Senior Category Specialist

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Location
:
Libertyville
Department
:
Operations

The Senior Category Specialist coordinates and executes category management, sourcing, supplier performance, and stakeholder activities for assigned spend categories. Working under general supervision, this role applies a complete understanding of procurement standards, processes, concepts, and systems to address moderately complex needs, develop recommendations, and support cross-functional or global initiatives.

This position is based in Libertyville with an onsite requirement of 4 days in office weekly.

• Contribute to the development, maintenance, and execution of category plans for assigned spend categories based on business needs and market conditions.
• Lead moderately complex sourcing initiatives, including project planning, RFx execution, supplier assessments, commercial analysis, negotiations, recommendations, and implementation support.
• Partner with stakeholders to understand demand, specifications, service expectations, budgets, timelines, and risk considerations and convert them into sourcing strategies.
• Analyze spend, market, supplier, contract, and total cost information to identify opportunities and develop data-driven sourcing and supplier recommendations.
• Coordinate supplier performance reviews, resolve performance issues, monitor improvement actions, and identify opportunities for additional value.
• Partner with Legal, Finance, Compliance, and business stakeholders to support contracting, approvals, supplier due diligence, and procurement risk management.
• Identify and advance savings, value creation, supplier optimization, compliance, risk mitigation, and procurement process improvement opportunities.
• Independently determine approaches to moderately complex procurement issues and evaluate information to identify causes of errors, gaps, or inefficiencies.
• Prepare and present category updates, business cases, sourcing recommendations, supplier insights, and project results to relevant stakeholders.
• Serve as an informal resource to stakeholders and developing team members by sharing procurement processes, tools, and category management practices.

• Communicate effectively via email, phone, and virtual platforms.
• Collaborate across departments to support organizational goals.
• Maintain and analyze data using tools like Excel, SAP, or HRIS systems.
• Prepare reports and dashboards for internal stakeholders.
• Manage multiple priorities and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Serve as a point of contact for internal and external stakeholders.

• Bachelor’s Degree with 5-8 years of related experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain, Procurement, Finance, or a related professional discipline and a minimum of 5 years of related experience; or a master’s degree and a minimum of 3 years of related experience; or equivalent work experience.
• Experience managing sourcing projects, supplier relationships, contract support, and assigned spend categories.
• Experience developing analyses, recommendations, business cases, and supplier performance materials.
• Experience in a multi-site, global, or matrixed organization.
• Be Agile
  - Innovates and adapts quickly, approaching change with curiosity while persisting through obstacles.
• Be Customer Centric
  - Considers the needs, experiences and feedback of customers in all we do.
• Be People-Focused
  - Builds trust and collaborates with an inclusive and empathetic approach.
• Be Performance Driven
  - Operates with an ownership mindset, driving meaningful outcomes.
• Live The Schneiders’ Legacy, Our Noble Purpose
  - Passionately serves Our…