- Position: Category Buyer, Indirect Sourcing
- Department: Procurement
- Reporting to: Director, Procurement
- Salary Type: Exempt
- Location: Philadelphia, PA - Hybrid 4 days in office
Position SummaryThe
Category Buyer leads the procurement strategy and execution for defined Indirect categories at the business unit or regional level. Responsibilities include:
- Market intelligence and category strategy design
- Supplier Relationship Management (SRM)
- Market Risk Management (MRM)
- Cost-Out/Value-In (COVI) initiatives
- Sustainability integration
- Contract negotiation and supplier performance management
This role partners closely with cross-functional stakeholders to deliver competitive sourcing solutions, secure operations, and support innovation and continuous improvement.
Key ResponsibilitiesCategory Strategy & Market Intelligence- Set ambitious category vision and objectives in competitiveness, innovation, and sustainability.
- Understand business needs, brands' strategic priorities, and stakeholder requirements.
- Build and share global or regional market analyses, incorporating competitor insights and brand priorities.
- Design and implement category strategies and roadmaps for assigned Indirect categories.
Supplier Management & Sourcing Execution- Select, validate, and optimize suppliers according to strategy.
- Lead negotiations, contracts, and supply agreements; ensure implementation and compliance.
- Launch Requests for Quotation (RFQ) and manage tenders in collaboration with business partners.
- Manage SRM fundamentals, including safety, legal, quality, and environmental compliance.
- Foster supplier innovation and ensure business continuity through risk mitigation.
Performance, Risk, and Sustainability Management- Guarantee category performance through risk management, supplier capacity evaluation, total cost analysis, quality monitoring, and sustainability compliance.
- Map and identify sustainability stakes and incorporate them into procurement strategy.
- Track and report key performance indicators (KPIs) including cost savings (Cost Out), value creation (Value In), and supplier performance.
- Support Market Risk Management to analyze and mitigate P&L exposure.
Cost Optimization, Budgeting & Financial ImpactIdentify and lead productivity/improvement projects with cross-functional teams.Participate in annual budgeting process with key stakeholders.Conduct market intelligence, needs analysis, and cost modeling to support financial decisions.Track savings with controlling teams and communicate results to the business.Cross-Functional Collaboration & Internal Stakeholder Alignment- Represent procurement internally and externally (industry groups, supplier organizations, etc.).
- Communicate procurement strategies, supplier recommendations, and best practices to internal partners.
- Support simplification and continuous improvement of purchasing and procurement processes.
- Build strong working relationships with Operations, Quality, HR, Marketing, Supply Chain, Finance, and Transformation teams.
Desired Qualifications- Bachelor's degree in Procurement, Supply Chain, Business, Engineering, or related field.
- Master's degree in Purchasing or Supply Chain is an asset.
- Minimum 5 years of procurement, sourcing, or category management experience in an industrial or manufacturing environment.
- Strong analytical capability, including cost modeling and financial analysis skills.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, evolving environment.
- Excellent communication skills across all organizational levels.
- Demonstrated ability to influence stakeholders and drive collaboration.
- Experience in SRM, risk management, and sustainability-integrated procurement is strongly preferred.
- Proficient in procurement systems and digital tools.
