Category Manager

Category Manager – Raw Materials

The Category Manager’s (CM) foremost responsibility is to manage the USA raw material portfolio, and strategic sourcing and to ensure that the supplier’s performance is at the appropriate level. The position takes a clear leadership role as new sources and production materials are evaluated, selected, and introduced. A CM manages the ongoing performance of suppliers including costs, OTIF metrics, and material quality. Leads savings projects, supplier continuous improvement activity, and corrective action efforts at the site level. They conduct assessments to determine opportunities to improve quality, and service levels, and evaluate future value-driving opportunities. The CM is an essential contributor to the establishment of commodity and supplier strategies.

Supplier Performance

· Manage supplier development efforts critical to site needs

· Lead efforts to implement new or alternative materials and specifications with existing suppliers

· Facilitate timeliness of change control/qualification process

· Benchmark and recommend process improvement & and operational efficiency initiatives

· Work with quality, technical services, and operational groups to determine and aid suppliers with implementing process capability & and reliability measures for key sources

· Support site efforts to drive down total cost and reduce lead times

Sourcing Site Commodities

· For the assigned portfolio, a CM researches the local market to understand source and material options, compares to the current and anticipated needs of the site, and determines the path forward to align and secure optimal pricing and appropriate supplier alignment.

· Leads RFQ/ bidding events on managed commodities to obtain the lowest total cost.

Lead New Source & Material Introduction

· Serve as procurement point of contact and develop costs for new customers or product launch support

· When necessary, leads the discontinuation of outgoing material or suppliers

· Coordinate within various groups for necessary production or line trials for new suppliers and materials

· Define necessary site contacts with suppliers, construct communication process

· Assure necessary change controls are initiated and implemented

· Assure material and supplier qualification process completion

Procurement Strategy and Plans:

· Provide site-based plans & and objectives to help ensure alignment of sourcing strategies

· Ensuring alignment of procurement strategies with business strategies

Education and experience

· Bachelor of Science in Supply Chain, Engineering, Chemistry, Biology, and other related business discipline. No degree is required with 7 years of experience in strategic sourcing, supplier quality management, or supply chain management. Master’s Degree not required but desirable.

Skills and abilities:

· Minimum 5 years of experience in strategic sourcing and procurement, quality systems and operations, manufacturing, packaging, materials management, or relevant technical discipline is beneficial.

· Previous pharmaceutical and Personal Care (Beauty Segment) industry experience is required.

· SAP experience required and advanced excel skills a plus.

· Candidate should have a good understanding, training, and experience using quality assurance and control methods, tools, and approaches, such as Statistical Process Control, Process mapping, and statistical capability analysis.

· An ideal candidate would have experience working with suppliers towards process and continuous improvement, and implementing solutions to increase levels of supplier quality/reliability and reducing costs.

· Strong project management and communication skills are desired, with the ability to work effectively across multiple functional disciplines and with people in various geographies and cultures.

· Candidate should possess effective influence and persuasion skills, and have recent project management experience, with proven ability to lead projects and programs.

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