Strategic Category & Sourcing Manager (New Joint Venture)

Role Scope and Timing

The role scope and timing are subject to business needs and successful transaction close. For more information, please refer to the press release: 3M to create a leading fire and safety business; acquires Madison Fire & Rescue and combines with Scott Safety - Mar 19, 2026.

About the Role

This position provides an opportunity to transition from other private, public, government, or military experience to a 3M career. The Impact You’ll Make in this Role: As the Strategic Category & Sourcing Manager - Direct Materials, you will lead the development and execution of category strategies for assigned direct material spend areas within a highly regulated industry environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute strategic category plans for assigned direct material categories aligned with business priorities for cost, quality, growth, supply continuity, and risk mitigation.
• Lead sourcing initiatives including supplier identification, RFIs, RFQs, RFPs, negotiations, supplier selection, and implementation.
• Manage supplier relationships and serve as the primary sourcing lead for assigned suppliers and commodity areas.
• Negotiate pricing, commercial terms, and supply agreements to improve value, mitigate risk, and support business continuity.
• Conduct spend analysis, market intelligence, cost modeling, and supplier benchmarking to identify sourcing opportunities and strengthen category competitiveness.
• Partner with suppliers to improve quality, delivery, capacity, responsiveness, service, and cost performance.
• Assess supplier capabilities, manufacturing processes, technical competencies, capacity, and quality systems to support sourcing decisions and supplier development for custom-designed direct materials.
• Provide key support for new product introduction activities through early engagement on supplier selection, collaboration on design for manufacturability, development of a plan for every part (PFEP), and actions to ensure supply chain readiness in support of launch timelines.
• Collaborate with Engineering, Manufacturing, and Quality teams to support design for manufacturability, engineering changes, supplier readiness, qualification requirements, and new product launches.
• Identify and manage supply risks related to supplier performance, capacity constraints, sole or single sourcing, raw material availability, regulatory requirements, and business continuity.
• Lead supplier business reviews, corrective actions, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Ensure suppliers meet applicable regulatory, quality, and corporate requirements.

Skills and Expertise

• Bachelor’s degree or higher, completed and verified prior to start.
• Five (5) years of experience in sourcing, category management, procurement, supply chain, operations, engineering, manufacturing, finance, or a related field in a private, public, government, or military environment.
• Experience managing indirect spend categories such as MRO, Fleet, IT, Capital Projects, R&D, Energy, Facilities, or site services.
• Experience implementing, renewing, extending, and managing supplier agreements, service agreements, and commercial contracts.
• Experience negotiating contracts, statements of work, and commercial terms.
• Experience supporting manufacturing sites or plant operations through indirect sourcing.
• Strong strategic sourcing, supplier management, and contract management skills.
• Ability to manage a broad portfolio of suppliers and business stakeholders across multiple spend categories.
• Experience working in a manufacturing or highly regulated environment.
• Strong analytical, project management, and problem-solving skills.
• Strong cross-functional collaboration skills with Operations, Engineering, Finance, IT, Facilities, and R&D teams.
• Proficiency in Excel based data analysis.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Pay and Benefits

The expected compensation range for this position is $124,127 - $151,710, which includes base pay plus variable incentive pay, if eligible. This range represents a good faith estimate for this position. The specific compensation offered to a candidate may vary based on factors including, but not limited to, the candidate’s relevant knowledge, training, skills, work location, and/or experience. In addition, this position may be eligible for a range of benefits (e.g., Medical, Dental & Vision, Health Savings Accounts, Health Care & Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts, Disability Benefits, Life Insurance, Voluntary Benefits, Paid Absences and Retirement Benefits, etc.). Additional information is available at: https://www.3m.com/3M/en_US/careers-us/working-at-3m/benefits/.