Category Specialist - Senior Category Specialist

Job Duties and Qualifications

• Under broad direction, may support one or more related categories as directed by Portfolio and Category Leadership. May represent the Category Manager on teams and councils, as assigned.
• Managing suppliers and their contracts. Negotiates with suppliers and prepares contracts and agreements under the direction of Category Manager.
• Implement strategic sourcing and category strategies in accordance with policies and procedures.
• Leads or assists in category projects (including vendor performance improvements, new vendor qualifications) and interacts with vendors to enable project outcomes
• Facilitates and conducts analysis of supply chain data. Contribute to assessment of current market situations and identification of opportunities.
• Develops, enhances, tests, and implements analytical reports to support supply chain processes and required metrics
• Utilizes various data sources to assemble, analyze and provide deep business insights from the data, including: (i) Contribute to detailed planning and execution of improvement actions with users and suppliers; (ii) Recommends value added projects/opportunities; (iii) Identifies and proposes automations and efficiency improvements by leveraging technology that will address critical projects and business needs
• Act as an interface between business and supplier for category, resolving category issues.
• Participate in supply chain governance and performance management activities.
• Presents data findings and deep business insights to various levels of management, including direct supervisor and executive leadership

Requirements:

• Completion of an undergraduate degree required, preferable in Business, Supply Chain Management, Marketing or Engineering or similar discipline preferred. Certification as a Supply Chain Professional preferred.
• Min. 3-5 years work experiences in supply chain management, sales and/or marketing and engineering discipline or related experiences. 
• Skill set to be successful in role will include contracts, negotiations, strategic sourcing, stakeholder engagements, project management, supplier performance management. Candidate does not need to possess all skills immediately but need to be able to develop swiftly when in role
• Demonstrable strong critical thinking, communication skills, and commercial mind set. Able to learn and review high level technical requirements and drawings, identify risks and opportunities, formulate logical and sustainable solutions 
• Requires Proficiency in data management and presentation (including Ms. Excel and Ms. Power Points).
• Need to possess quality of self-starter, responsible/reliable, solution focused, willing to take on responsibilities, follow-up/through with minimal supervision  
• Previous purchasing, buying, sourcing, contracts experiences not required but will be plus    
• Opportunity for successful candidate to grow in supply chain organization. Thus, looking for candidates with critical thinking skills, curiosity and ability to learn, long and short term assessment mindset, ability to create relationships, influence stakeholders, decisions makers, managing relationships w/adapting the change, change management, customer services-oriented mindset 

Candidates having qualifications that exceed the minimum job requirements will receive consideration for higher level roles given (1) their experience, (2) additional job requirements, and/or (3) business needs.  Depending on education, experience, and skill level, a variety of job opportunities might be available including Senior Category Specialist.