Category Manager – Indirect Procurement & MRO

Job Title: Category Manager – Indirect Procurement & MRO

Department: Supply Chain / Procurement

Reports To: VP of Procurement

Direct Reports:None

FLSA Status: Exempt

Employment Type:Full-Time

Work Location:Hybrid (Can be based out of the Lexington office)

The Category Manager – Indirect Procurement & MRO is responsible for developing and executing strategic sourcing strategies that optimize cost, quality, service, supplier performance, and operational efficiency across assigned indirect procurement categories.

This position has primary responsibility for Maintenance, Repair, and Operations (MRO) categories and supports the organization’s indirect spend strategy across multiple manufacturing facilities. The Category Manager partners closely with Operations, Maintenance, Engineering, Finance, Plant Leadership, and other stakeholders to ensure reliable access to critical materials and services while driving cost savings, supplier consolidation, inventory optimization, standardization, and continuous improvement.

The role requires strong strategic sourcing, negotiation, analytical, supplier relationship management, and project management capabilities within a complex manufacturing environment.

• Develop and execute strategic sourcing strategies for assigned indirect and MRO categories.
  20%
• Identify and implement cost savings and cost avoidance initiatives.
  20%
• Lead supplier consolidation, rationalization, and standardization initiatives.
  15%
• Establish and manage Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI) programs.
  15%
• Negotiate contracts, pricing, rebates, and service agreements.
  10%
• Analyze spend, supplier performance, market conditions, and procurement trends.
  10%
• Lead sourcing projects and support capital, facility, and operational initiatives.
  10%

• Develop and execute strategic sourcing initiatives for assigned indirect and MRO categories.
• Establish category strategies aligned with company cost, quality, service, and operational objectives.
• Develop sourcing plans based on spend, supplier capabilities, business requirements, and market conditions.
• Identify opportunities to consolidate spend and leverage enterprise-wide purchasing volume.
• Develop preferred supplier strategies for key indirect categories.
• Monitor market trends and supplier capabilities to identify opportunities and risks.
• Ensure sourcing strategies support plant and operational requirements.

• Identify and implement cost savings and cost avoidance opportunities.
• Utilize:

• Strategic negotiations
• Competitive bidding
• Supplier rationalization
• Value engineering
• Standardization
• Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) analysis
• Volume leverage

• Analyze spend and pricing trends to identify cost reduction opportunities.
• Develop annual cost savings objectives for assigned categories.
• Track and validate realized savings in partnership with Finance.
• Identify opportunities to reduce freight, inventory, transaction, and other procurement-related costs.

• Lead supplier consolidation initiatives to reduce supply base complexity.
• Identify opportunities to standardize MRO products, parts, materials, and services across facilities.
• Partner with Maintenance, Engineering, and Operations to reduce part proliferation.
• Develop preferred supplier and catalog strategies.
• Leverage enterprise-wide purchasing opportunities.
• Ensure supplier consolidation maintains or improves quality, service, availability, and pricing.

• Establish, implement, and manage Vendor Managed Inventory programs.
• Identify appropriate MRO categories and suppliers for VMI implementation.
• Establish inventory levels, replenishment requirements, and service expectations.
• Partner with suppliers and plant teams to ensure appropriate inventory availability.
• Monitor VMI performance and supplier compliance.
• Reduce inventory carrying costs while maintaining availability of critical materials.
• Develop and track VMI performance metrics.

• Negotiate pricing, contracts, service agreements, rebates, and long-term supply…