Sr Category Specialist - Direct Materials

Michelman; Blue Ash (OH); On-site; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Michelman is seeking a Senior Category Specialist for Direct Materials to lead sourcing events, evaluate suppliers, negotiate contracts, and drive category strategy in a manufacturing environment.

You will partner with Supply Chain, Operations, and R&D to ensure continuity of supply, assess market trends and cost drivers, and push supplier qualification, audits, and corrective actions to improve performance across a global supplier network.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Engineering, Chemistry, Business, or related field
• 5+ years of direct materials procurement, sourcing, or supply chain experience
• Supplier Management and Negotiation experience
• Manufacturing industry experience
• Strong analytical and cross-functional collaboration skills
• ERP system experience; JDE preferred
• Manufacturing experience preferred
• Strategic role supporting a global supplier network
• Opportunity to influence sourcing strategy and supplier performance
• Collaborative environment with cross-functional exposure

Responsibilities

• Lead sourcing events, supplier evaluations, and contract negotiations
• Manage supplier relationships, performance, and risk
• Partner with Supply Chain, Operations, and R&D to support continuity of supply
• Analyze market trends, pricing, and cost drivers to identify savings opportunities
• Support supplier qualification, audits, and corrective actions

Skills

Direct materials procurement

Supplier management

Contract negotiations

Category strategy

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

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

Tools

JDE

Job description

Senior Category Specialist - Direct Materials

Michelman is seeking a procurement professional with experience in direct materials sourcing, supplier management, contract negotiations, and category strategy execution within a manufacturing environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead sourcing events, supplier evaluations, and contract negotiations
• Manage supplier relationships, performance, and risk
• Partner with Supply Chain, Operations, and R&D to support continuity of supply
• Analyze market trends, pricing, and cost drivers to identify savings opportunities
• Support supplier qualification, audits, and corrective actions

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Engineering, Chemistry, Business, or related field
• 5+ years of direct materials procurement, sourcing, or supply chain experience
• Supplier Management and Negotiation experience
• Manufacturing industry experience
• Strong analytical and cross-functional collaboration skills
• ERP system experience; JDE preferred
• Manufacturing experience preferred
• Strategic role supporting a global supplier network
• Opportunity to influence sourcing strategy and supplier performance
• Collaborative environment with cross-functional exposure

Michelman is a tobacco-free workplace. Applicants must be willing to comply with our tobacco-free hiring policy.

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