Category Manager
Mueller Water Products
Category Manager, General and Administrative
Gerber Collision & Glass
full-time
Posted on:
Location: Illinois • 🇺🇸 United States
Visit company websiteSalary
💰 $110,000 - $140,000 per year
Job Level
Mid-LevelSenior
Tech Stack
ERP
About the role
- Create and implement forward-looking Procurement & Sourcing strategies for Fleet/Fuel, Business Travel, Office Supplies, Express Shipping, etc.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with Fleet/Fuel, Business Travel, Office Supplies, Express Shipping, etc. service providers
- Lead supplier selection, performance evaluations, and continuous improvement initiatives
- Negotiate strategic contracts, pricing, and terms with vendors to achieve cost savings and ensure compliance
- Partner with Boyd Indirect Procurement regional analyst teams to support targeted vendor opportunities
- Conduct market research, analysis, and benchmarking of supplier offerings, pricing trends, and technology
- Lead process improvement initiatives leveraging digital tools and analytics to enhance efficiency and transparency
- Collaborate with internal IT, HR, Marketing, Risk, Finance, Legal, and Operational teams to align strategies
- Develop dashboards and reporting mechanisms to track savings, supplier performance, and category KPIs
- Present insights and strategic recommendations to senior leadership
- Expand responsibility to additional related spend categories during discovery phase
- Occasional travel to visit supplier sites, attend industry events, or meetings at corporate offices
Requirements
- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Business, Supply Chain Management, or a related field
- 5+ years of procurement experience with a focus on Fleet/Fuel, Business Travel, Office Supplies, Express Shipping, etc.
- 5 years of total procurement experience practicing category management and strategic sourcing
- Demonstrated success in strategic sourcing, supplier negotiation, and G&A category management
- Knowledge of Procurement tools and technology (preferably Workday) and ability to operationalize outcomes via buy channel enablement and compliance management
- Proficiency with procurement analytics and digital tools; familiarity with MS Excel, Power BI, or similar platforms
- Strong strategic sourcing and negotiation skills
- Market analysis, cost modeling, and benchmarking skills
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills; relationship management and influence
- Project management skills and ability to lead cross-functional initiatives
- Technical acumen regarding procurement solutions, services, and trends
- Core competencies: Influence, Interpersonal Relations, Persuasive Communications, Detail Oriented, Conflict Resolution, Results Driven
- Ability to travel occasionally and preference to be located near corporate offices (Chicago, IL or Winnipeg, Canada)
- Proficient with ERP/procurement systems and Google Suite
