Category Manager

LNCsearch is recruiting for a Category Manager to support and lead a team in one of our client's headquarters. They are an award winning, global $9B Technology Provider with rapid expansion. This person may sit in Dallas, Kansas City, Atlanta, or Charlotte.

Requirements:

• Bachelors Degree in Supply Chain, Procurement or related. Advanced degree is a plus.
• 5 years experience with Direct Sourcing with exposure to Construction, Engineering, or Manufacturing industries. The ideal person will have reviewed / negotiated contracts for facility and infrastructure material suppliers.
• Strong experience with evaluation of bids, on a trade-by-trade basis.
• Experience working within a large publicly-traded or Enterprise type corporation.

Responsibilities:

• Drive sourcing strategies for high-spend, mission-critical categories while ensuring compliance with supplier agreements and internal policies.
• Partner with cross-functional teams to capture category requirements and enable strategic supplier collaboration.
• Lead supplier selection activities—develop RFIs/RFPs, manage long/short lists, conduct bid analysis, and deliver recommendations.
• Build a “best-in-class” supply chain by identifying company-wide spend opportunities and optimizing category value.
• Conduct deep spend analysis and develop tools, metrics, and methodologies to track sourcing performance.
• Support procurement activity across a national data center portfolio, enabling efficient facilities purchasing.
• Create and execute long-range category plans aligned with business objectives and stakeholder needs.
• Guide internal teams using total cost of ownership models and other strategic frameworks.
• Implement system improvements, best practices, and work-practice optimizations.
• Lead implementation efforts for categories that directly impact operations and internal customers.
• Negotiate, review, and manage contracts consistent with business goals.