advanced degree preferred.
• 8–10+ years in strategic sourcing, cost engineering, procurement analytics, or category management.
• 3+ years people management leading procurement teams, including coaching and development.
• Demonstrated technical expertise in manufacturing processes, component design, and materials.
• Strong experience in cost modeling, cost analysis, and financial modeling.
• Proven ability to engage suppliers and drive cost-improvement discussions.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder-influencing skills.
• Strong analytical mindset and attention to detail.
• Knowledge of mechanical materials and cost drivers.
• Experience costing and analyzing mechanical sub-assemblies and assembly labor.

Responsibilities

• Drive cost transparency, cost modeling excellence, and negotiation readiness across the assigned category.
• Lead cost analysis initiatives and interact directly with suppliers to drive improvements.
• Partner with category leaders to support strategic sourcing decisions and provide structured reporting to the CMVA team.
• Ensure alignment with global procurement standards and category strategies, leading technical conversations with suppliers and internal teams.
• Identify cost-reduction opportunities using should-cost, clean-sheet modeling, DFM/DFA, and value engineering principles.
• Collaborate with Engineering, Operations, Quality, and CMVA to align cost models with design intent and production realities.
• Manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment, with high accountability and ownership.
• Travel 25-50% and operate effectively within international, matrixed teams.

Skills

Cost Modeling

Cost Analysis

Strategic Sourcing

People Management

Financial Acumen

Education

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

Tools

Should-Cost Modeling

Clean-Sheet Modeling

DFM/DFA Principles

Value Engineering

Financial Modeling

Manufacturing Processes

Job description

• Drive cost transparency, cost modeling excellence, and negotiation readiness across the assigned category
• Lead cost analysis initiatives
• Interact directly with suppliers to drive cost improvements
• Partner with category leaders to support strategic sourcing decisions
• Provide structured reporting to the CMVA team
• Ensure alignment with global procurement standards and category strategies
• Lead cost-focused and technical conversations with suppliers and internal engineering teams
• Identify cost-reduction opportunities using should-cost, clean-sheet modeling, DFM/DFA, and value engineering principles
• Collaborate with Engineering, Operations, Quality, and CMVA teams to align cost models with design intent and production realities
• Manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Engineering, Finance, Business, or related field; advanced degree preferred
• 8-10+ years of experience in strategic sourcing, cost engineering, procurement analytics, or category management
• 3+ years people management experience leading procurement teams, including coaching and development
• Demonstrated technical expertise relevant to the category, including manufacturing processes, component design, and materials
• Strong experience in cost modeling, cost analysis, and financial modeling
• Proven ability to engage suppliers and drive cost-improvement and technical discussions
• Excellent communication and stakeholder-influencing skills
• Strong analytical mindset and attention to detail
• Strong understanding of mechanical component and sub-assembly manufacturing processes, including machining, molding, forming, welding, and assembly operations
• Knowledge of mechanical materials and cost drivers, including labor, machine rates, tooling, yields, scrap, and overhead allocation
• Experience costing and analyzing mechanical and electromechanical sub-assemblies, including assembly labor, testing, and integration complexity
• Ability to apply should-cost, clean-sheet modeling, DFM/DFA, and value engineering principles
• Strong business and financial acumen, including make-versus-buy decisions, total cost of ownership, and global supply base dynamics
• Effective collaboration across global, matrixed teams
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment
• High accountability, ownership, and results orientation
• Willingness to travel 25-50%
• International/multi-cultural work experience preferred

Core Competencies

Demonstrates expertise in cost modeling, cost analysis, and procurement analytics, with a strong focus on driving cost transparency and improvements through collaboration with suppliers and internal teams. Proven ability to lead procurement teams and manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.

Highest-signal resume keywords

• Cost Modeling
• Cost Analysis
• Strategic Sourcing
• People Management
• Financial Acumen

ATS Optimization Keywords

Hard Skills

• Cost Engineering
• Should-Cost Modeling
• Clean-Sheet Modeling
• DFM/DFA Principles
• Value Engineering
• Manufacturing Processes
• Component Design
• Financial Modeling
• Mechanical Materials Knowledge
• Costing Mechanical Sub-Assemblies

Soft Skills

• Excellent Communication
• Analytical Mindset
• Attention to Detail
• Stakeholder Influencing
• High Accountability

Industry Keywords

• Procurement Analytics
• Category Management
• Global Supply Base Dynamics
• Matrixed Teams
• International Work Experience