Associate Category Manager

This position is responsible for all Supply Chain activities associated with the assigned categories. The Associate Category Manager will analyze and implement strategies that support supplier identification, sourcing, supplier management, and spend optimization. This position will support the new product development process and execute inventory management.

• Optimize cost for assigned products, with an emphasis on cost reduction and margin improvement.
• Develop sourcing strategies.
• Develop multi‐year commodity plans to optimize spend.
• Oversee all activities related to the management of assigned spend, from intent to purchase through delivery of commodity/service.
• Recruit, maintain and manage world‐class suppliers with focus on total cost of ownership improvement.
• Plan, organize, direct, control and communicate all strategic sourcing activities related to assigned spend.
• Develop strategies for spend analysis.
• Prepare and review contracts, bids, proposals, and vendor agreements for legal correctness, terms/conditions, and acceptability of items to specifications.
• Analyze market and delivery conditions to make recommendations on present and future material availability.
• Pro‐actively establish and implement countermeasures to negative market trends and missed objective performance.
• Perform other duties as assigned

Job Qualification Requirements

• Bachelors degree required in Supply Chain or related field.
• A minimum of one year of procurement related experience is required, C.P.M or C.P.I.M certification is a plus.
• Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint & Microsoft Project.
• Proven project management experience & problem solving skills.
• Demonstrated supplier management skills.
• Must be able to work and effectively communicate with all levels of the company and suppliers.
• Works effectively in cross functional teams.
• Experience working with overseas suppliers highly desirable.
• Drives for continuous improvement.

Physical Demand Requirements

Occasionally required to stand, walk or sit; use hands to finger, handle or feel objects, tools or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb stairs; balance; stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl; talk or hear; taste or smell. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move objects up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.