Sr Category Specialist - Direct Materials

Michelman; Northern (KY); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Michelman is seeking a Senior Category Specialist, Direct Materials to lead direct spend activities across assigned materials and suppliers. You will drive sourcing strategy, supplier evaluation, and contract execution with growing autonomy while coordinating with Supply Chain and R&D to meet product needs.

This role emphasizes cost optimization, risk management and supplier partnership, with a focus on maintaining continuity of supply and meeting business priorities for global operations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• 5–7+ years of experience in procurement, sourcing, or supply chain.
• Experience supporting or leading sourcing events, supplier negotiations, and procurement operations.

Responsibilities

• Execute defined elements of the direct category management strategy with greater autonomy.
• Lead moderate to high complexity sourcing events, supplier evaluation, qualification, negotiations and commercial discussions.
• Develop and execute sourcing plans aligned with supply planning and business priorities.
• Monitor raw material market trends, supplier developments, and pricing changes.

Skills

Analytical capability

Cross-functional collaboration

Negotiation

Cost management

Education

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

Tools

ERP platforms

Catalogues

Spend analytics

JDE experience

Job description

General Summary

The Senior Category Specialist, Direct Materials supports execution of the direct category management strategy across assigned materials, suppliers, or sub-categories that are more complex with a higher degree of independence and commercial accountability. This role leads defined sourcing, supplier evaluation, qualification, engagement, and performance management activities within delegated scope. Responsible for executing work across more complex or business-critical suppliers and materials. The role serves as the primary developmental bridge between category support and full category ownership.

Key Responsibilities

Procurement Strategy Deployment and Execution Execute defined elements of the direct category management strategy across assigned materials, suppliers, or sub-categories with greater autonomy. Lead moderate to high complexity sourcing events, supplier evaluation, qualification, negotiations and commercial discussions within delegated authority. Develop and execute sourcing plans for assigned suppliers or spend segments in alignment with supply planning, material requirements, and business priorities. Ensure procurement activities for assigned suppliers are aligned with MRP, supply plans, and inventory strategies established by Supply Chain. Monitor raw material market trends, supplier developments, and pricing changes relevant to assigned materials and suppliers. Makes calculate risk and advise actions on subject expert that the manager should consider. Partner with Procurement Excellence to ensure supplier data and supporting processes enable effective execution. Establish and manage supplier contracts to achieve commercial and performance targets.

Drive Success

Lead defined category activities for assigned suppliers or materials, directly supporting supplier engagement, sourcing execution, suppliers qualification and issue resolution. Understand raw material cost drivers, including feedstock trends, index movements, freight, duties, FX, and supplier margin structures, to support fact‑based negotiation and cost management of the category that you managed Partner with Supply Chain to align procurement activities with demand forecasts, production plans, and inventory strategies. Collaborate with R&D and Project Leads to ensure supplier activity aligns with material specifications, commercial needs and product requirements. Identify and execute cost and value improvement opportunities within assigned materials or suppliers, operating with greater independence and judgment. Support business continuity by identifying, addressing, and escalating supply risks, constraints, and supplier issues as appropriate. Support new business (Concept to Commercialization – C2C and First Manufacturing Batch - FMB) and existing business continuity by proactively addressing supply risks, constraints, and disruptions.

Supplier Relationship Management

Serve as relationship owner for assigned suppliers within the direct category portfolio, maintaining regular engagement and supporting performance management activities. Execute the supplier relationship management framework for assigned suppliers, including segmentation, engagement expectations, and supplier review practices. Lead supplier business reviews for assigned suppliers, focusing on service, quality, cost, responsiveness, and capacity. Develop and maintain productive supplier relationships that support continuity of supply and category effectiveness. Escalate supplier issues, relationship concerns, or performance risks consistent with established frameworks and decision protocols.

Supplier Risk & Performance Management

Actively participate in supplier performance reviews, corrective action tracking, and remediation planning for assigned suppliers. Partner with Supplier Risk and Performance Management to ensure consistent application of supplier qualification, segmentation, performance measurement, and remediation processes. Monitor supplier performance, service levels, and emerging risk indicators for assigned suppliers. Lead supplier audits, corrective action plans, and follow‑through activities for assigned suppliers. Balance supplier decisions across cost, service, and risk within delegated authority and exercise greater judgment before escalating issues that exceed established thresholds.

Procurement Operations and Process Execution

Support consistent adoption of standard procurement processes across sites and functions, helping reduce maverick spend and improve channel compliance. Lead resolution of operational procurement issues, including supplier setup, purchase order delays, catalogue or pricing errors, invoice discrepancies, and process non‑compliance. Monitor operational indicators such as channel compliance, PO cycle time, catalogue usage, supplier onboarding, maverick spend, and stakeholder service levels within assigned scope.

High‑Performing Procurement Organization

Provide practical guidance and informal coaching to buyers or site‑based procurement resources supporting direct procurement activities, ensuring alignment with category strategies, procurement policies, and best practices. Partner with Procurement Excellence to ensure procurement channels, processes, and supporting data enable effective execution of the direct category strategy. Maintain visibility into direct spend, supplier performance, and sourcing activity within assigned scope, using data and market intelligence to support decision‑making and identify opportunities for improvement. Support compliance with procurement policies, approved channels, and supplier master data standards within the direct category portfolio. Contribute to continuous improvement of category processes, sourcing practices, and stakeholder engagement models to improve efficiency, effectiveness, and business satisfaction. Support development of a disciplined, professional procurement culture through collaboration, process consistency, and strong execution within the direct category portfolio.

Critical Competencies

Hands‑On Execution and Ownership – Ability to lead sourcing, negotiation, supplier engagement, and commercial follow‑up activities within assigned direct spend areas. Direct Category and Commercial Acumen – Ability to support direct category execution, supplier selection, negotiations, and commercial terms with a focus on cost, value, service, and risk. Procurement Execution Discipline – Ability to execute defined category strategies and ensure procurement activities align with approved channels, policies, sourcing thresholds, and decision rights. Supplier Relationship Management – Ability to manage assigned supplier relationships, support performance routines, resolve issues, and maintain effective engagement. Procurement Operations and P2P Knowledge – Strong understanding of day‑to‑day procurement operations, including requisition‑to‑purchase order processes, supplier setup, catalogues, PunchOut, P‑Card, invoice issue resolution, and approved buying channels. Cross‑Functional Collaboration – Ability to work effectively with business stakeholders while driving execution in support of procurement and operational objectives. Analytical and Data‑Driven Decision Making – Ability to analyse spend data, supplier performance, market trends, and operational indicators to support sourcing decisions and improvements. Risk Awareness and Judgment – Understanding of supplier risk factors and ability to apply defined risk frameworks in supplier selection and ongoing supplier management. Process and Continuous Improvement Orientation – Ability to operate within structured procurement processes, identify inefficiencies, and contribute to improvements in sourcing practices and procurement operations.

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Engineering, Chemistry, Business, or a related field required. 5–7+ years of experience in procurement, sourcing, or supply chain, preferably within a global manufacturing environment. Demonstrated experience supporting or leading sourcing events, supplier negotiations, supplier engagement, and procurement operations within indirect categories. Experience supporting cost and value improvement through sourcing, supplier engagement, pricing reviews, and commercial discipline. Proven ability to work cross‑functionally with stakeholders across Supply Chain, Operations, Engineering, Finance, IT, HR, Facilities, R&D, or Commercial teams. Experience operating within structured procurement environments, including familiarity with procurement channels, policies, sourcing thresholds, approval limits, and standard processes. Working knowledge of supplier performance and risk considerations, with the ability to partner effectively with supplier risk and performance functions. Experience with procurement systems and tools, including ERP platforms, catalogues, spend analytics, and supplier data management; JDE experience preferred. Strong analytical capability with the ability to interpret data and translate insights into practical sourcing and procurement actions.

Work Hours

Michelman’s standard work hours for this role are Monday – Friday from 8 am – 5 pm EST but this is responsible for global operations the ability to support global teams will require the associate to work outside of these normal working hours from time to time.

About Michelman

Motivated by unwavering values, and ingrained with a passion for innovation, Michelman is a global developer and manufacturer of specialized sustainable chemistry used in industrial and agricultural coatings, digital printing, consumer packaging, and advanced composites for automotive and aerospace. From helping grow food and keep it fresh, to making vehicles lighter and more fuel efficient, to shielding our homes from the elements, Michelman‘s environmentally conscious solutions protect and enhance the materials that shape our world. Michelman is proud of the values‑focused work environment that we have crafted. We pride ourselves in our focus on our values of integrity, respect, and success. With our dedication to your technical and professional growth in addition to our rigorous onboarding experience, we guarantee that you will find yourself challenged in new ways. We offer an excellent salary, incentive, and benefits package in a dynamic, empowered team environment. No phone calls, please. Michelman does not hire individuals who use tobacco products. All candidates will receive a drug test prior to beginning employment which will include a test for tobacco products. For more information about Michelman, please visit https://www.michelman.com/.

It is Michelman, Inc. policy to seek and employ qualified persons in all jobs in a manner which will ensure equal employment opportunity as well as administer personnel actions in a manner as to not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, religion, national origin, age, sexual orientation or disability. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Michelman is an Equal Opportunity Employer Minorities/Females/Disabled/Veterans

• We offer an excellent salary, incentive, and benefits package in a dynamic, empowered team environment.