Category Manager, EPC & Capital

Summary

This strategic individual contributor role within the procurement function focuses on collaborating with key stakeholders to develop, execute, and manage category spend strategies. The goal is to ensure supply at the best overall value to HSC. The role encompasses strategic sourcing and category management activities for assigned spend categories, serving as the business manager for the spend. The individual will have oversight and influence on the overall procurement strategy, build collaborative relationships with business functions, and act as an advisor on market trends, pricing, and risk mitigation.

Essential Functions

• Lead strategic sourcing and category management within defined areas of responsibility to create a total cost advantage for the company, including implementing cost avoidance strategies and price fencing techniques.
• Actively manage spend categories using a product line manager approach, continuously reviewing spend data, market trends, and supply sources to maximize both short and long-term business objectives.
• Collaborate closely with the Manager, fellow Category Managers, and Buyers to ensure alignment of strategies and support teamwork across the procurement function.
• Build and maintain upstream and downstream cross-functional relationships with business functions, external partners, and strategic suppliers.
• Represent procurement on assigned strategic projects and initiatives for the company.

Additional Duties/Responsibilities

• Function as the company’s “business manager” of a spend area.
• Collaborate with business functions to develop and challenge requirements.
• Provide review of supply agreements and negotiate with suppliers.
• Develop supplier relationship management (SRM) strategies for key suppliers to drive value.
• Lead ongoing supplier performance management using supplier scorecards.
• Establish category targets with the Procurement Manager and be accountable to targets.
• Drive category knowledge development and maintain category profiles for key spends

Skills

• Category Knowledge: Advanced understanding of assigned categories, supplier situations, market drivers, local or regional impacts, and overall pricing pressures. This includes staying current with market/industry news and keeping peers informed.
• Financial Acumen: Advanced understanding of manufacturing processes, cost structures, and cost drivers to help set category strategies that deliver maximum overall value to the company. Ability to propose qualified alternative sources with potential improved financial benefits.
• Stakeholder and Cross-functional Relationships: Excel at building relationships with end-users and stakeholders for assigned categories. Viewed as a "Product Line Manager" by other functions and takes the lead on ensuring collaboration with them to gather information, review with the appropriate parties, set a strategy, and execute to that strategy.
• Systems Agility: Skilled in using multiple software systems linked to procurement buy channels or workflows to understand spend and supplier analytics.
• Coaching & Mentoring: Openly shares knowledge with the buyers from both a teamwork or awareness perspective as well as from a development standpoint.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite: Including Office365, Microsoft Teams, SharePoint, etc.

Behaviors

• Leadership and Communication: Strong leadership, communication, and analytical skills. Ability to challenge the status quo and drive change.
• Contract Management: Builds effective relationships at all levels with both internal and external stakeholders.
• Problem Solving: Highly creative self-starter with strong problem-solving skills.
• Project Management: Effective in setting goals and objectives, planning necessary resources or data, and measuring performance against goals.
• Negotiating: Effective at negotiating both pricing and delivery terms as well as basic purchase or service contract language.
• Dealing with Ambiguity: Effectively manages through change and can readily adapt within an evolving business climate.

Minimum Required Work Experience

• Minimum 5 years of relevant business experience.
  (Procurement, Manufacturing, Commercial, Supply Chain or Engineering Roles)
• Proven stakeholder engagement skills and/or project portfolio leadership experience.
• Aligned experience working within or supporting a manufacturing environment.

Minimum Required Education/Certifications

• Bachelor's Degree Required (in Business, Supply Chain or STEM)
• Six Sigma Certification (preferred)
• ISM or APICS Certification (preferred)

Environment/Working Conditions

• Individual will primarily work in an office environment but may have to occasionally visit manufacturing areas, the shop environment, the stockroom (as well as shipping and receiving) and travel to suppliers.