Procurement Category Management Manager

About the role

This remote leadership role offers the opportunity to shape sourcing strategies across a diverse, high-value procurement portfolio. You will oversee approximately $180 million in spend, influencing supplier strategy, commercial outcomes, innovation, and risk management. The position combines strategic procurement leadership with hands-on category management and cross-functional collaboration. You will work closely with manufacturing, commercial, finance, technology, and R&D stakeholders to deliver sustainable business value. The role also provides an opportunity to advance responsible sourcing, digital procurement, automation, and AI-enabled processes.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute long-term category sourcing strategies that optimize supplier selection, pricing, commercial agreements, sourcing flexibility, and supply continuity while reducing financial and operational risk.
• Manage a diverse procurement portfolio representing approximately $180 million in spend, identifying opportunities for value creation, cost optimization, innovation, and sustainable growth.
• Build and manage a continuous-improvement pipeline designed to deliver year-over-year productivity and savings, working closely with Finance to track and validate results.
• Lead supplier performance management, including regular business reviews, performance assessments, and improvement plans in collaboration with relevant functional stakeholders.
• Develop sustainable sourcing initiatives, including greenhouse-gas reduction, improved upstream traceability, and other responsible procurement practices.
• Partner with internal teams and suppliers to support new product, ingredient, technology, and innovation launches.
• Leverage supplier relationships to identify and secure innovative materials, ingredients, technologies, and commercial solutions.
• Support tail-spend and procurement transformation initiatives using digital, automated, and AI-enabled platforms.
• Manage budgets and monthly price forecasting through cost modeling, market intelligence, procurement tools, and financial analysis.
• Lead cross-functional teams in resolving complex procurement and supply challenges while driving alignment across a matrixed organization.
• Identify opportunities to improve processes, challenge existing ways of working, and act as a catalyst for transformation and continuous improvement.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree strongly preferred; an equivalent combination of education and relevant professional experience may be considered. An MBA is desirable but not required.
• 7+ years of experience in procurement, category management, strategic sourcing, or a related function.
• Strong category management experience with direct raw materials, ideally within food, pharmaceutical, chemical, nutraceutical, consumer health, or a similarly complex industry.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and execute strategic sourcing initiatives and deliver measurable commercial and operational results.
• Experience collaborating with manufacturing, commercial, corporate, finance, technology, and R&D stakeholders, with the ability to influence effectively at multiple organizational levels.
• Strong strategic mindset, business acumen, and agility, with the ability to operate effectively in ambiguous, fast-changing environments.
• Familiarity with AI-based procurement platforms, digital tools, and technology-enabled process improvement.
• Proven leadership capabilities, including relationship building, emotional intelligence, trust-building, and the ability to inspire cross-functional teams.
• Strong analytical and critical-thinking skills, including data analysis, business-process evaluation, cost modeling, and financial assessment.
• Excellent project management skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities and complex initiatives.
• Strong communication and storytelling skills, with the ability to translate complex analysis into clear business recommendations.
• High learning agility, creativity, customer-service orientation, and a strong continuous-improvement mindset.
• Ability to work effectively within a matrixed organization and collaborate across geographically distributed teams.
• Broad supply chain knowledge, including areas such as planning and logistics, is preferred.
• Technical familiarity and the ability to collaborate effectively with technology services and R&D teams is preferred.
• Foundational finance knowledge, including P&L analysis, budgeting, and cash-flow concepts, is preferred.
• Must be authorized to work in the United States without visa sponsorship.

Benefits

• Annual salary range: $117,341–$153,349.
• Performance-based bonus eligibility.
• Competitive total rewards package.
• 401(k) plan with employer matching.
• Healthcare coverage.
• Broad range of additional employee benefits and support programs.
• Fully remote work arrangement.
• Opportunities to influence strategic procurement and transformation initiatives at significant scale.
• Strong opportunities for professional development, continuous learning, and career growth.
• Inclusive and collaborative working environment that encourages innovation, strategic thinking, and new ideas.

Preference may be given to candidates located in the Tri-State area (NY, NJ, CT), Arlington, VA, or Solon, OH.