Strategic Indirect Procurement Category Manager

Union Tank Car Company - UTLX; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Union Tank Car Company (UTLX) is seeking a Rail Group Category Manager, Indirect Procurement to lead enterprise‑wide sourcing strategies across indirect spend categories from MRO to professional services. This corporate hybrid role is based at Chicago or Oakville, Ontario, with relocation assistance considered.

You will partner with senior operations, finance, HR, IT, and legal to optimize costs, improve supplier performance, and implement best‑in‑class procurement practices, delivering

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; MBA preferred.
• 7–10+ years of strategic sourcing or procurement experience.
• Experience managing large indirect spend portfolios ($50M–$200M+).
• Expertise in negotiating MSAs, SOWs, and service agreements.
• Strong financial acumen and supplier management capabilities.
• Ability to influence senior stakeholders and drive organizational change.
• CPSM, ISM, or equivalent certification preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategic category management across indirect categories including MRO, Facilities, Logistics Services, Professional Services, CAPEX, and other non‑production goods and services.
• Drive spend governance, supplier consolidation, and demand management initiatives.
• Identify cost reductions, lead RFPs, RFQs, negotiations, and contract renewals.
• Partner with Finance to align procurement with budgets and forecasts.
• Establish supplier scorecards, conduct QBRs, and drive continuous improvement across the supplier network.
• Create dashboards and use analytics to monitor spend, savings, supplier performance, and compliance.

Skills

Strategic sourcing

Stakeholder influence

Data analytics

Cost modeling

Supplier management

Education

Bachelor’s degree

MBA preferred

CPSM/ISM certification preferred

Tools

Power BI

Job description

Union Tank Car Company (UTLX) is seeking a Rail Group Category Manager, Indirect Procurement to lead enterprise‑wide sourcing strategies across indirect spend categories from MRO to professional services. This corporate hybrid role is based at Chicago or Oakville, Ontario, with relocation assistance considered.

You will partner with senior operations, finance, HR, IT, and legal to optimize costs, improve supplier performance, and implement best‑in‑class procurement practices, delivering