Summary: The Category Manager is responsible for the development and management of the strategic supply base within the assigned commodity(s). Position drives improvement in the supply chain through cost reductions, shorter lead times, and improved quality performance.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Develops commodity strategies and leads supply chain initiatives/projects to achieve the best possible delivery and cost structure.
• Monitors industry trends and market conditions for assigned commodities.
• Guides the selection, development, and management of strategic suppliers to meet commodity cost and performance goals, with emphasis placed on the ability to identify cost targets for relevant technology and product roadmaps.
• Drives cost savings to improve project and service margins through supplier negotiations, competitive bidding, and strategic sourcing.
• Develops and leads execution of strategic sourcing projects.
• Ensures competitive pricing on all sourced components. This will be done through commodity management, strategic sourcing projects, market analysis, and should-cost analysis.
• Drives cost, capability, capacity, and quality toward performance goals with strategic suppliers.
• Works with the new product development team to coordinate sourcing strategies and ensure a smooth and timely manufacturing ramp on new programs.
• Provides technical assistance to new product development, product enhancement teams, site and local purchasing teams, and site materials management teams.
• Monitors and manages supplier performance ratings and scorecard process.
• Communicates forecast information to critical suppliers regularly.
• Negotiates and administers purchasing contracts to achieve quality, delivery, and cost targets.
• Leads supplier payment terms negotiations and management
• Manages international trading issues/imports/legal, awareness, and management
• Supports buyer/planners and operations with supply chain issues and tactical problems as required

REQUIREMENTS

• Excellent reasoning, problem-solving, and analytical skills
• Demonstrated ability to approach and address supply chain problems strategically
• Experience in developing supply contracts including legal aspects of external supplier contract management and enforcement throughout the product life cycle.
• Strong negotiation skills and demonstrated ability to achieve total cost reduction
• Understanding of the electrical or electromechanical industry and supply chains
• Must possess professional maturity and solid business judgment
• A proactive attitude takes initiative to prevent issues and has a bias toward action
• International business experience and effective at working with international business partners
• Ability/experience to work in fast-paced technology industry demands.
• Exceptional teamwork, communication, and project management skills. Demonstrated capability to multiplex many programs and projects across business unit design and manufacturing centers.
• Excellent leadership and interpersonal skills

EDUCATION / EXPERIENCE

• BA / BS degree required in Engineering (or related STEM field), Business, or International Business.
• MBA or MS Supply Chain Mgmt preferred.
• 5-7 years of related prior strategic sourcing or commodity management of electrical components
• Demonstrated project management skills.
• Excellent analytical skills including the use of statistical tools
• Professional certification from CPM or APICS is a plus