Category Lead

Job Summary

The Category Lead will manage categories of goods or services purchased by Colas USA. They will serve as an expert on these categories, understand the entire supply chain, and articulate the strategy to the Procurement team and business leaders.

Responsibilities

• Develops a deep and comprehensive understanding of their category of products through data analysis and leverages this knowledge to better position the business.
• Manages and develops supplier performance, relationships, and agreements for their categories, while collaborating with internal and external stakeholders to create a competitive advantage for Colas.
• Manages cross-functional teams using analysis of historical spend data, market research, and cost modeling to identify and leverage high-value opportunities that deliver innovative and sustainable value, operational efficiencies, and risk mitigation to the business.
• Interacts with internal business partners to achieve involvement in procurement and proposal activities.
• Supports low carbon initiatives and works with stakeholders to identify and implement good solutions.
• Develops strategic long-term plans to manage and optimize their product categories.
• Captures sourcing activities with Corporate Procurement.
• Prepares and negotiates contract terms and conditions for agreements.
• Analyzes contract documents to determine contractual obligations, and prepares recommendations regarding acceptance or modifications.
• Identifies, vets, and selects new vendors and services.
• Establishes and maintains professional relationships with suppliers based on the highest ethical business practices.
• Acts as the primary liaison to suppliers within your marketplace and uses market research and spend analysis tools to analyze supplier performance.
• Identifies and anticipates business needs; develops recommendations and solutions.
• Develops, manages, and influences implementation of policies related to supplier commitments.

Skills/Competencies

• Minimum 2-4 years of strategic sourcing experience in a large manufacturing environment with exposure to engineering, plant operations, and/or maintenance required.
• Sourcing experience in the indirect, fleet, construction equipment, manufacturing equipment, materials, and/or services is a plus.
• Balance of strong negotiation and relationship-building skills is a must.
• Experience with spend analysis to develop a sourcing strategy.
• Ability to demonstrate leadership in category management and the Strategic Sourcing Process.
• Execution oriented, with a strong sense of urgency around tangible results.
• Negotiation and influencing skills.
• Project Management Skills - Ability to organize and execute tasks; manage multiple projects.
• Effective decision making.
• Well-developed communication and negotiation skills.
• Category strategy development and execution.
• Strong time management, organizational, and presentation skills.
• Ability to work under pressure with deadlines.
• Experience working with e-procurement tools.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office specifically Word, PowerPoint, and Excel.

Education

• Bachelor’s Degree Required, Master’s Degree or M.B.A. preferred.

Colas Inc. And Its Subsidiaries Are An Equal Opportunity Employer.