Strategic Category Lead: Facilities & Supplier Excellence

Cushman & Wakefield; Topeka (KS); On-site; USD 123,000 - 145,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, vision & dental insurance

Retirement savings plans

Life & disability insurance

Paid time off

Job summary

Cushman & Wakefield is seeking a Senior Category Manager to lead procurement category strategies and supplier relationship management across the organization. You will drive value for clients by developing robust preferred supplier programs and aligning category plans with service line priorities.

The role requires deep procurement knowledge, 7+ years in facilities category management, and strong data analytics to optimize spend.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field.
• 7+ years of facilities category management or operational experience in supply chain.
• Professional certifications preferred e.g., CPSM, CIPS, C.P.M., or evidence of continued professional growth.
• In-depth knowledge of Procurement fundamentals.
• Demonstrated subject matter expertise in facility services trades.
• Strong interpersonal and analytical skills.
• Ability to build relationships at all levels.
• Capacity to develop innovative strategies and solutions.
• Contract negotiation and ongoing management skills.
• Analytics, ability to mine data to drive in-depth analysis.
• Building and managing diverse supplier relationships.
• Ability to independently lead & manage multiple projects.
• C&W DRIVE Values: Driven, Resilient, Inclusive Visionary and Entrepreneurial

Responsibilities

• Creates a working environment that encourages high performance and innovation.
• Becomes a trusted advisor and subject matter expert on the categories.
• Removes roadblocks to enable delivery of procurement, company and client goals.
• Promotes compliance with C&W’s code of conduct.
• Establishes category plans and strategy for right solutions for C&W business lines.
• Responsible for working with procurement business partners and service line leadership to align category management vision with service line and procurement priorities.
• Drives EBITDA growth through C&W’s preferred suppliers.
• Incorporates industry best practices into category delivery.
• Utilizes demand planning to target value from supplier agreements.
• Monitors preferred supplier utilization, builds roster to ensure capability to deliver across the service line portfolios, and monitors performance to ensure capability to meet account needs.
• Ability to develop and understand data analytics, to mine data to drive in depth analysis of client 3rd party spend.
• Ensure effective commercial arrangements.
• Communicates supply category preferred supplier metrics and helps the business drive greater adoption of the preferred supplier network.
• Develops and maintains strong relationships with business units and the category management team.
• Drives for results by consistently achieving goals in a timely manner.
• Develops and delivers communications with clarity and impact, ensuring consistent messaging.
• Encourages creation and brings new best in class ideas and approaches to the table for developing and executing category strategies and working within the supply market to ensure Cushman & Wakefield meets or exceeds their objectives.
• Working cross-functionally with other departments including Finance, Operations, Technology, HR, Project Management, etc. for delivery of category strategies.
• Working with C&W Legal Counsel to ensure consistent templates to enable effective negotiations and risk mitigation.
• Strong problem-solving skills utilizing continuous improvement techniques.
• Utilizes change management techniques to drive the development and utilization of a preferred supplier program.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Analytical skills

Relationship building

Negotiation

Project management

Data analysis

Education

Bachelor's degree

CPSM/CIPS/C.P.M. certifications

Job description

Cushman & Wakefield is seeking a Senior Category Manager to lead procurement category strategies and supplier relationship management across the organization. You will drive value for clients by developing robust preferred supplier programs and aligning category plans with service line priorities.

The role requires deep procurement knowledge, 7+ years in facilities category management, and strong data analytics to optimize spend.