Procurement Category Specialist

About the role

Provides overall support of the Procurement team through assigned responsibilities and additional Category Management duties as required.

Responsibilities

• Create and execute strategies and tactics to deliver Raw Materials, Packaging and/or Indirect supplies to meet the needs of the business.
• Evaluate opportunities, analyze data and make decisions to balance quality, cost and surety of supply to optimize business results.
• Item set-up/maintenance, supplier evaluation and performance management, regulatory compliance, volume forecast review and adjustments, risk assessment and mitigation and other Category Management related duties as assigned.
• Understand Business Requirements and Challenges through interviews with key stakeholders (Operations, Planning, R&D, Finance, Purchasing, Procurement Services, Sales, Engineering, etc).
• Identify and manage exceptions to established Supplier Performance targets.
• Review and adjust Supplier Forecasts and resolve discrepancies with Suppliers to ensure efficient inventory management and product flow.
• Prepare and report data as needed/requested to management. Track and report Supplier Risk and facilitate Mitigation Strategy Development and Implementation.
• Forecast communication with suppliers (reviewing and sending monthly updates).
• KPI metric review and communication with Category Managers.
• Development of Standard Work Practices (SWI) to deliver consistent execution and improve efficiency.
• Commodity tracking, analysis, trend identification and reporting to the Category Management teams.
• Manage and complete sustainability requests from Sales.
• Aid in executing monthly cost forecasting process.
• Develop, roll-out and maintain monthly market trend reporting process.
• Complete SRSA process for new items and lead communication with cross functional teams.
• Manage ingredient testing and set-up.
• Support Category Managers in SIR Reviews.
• Prepare and load cost updates into systems to support the Category Mangers.
• Cook up and organize Quarterly Business Reviews (QBRs) for strategic Suppliers.
• Identify, analyze and provide insights on Supplier Scorecards to Category Managers.
• Participates as a member of the Team. Participates in the ongoing development, communication and implementation of team concepts, programs and policies; coordinates work to ensure best practices with all team members.
• Attends appropriate team meetings. As a member of the Team, fosters strong cohesiveness regarding all major issues; e.g., direction, annual plan, budget, policy changes, etc. Accepts responsibility to quickly identify any areas that lack cohesiveness, bringing them to the attention of the team leader and working with the team in a supportive manner to resolve issues and actively look for ways, and reinforce actions needed, to achieve synergy possible within the larger organization.

Qualifications

• Familiar with Simmons’ established operating systems (e.g. quality, security, office environment, company policies, LEAN); understands the responsibility to maintain familiarity with the systems and this position’s role in support of these systems - including a consideration of the impact of individual actions on the systems and the responsibility to communicate concerns and improvement ideas.
• High level of competency in Microsoft Office suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, OneNote, etc)
• Oracle ERP and/or JDE experience, Tableau, Oracle Analytics Cloud or other reporting platform experience.
• Process driven mindset and ability to drive efficiency gains through automation and delivered sustainable, systemic driven solutions that were adopted by the organization.
• Ability to foster and develop relationships with cross functional teams and leverage those relationships to deliver business results.
• Strong communication skills (written, verbal and presentation).

Skills

• Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, OneNote, etc)
• Oracle ERP and/or JDE experience
• Tableau, Oracle Analytics Cloud or other reporting platform experience
• Process driven mindset
• Ability to foster and develop relationships with cross functional teams
• Strong communication skills (written, verbal and presentation)

Benefits

Not specified

Pay

Not specified

Schedule

Not specified