Sr Category Specialist - Direct Materials

General Summary

The Senior Category Specialist, Direct Materials supports execution of the direct category management strategy across assigned materials, suppliers, or sub-categories that are more complex with a higher degree of independence and commercial accountability. This role leads defined sourcing, supplier evaluation, qualification, engagement, and performance management activities within delegated scope. Responsible for executing work across more complex or business-critical suppliers and materials.

The role serves as the primary developmental bridge between category support and full category ownership.

Procurement Strategy Deployment and Execution

• Execute defined elements of the direct category management strategy across assigned materials, suppliers, or sub-categories with greater autonomy.
• Lead moderate to high complexity sourcing events, supplier evaluation, qualification, negotiations and commercial discussions within delegated authority.
• Develop and execute sourcing plans for assigned suppliers or spend segments in alignment with supply planning, material requirements, and business priorities.
• Ensure procurement activities for assigned suppliers are aligned with MRP, supply plans, and inventory strategies established by Supply Chain.
• Monitor raw material market trends, supplier developments, and pricing changes relevant to assigned materials and suppliers. Makes calculate risk and advise actions on her subject expert that the manager should consider.
• Partner with Procurement Excellence to ensure supplier data and supporting processes enable effective execution.
• Establish and manage supplier contracts to achieve commercial and performance targets.

Drive Success

• Lead defined category activities for assigned suppliers or materials, directly supporting supplier engagement, sourcing execution, suppliers qualification and issue resolution.
• Understand raw material cost drivers, including feedstock trends, index movements, freight, duties, FX, and supplier margin structures, to support fact-based negotiation and cost management of the category that you managed
• Partner with Supply Chain to align procurement activities with demand forecasts, production plans, and inventory strategies.
• Collaborate with R&D and Project Leads to ensure supplier activity aligns with material specifications, commercial needs and product requirements.
• Identify and execute cost and value improvement opportunities within assigned materials or suppliers, operating with greater independence and judgment.
• Support business continuity by identifying, addressing, and escalating supply risks, constraints, and supplier issues as appropriate.
• Support new business (Concept to Commercialization – C2C and First Manufacturing Batch - FMB) and existing business continuity by proactively addressing supply risks, constraints, and disruptions.
  Supplier Relationship Management
• Serve as relationship owner for assigned suppliers within the direct category portfolio, maintaining regular engagement and supporting performance management activities.
• Execute the supplier relationship management framework for assigned suppliers, including segmentation, engagement expectations, and supplier review practices.
• Lead supplier business reviews for assigned suppliers, focusing on service, quality, cost, responsiveness, and capacity.
• Develop and maintain productive supplier relationships that support continuity of supply and category effectiveness.
• Escalate supplier issues, relationship concerns, or performance risks consistent with established frameworks and decision protocols.

Supplier Risk & Performance Management

• Actively participate in supplier performance reviews, corrective action tracking, and remediation planning for assigned suppliers.
• Partner with Supplier Risk and Performance Management to ensure consistent application of supplier qualification, segmentation, performance measurement, and remediation processes.
• Monitor supplier performance, service levels, and emerging risk indicators for assigned suppliers.
• Lead supplier audits, corrective action plans, and follow-through activities for assigned suppliers.
• Balance supplier decisions…