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.

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. 

Responsibilities cont.

• Establish category targets with the Procurement Manager and be accountable to targets. 

• Drive category knowledge development and maintain category profiles for key spends 

EPC Responsibilities:

• Oversee the entire EPC (Engineering, Procurement, Capital) process, ensuring that projects are completed on time, within budget, and to the required quality standards. 

• Collaborate with engineering teams to develop detailed project plans and specifications. 

• Manage procurement activities, including sourcing, negotiating, and contracting with suppliers and subcontractors. 

• Coordinate construction activities, ensuring compliance with safety regulations and quality standards. 

• Monitor project progress and performance, identifying and addressing any issues or risks that may arise. 

Capital Buy Responsibilities:

• Develop and implement strategies for capital procurement, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and objectives. 

• Conduct market research and analysis to identify potential suppliers and evaluate their capabilities. 

• Negotiate contracts and agreements with suppliers, ensuring favorable terms and conditions. 

• Manage the procurement of capital equipment and materials, ensuring timely delivery and quality compliance. 

• Monitor and report on capital expenditure, ensuring adherence to budget and financial targets. 

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. 

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. 

Skills cont.

• Systems Agility: Skilled in using multiple software systems linked to procurement buy channels or workflows to understand spending 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. 

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/Certification

• Bachelor's Degree Required (in Business, Supply Chain or STEM) 

• Six Sigma Certification (Preferred) 

• ISM or APICS Certification (Preferred)