Category Manager III, Sr

About the role

The Category Manager drives teamwork across the organization to develop supply chain solutions, leading cost savings projects, analyzing market conditions and price dislocations, resolving contract disputes with suppliers, and presenting value propositions. This role owns the spend within Pipe, Valves, and Fittings (PVF) and Maintenance, Repair and Operations (MRO), which support nearly every field operation, maintenance activity, and capital project. The category is highly transactional, fragmented, and dependent on distributor relationships, offering opportunities for supplier consolidation, standardization, inventory optimization, and improved sourcing discipline.

Responsibilities

• Interpret business challenges and recommend standard methodologies/strategies to improve category, processes, or services.
• Collaborate with business partners to develop comprehensive supplier and category strategies.
• Develop and lead cross-functional supplier qualification and management processes.
• Build Key Performance Indicators for supplier performance reviews.
• Identify and establish strategic supplier partnerships to handle costs and optimize resources.
• Develop and maintain category and subcategory structures.
• Negotiate and implement contract terms and conditions.
• Conduct spend analysis and develop measurable supplier management and risk mitigation processes.
• Provide leadership to source materials and/or services in support of enterprise-wide efforts.
• Identify efficiencies and cost reductions with suppliers using spend analytics, project data, and input from various teams.
• Negotiate with suppliers to create alliance agreements, volume discounts, or applicable cost savings to leverage volume and combined spend.
• Work with individuals/teams within functional areas to drive and realize savings opportunities.
• Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Finance, Business, Economics, Mathematics, Engineering, or a technology field; minimum of seven (7) years of experience in a diversified supply chain environment.
• Certification from Institute of Supplier Management (ISM) or American Production and Inventory Control Society (APICS) preferred; minimum of nine (9) years of experience in a diversified supply chain environment preferred.
• Excellent organizational and interpersonal skills, with safety as the utmost priority.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications and PC skills.
• Experience working in a cross-functional environment.
• Conceptual and practical expertise in category and supplier management.
• Materials planning experience.

Schedule

Estimated travel is 10%-30%.