Category Manager - Indirect Procurement

Core Responsibilities

• Category Strategy & Market Intelligence
• Move beyond tactical buying to create 3-year category roadmaps that account for global market volatility, labor trends, and technological shifts (e.g., AI integration in services).
• Supply Base Optimization: Don't just manage vendors; curate a high-performing supply base. This includes "right-sizing" the number of vendors to leverage volume while mitigating "single-source" risks.
• Should-Cost Modeling: Build complex financial models to understand the cost drivers of services (labor rates, overhead, margins) to enter negotiations with a data-driven advantage.
• Strategic Sourcing & Lifecycle Management
• Advanced RFx Execution: Design "Value-Based" RFPs that prioritize outcomes and KPIs rather than just the lowest price.
• Contractual Engineering: Partner with Legal to draft robust Master Service Agreements (MSAs) and Statements of Work (SOWs) that include "teeth"—clear SLAs, liquidated damages, and continuous improvement clauses.
• Supplier Relationship Management (SRM): Lead quarterly Strategic Business Reviews (SBRs) with "Tier 1" suppliers to drive innovation and ensure we are their "Customer of Choice."
• Financial Impact & Value Creation
• Total Cost of Ownership (TCO): Shift the conversation from "price" to "value," identifying hidden costs in service delivery, implementation, and off-boarding.
• Working Capital Optimization: Negotiate favorable payment terms and lead-time reductions to maximize corporate cash flow.
• Demand Management: Work with internal departments to challenge "need vs. want," reducing unnecessary consumption of services at the source.

Location

Employee must be based in the Greater Chicago Area with the expectation to be in office 3 days per week.

Target Base Salary Range

$100,000.00 - $150,000.00

Basic Requirements

• 3+ years of experience in procurement, supply chain or similar business experience
• Legal authorization to work in the U.S. indefinitely is required.

Travel Requirements

10-25%

Relocation Provided

No

Position Type

Experienced

Referral Payment Plan

No

Our U.S. Benefits Include

• Incentive Bonus Plans
• Medical, Dental, Vision benefits
• 401K with Company Match
• 10 Paid Holidays
• Generous Paid Time Off Packages
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan
• Paid Parental & Family Leave

EEO Statement

Motorola Solutions is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status or any other legally-protected characteristic. We are proud of our people-first and community-focused culture, empowering every Motorolan to be their most authentic self and to do their best work to deliver on the promise of a safer world.