Category Lead

Job description

## **Category Lead** **Department:** Supply Chain **Reports to:** Director of Supply Chain **Position Summary** The Category Lead is responsible for developing and executing sourcing strategies that deliver cost savings, supply continuity, quality, and innovation across assigned categories. This role partners cross-functionally with sales, engineering, operations, finance, and quality teams to manage supplier relationships, negotiate contracts, and ensure procurement activities align with broader business objectives. **Key Responsibilities** - Develop and implement category sourcing strategies aligned with company goals, market dynamics, and total cost of ownership analysis. - Lead supplier identification, qualification, RFx processes (RFI, RFP, RFQ), and award decisions for assigned categories. - Negotiate pricing, terms, service-level agreements, and master purchase agreements with current and prospective suppliers. - Build and maintain strategic supplier relationships, including conducting business reviews, performance scorecards, and continuous improvement initiatives. - Analyze spend data, market trends, commodity indices, and supplier financials to identify cost reduction, consolidation, and risk-mitigation opportunities. - Manage supplier risk, including supply continuity planning, dual-sourcing strategies, geopolitical exposure, and compliance monitoring. - Partner with engineering and product teams on new product introduction (NPI), early supplier involvement, and value engineering opportunities. - Track and report savings, KPIs, and category performance to leadership. - Resolve supplier disputes, quality issues, delivery escalations, and contract compliance matters. - Stay current on market intelligence, industry benchmarks, and emerging sourcing technologies. - Travel 20% of the time for Supplier meetings, Customer sites or industry conferences **Required Qualifications** - Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Business, Engineering, Finance, or a related field. - 5+ years of progressive procurement, sourcing, or category management experience. - Demonstrated success leading strategic sourcing events and complex contract negotiations. - Strong analytical skills with proficiency in Excel, ERP systems (M1 or similar), and e-sourcing tools. - Solid understanding of contract law fundamentals, INCOTERMS, and procurement compliance. - Experience in sourcing electrical components including breakers, meters, Kirk Keys, etc. - Excellent communication, influencing, and stakeholder management skills. **Preferred Qualifications** - Masters degree in Supply Chain, Operations, Industrial Engineering, Business, or a related field (equivalent experience considered). - Professional certification such as CPSM, CIPS, or CPM. - Familiarity with setting up Kanbans, consignment, safety stock, VMI, etc **Core Competencies** - Strategic thinking and business acumen - Negotiation and persuasion - Data-driven decision-making - Cross-functional collaboration - Risk management and problem-solving - Ownership and accountability