Senior Category Manager

Summary

The Senior Category Manager is a strategic leadership role responsible for overseeing high‑value and complex spend categories, developing long‑term sourcing strategies, and leading enterprise‑wide initiatives that drive cost optimization, supply continuity, and innovation. This role serves as a key advisor to senior leadership and plays a critical role in shaping procurement strategies that support manufacturing excellence and business growth.

Location:

Houston (8718)

Business Unit:
Central

Job Classification:
Exempt

• Strategic Category Leadership – Develop and execute multi‑year category strategies aligned with corporate, operational, and manufacturing objectives; lead strategic planning processes, including demand forecasting, market intelligence, and risk assessment; identify opportunities for innovation, supplier collaboration, and competitive advantage.
• Advanced Sourcing & Negotiation – Lead complex, high‑impact sourcing initiatives and negotiations with global suppliers; establish and execute negotiation strategies that deliver best‑in‑class commercial outcomes; oversee contract development, ensuring alignment with legal, financial, and operational requirements.
• Supplier Relationship & Performance Management – Build executive‑level partnerships with strategic suppliers to drive performance, innovation, and long‑term value; implement supplier segmentation models and governance frameworks; lead supplier business reviews and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Cost Leadership & Value Engineering – Drive significant cost savings and value creation through advanced analytics, should‑cost modeling, and total cost of ownership (TCO) methodologies; champion value engineering and demand management initiatives across manufacturing operations; monitor commodity markets and economic trends to proactively manage cost and risk.
• Cross‑Functional Influence – Partner with senior leaders in operations, engineering, R&D, and finance to align category strategies with business priorities; lead procurement involvement in new product development (NPD) and capital projects; act as a trusted advisor to stakeholders on sourcing decisions and supplier strategies.
• Risk Management & Compliance – Identify, assess, and mitigate supply chain risks (e.g., geopolitical, capacity, single‑source dependencies); ensure adherence to company policies, regulatory requirements, and sustainability goals; lead business continuity and contingency planning efforts.
• Team Leadership & Development – Mentor and develop Category Managers and procurement professionals; lead cross‑functional and global project teams; drive a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

• Advanced strategic thinking and business acumen
• Expert negotiation and contract management skills
• Deep knowledge of manufacturing supply chains and operations
• Strong financial and analytical expertise (cost modeling, TCO, market analysis)
• Executive‑level communication and stakeholder management
• Leadership and team development capabilities
• Ability to influence across a global, matrixed organization
• Strong risk management and decision‑making skills

• Annual cost savings and value creation
• Supplier performance (quality, delivery, innovation)

• Fast‑paced manufacturing environment
• High level of cross‑functional interaction
• Occasional interaction with suppliers and plant sites
• Travel required (15%–20%) for supplier engagement and site visits

• Experience with global sourcing and international supplier networks
• Proficiency with ERP systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle) and advanced procurement tools
• Certification such as CPSM, CIPS, or Six Sigma (Black Belt preferred)
• Experience in digital procurement transformation initiatives

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Business, Engineering, or related field
• MBA or advanced degree strongly preferred
• 8–15+ years of progressive experience in procurement, category management, or strategic sourcing in a manufacturing environment
• Proven experience managing large, complex spend categories…