Category Manager, Indirect Procurement

The Category Manager - Indirect Procurement at TAIT partners with artists, brands, IP holders, and place makers to develop and execute category strategies across key indirect spend areas. With a legacy spanning over 45 years, TAIT has grown from pioneering rock 'n' roll concert staging to setting the global standard for extraordinary live events and experiences through innovative technology, precision engineering, and creative design.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement comprehensive category strategies for assigned indirect spend categories, aligned with business objectives and procurement governance standards
• Conduct spend analysis, market research, and benchmarking to identify sourcing opportunities, risks, and cost reduction levers
• Lead competitive sourcing events including RFPs, RFQs, supplier selection, and contract negotiations to secure favorable pricing and terms
• Build and manage a preferred supplier list for indirect categories, consolidating fragmented spend and reducing maverick purchasing
• Partner closely with Finance to define, validate, track, and report procurement savings — ensuring savings are properly reflected in budgets, forecasts, and P&L impact
• Own the end-to-end savings lifecycle: from opportunity identification through negotiation, implementation, and benefits realization tracking
• Prepare business cases with clear ROI analysis to support sourcing recommendations and investment decisions
• Build strong cross-functional relationships with internal stakeholders (Operations, Finance, IT, Facilities, Marketing) to understand demand, align on requirements, and drive compliance with procurement policies
• Manage supplier relationships, including performance scorecards, quarterly business reviews, and continuous improvement initiatives
• Act as a trusted advisor to business partners, balancing cost optimization with service quality and risk mitigation
• Leverage advanced Excel skills (pivot tables, VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, data modeling, dashboards) to analyze spend data, build business cases, and track category performance
• Utilize AI-powered tools (e.g., Claude, ChatGPT, Copilot) to accelerate market research, supplier analysis, contract review, and workflow automation
• Operate with a resourceful, entrepreneurial mindset — proactively solving problems, finding creative workarounds, and driving results in an environment where processes are still being built
• Identify and champion process improvements, policy updates, and best practices to mature TAIT's indirect procurement function
• Stay current on market trends, industry benchmarks, and emerging procurement technologies

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Finance, or related field
• Experience: 5+ years of progressive procurement or strategic sourcing experience, with at least 3 years focused on indirect categories
• Skills: Advanced Excel proficiency, financial acumen, strong negotiation, communication, and stakeholder influence skills, hands-on experience using AI tools (e.g., Claude, ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot)
• Preferred Qualifications: Experience in entertainment, live events, manufacturing, or project-based industries, familiarity with ERP systems (e.g., Epicor), experience with Power BI or similar data visualization tools, professional certification (e.g., CPSM, CIPS)