Strategic Category Associate — Sourcing & Growth

columbiasportswearcompany; Portland (OR); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Columbia Sportswear Company seeks an Associate Category Manager to support its global procurement team from our Portland-area headquarters in a hybrid role. You will help develop category strategies, analyze spend, and drive savings with strategic suppliers.

The role emphasizes supplier performance, data-driven decision making, and cross-functional collaboration across regions. Travel up to 10% may be required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Supply Chain, Finance, Marketing, or a related field.
• 3–5 years of experience in category management, procurement, strategic sourcing, supplier management, or a category-specific industry role.
• Demonstrated knowledge of assigned categories, including suppliers, market dynamics, industry trends, and emerging opportunities.
• Experience supporting category strategy development, business planning, and translating organizational objectives into actionable category initiatives.
• Experience with strategic sourcing, supplier negotiations, contract management, and procurement processes.
• Strong analytical and data management skills, including the ability to interpret spend data, identify trends, and develop recommendations that drive value.
• Experience managing supplier performance through scorecards, governance programs, business reviews, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Proven ability to build relationships, influence stakeholders, and collaborate effectively across multiple teams and levels of the organization.
• Strong communication, presentation, project management, and organizational skills.
• Proficiency with procurement technologies, ERP systems, supplier management tools, Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, and other Microsoft Office applications.
• A collaborative mindset with a passion for continuous improvement, problem-solving, and driving business results.
• Ability to travel up to 10%.

Responsibilities

• Support the development, maintenance, and execution of category strategies by analyzing internal spend data, supplier performance, market intelligence, and industry trends.
• Partner with the Supplier Relationship Management team to support supplier segmentation, governance, and performance management activities for strategic suppliers.
• Lead and execute sourcing initiatives and supplier negotiations that align with category strategies and business requirements.
• Build strong partnerships with stakeholders across functions, brands, and regions.
• Maintain awareness of industry developments, supplier capabilities, cost drivers, and market conditions within assigned categories.
• Contribute to procurement team capability building by sharing knowledge, participating in training initiatives, supporting process improvements, and helping drive procurement best practices across the organization.

Skills

Category management

Procurement

Strategic sourcing

Supplier management

Data analysis

Stakeholder management

Negotiation

Contract management

ERP familiarity

Excel

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business/Supply Chain/Finance/Marketing or related field

Tools

ERP systems

Microsoft Excel

PowerPoint

Job description

Columbia Sportswear Company seeks an Associate Category Manager to support its global procurement team from our Portland-area headquarters in a hybrid role. You will help develop category strategies, analyze spend, and drive savings with strategic suppliers.

The role emphasizes supplier performance, data-driven decision making, and cross-functional collaboration across regions. Travel up to 10% may be required.