Job Title: Procurement Technical Category Manager

Department: Supply Chain / Procurement

Reports To: VP of Procurement

Direct Reports: None

FLSA Status: Exempt

Employment Type: Full-Time

Work Location: Lexington / Dunnville Hybrid

Position Summary

The Procurement Technical Category Manager leads strategic sourcing activities that support New Product Integration (NPI) and drives Value Analysis / Value Engineering (VA/VE) initiatives to optimize cost, quality, manufacturability, and supply continuity.

Partnering closely with Engineering, Operations, Quality, Finance, and Plant Leadership, this role influences supplier selection, manufacturing processes, product design, and sourcing strategies early in product development to enable successful product launches and continuous cost improvement.

Combining strategic category management expertise with technical knowledge of manufacturing processes for both new and existing products, the Procurement Technical Category Manager identifies opportunities to reduce total cost throughout the product lifecycle while maintaining quality, performance, and customer requirements.

Key Responsibilities

Essential Functions & Responsibilities

Responsibility

% of Time

Lead technical category management

20%

Support New Product Integration (NPI) and New Product Development (NPD).

20%

Lead Value Analysis / Value Engineering (VA/VE) and cost reduction initiatives.

20%

Evaluate supplier capabilities, costs, technology, and manufacturing processes.

15%

Lead supplier negotiations, sourcing events, and supplier development activities.

10%

Conduct cost modeling, market analysis, and sourcing risk assessments.

10%

Support continuous improvement and product lifecycle cost optimization.

5%

Category Management

• Analyze spend, market trends, country of origin, supplier capabilities, capacity, and industry risks to identify cost-saving opportunities.
• Support and execute global category strategies aligned with business objectives.
• Develop sourcing strategies based on cost, quality, delivery, capacity, technology, and supply risk.
• Build and maintain strategic supplier relationships focused on quality, cost competitiveness, innovation, and delivery performance.
• Support supplier selection, RFQs, negotiations, and supplier rationalization initiatives.
• Monitor market conditions and supplier cost structures.
• Identify opportunities for supplier consolidation, standardization, and cost optimization.

New Product Integration (NPI)

• Serve as the Procurement representative during New Product Introduction programs.
• Partner with Engineering to identify and qualify suppliers early in the product development process.
• Evaluate supplier manufacturing capabilities, technical competencies, capacity, quality systems, and scalability.
• Ensure sourcing decisions support product launch timelines, quality objectives, and cost targets.
• Participate in design reviews and product development meetings.
• Drive Design for Manufacturability (DFM) and Design for Cost (DFC) initiatives.
• Establish sourcing milestones and ensure procurement activities remain aligned with project schedules.
• Identify potential supply risks early in the development process and develop mitigation strategies.
• Support prototype, pilot, and production sourcing activities.

Value Analysis / Value Engineering (VA/VE)

• Lead cross-functional cost reduction initiatives involving Procurement, Engineering, Operations, Quality, and suppliers.
• Identify opportunities for:

• Material substitutions
• Process improvements
• Design simplification
• Supplier innovation
• Make-versus-buy optimization
• Domestic versus global sourcing
• Standardization
• Design to Value (DTV)
• Manufacturing process optimization
• Component consolidation

• Quantify and deliver measurable cost savings while maintaining product quality and performance.
• Develop cost models and should-cost analyses.
• Participate in design reviews to identify cost opportunities before production.
• Evaluate the financial and operational impact of proposed engineering changes.
• Track VA/VE projects through implementation and validate realized savings with Finance.

Supplier Development

• Identify strategic suppliers capable of supporting future technologies, products, and business growth.
• Support supplier capability assessments and technical evaluations.
• Evaluate supplier manufacturing processes, capacity, quality systems, technology, and scalability.
• Support supplier development initiatives to improve:

• Quality
• Delivery
• Productivity
• Cost
• Capacity
• Innovation

• Partner with Quality and Engineering to resolve supplier technical issues.
• Establish supplier performance expectations and improvement plans.
• Develop strategic supplier partnerships that support long-term product and business objectives.

Cost Modeling & Analysis

• Develop and maintain supplier cost models.
• Analyze raw material, labor, overhead, tooling, freight, and other cost components.
• Conduct should-cost and total-cost-of-ownership analysis.
• Evaluate supplier quotes against market and manufacturing benchmarks.
• Identify cost drivers and opportunities for improvement.
• Provide financial analysis to support sourcing recommendations.
• Partner with Finance to validate cost savings and cost avoidance.

Sourcing & Negotiation

• Lead RFQ, RFP, and competitive sourcing events for assigned technical categories.
• Develop sourcing strategies and supplier evaluation criteria.
• Negotiate pricing, payment terms, tooling, lead times, quality requirements, and commercial agreements.
• Evaluate supplier proposals based on total cost, quality, capability, capacity, risk, and strategic fit.
• Develop sourcing recommendations for leadership approval.
• Support contract development and commercial negotiations.

Supply Risk & Continuity

• Identify supply chain risks related to supplier capacity, geographic concentration, country of origin, raw materials, geopolitical conditions, and financial stability.
• Develop sourcing risk mitigation strategies.
• Identify alternate suppliers and sources when appropriate.
• Support dual-source and multi-source strategies for critical components.
• Monitor supplier capacity and ability to support future product demand.
• Partner with Supply Chain and Operations to protect production continuity.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

The Procurement Technical Category Manager works closely with:

• Engineering
• Product Development
• Operations
• Plant Leadership
• Quality
• Supply Chain
• Finance
• Manufacturing
• Maintenance
• Logistics
• Sales / Commercial Teams
• Suppliers and External Partners

Key Performance Indicators (KPI)

The Procurement Technical Category Manager is accountable for:

Financial

• Annual Cost Savings
• Cost Avoidance
• VA/VE Savings
• Design-to-Cost Savings
• Purchase Price Variance
• Total Cost of Ownership Reduction

NPI

• On-Time Sourcing Milestones
• Supplier Readiness
• NPI Launch Performance
• Prototype / Production Supplier Readiness
• NPI Cost Target Achievement

Supplier

• Supplier Quality
• Supplier On-Time Delivery
• Supplier Capacity
• Supplier Innovation
• Supplier Performance Improvement

Supply Risk

• Supply Continuity
• Risk Mitigation Actions
• Alternate Source Development
• Supplier Concentration Reduction

Decision Making Authority

Authorized to Independently:

• Develop sourcing strategies for assigned categories.
• Conduct supplier research and capability assessments.
• Lead RFQ/RFP processes.
• Develop cost models and should-cost analyses.
• Recommend suppliers based on established sourcing criteria.
• Identify VA/VE and cost reduction opportunities.
• Lead supplier negotiations within established authority.
• Recommend technical sourcing alternatives.
• Identify supply chain risks and recommend mitigation strategies.
• Lead cross-functional sourcing projects.

Requires Procurement Leadership Approval:

• Final supplier selection for significant strategic categories.
• Contracts exceeding established approval thresholds.
• Significant pricing or commercial commitments.
• Major make-versus-buy decisions.
• Significant changes to product specifications.
• Supplier changes that could materially affect quality, capacity, or production.
• Capital investments associated with supplier sourcing.
• Major global sourcing decisions.

Required Qualifications (Include Education, Experience, Certifications)

Experience

• Minimum 5 years of experience in Strategic Sourcing, Engineering, Category Management, or Technical Procurement within a manufacturing environment.
• Experience supporting New Product Introduction (NPI) or New Product Development (NPD) programs.
• Strong knowledge of manufacturing processes.
• Experience with supplier negotiations and strategic sourcing initiatives.
• Experience developing and executing category strategies.
• Strong understanding of supplier cost structures and manufacturing economics.
• Proven success leading VA/VE or cost reduction initiatives.
• Ability to interpret engineering drawings, specifications, and manufacturing documentation.
• Strong analytical, negotiation, and project management skills.

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Procurement, Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Business Administration, or a related field required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Engineering degree or significant technical manufacturing background.
• Lean Manufacturing or Continuous Improvement experience.
• Six Sigma experience.
• Experience with ERP systems such as SAP, Oracle, Epicor, Microsoft Dynamics, or equivalent.
• Knowledge of global sourcing and international supplier management.
• Experience with international supplier negotiations.
• Experience with advanced cost modeling or should-cost tools.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities (KSA's)

Knowledge

Comprehensive knowledge of:

• Strategic sourcing
• Technical procurement
• Category management
• New Product Introduction (NPI)
• New Product Development (NPD)
• Value Analysis / Value Engineering
• Design for Manufacturability (DFM)
• Design for Cost (DFC)
• Design to Value (DTV)
• Cost modeling
• Should-cost analysis
• Supplier development
• Contract negotiation
• Manufacturing economics
• Global sourcing
• Supply chain risk management

Strong knowledge of manufacturing processes including:

• Machining
• Metal stamping
• Forging
• Casting
• Plastic molding
• Metal fabrication
• Welding
• Assembly
• Finishing processes

Skills

Demonstrated ability to:

• Analyze supplier cost structures and manufacturing economics.
• Develop strategic category strategies.
• Lead technical sourcing projects.
• Conduct supplier negotiations.
• Develop cost models and should-cost analyses.
• Identify and implement VA/VE opportunities.
• Interpret engineering drawings and specifications.
• Evaluate supplier manufacturing capabilities.
• Manage complex cross-functional projects.
• Influence Engineering, Operations, Quality, and supplier stakeholders.
• Communicate technical and financial concepts effectively.
• Manage multiple projects and competing priorities.

Abilities

Ability to:

• Translate engineering and technical requirements into sourcing strategies.
• Understand complex manufacturing processes and cost drivers.
• Influence product design decisions through procurement expertise.
• Balance cost, quality, manufacturability, delivery, and supply risk.
• Make data-driven sourcing recommendations.
• Build strong relationships with engineers, suppliers, plant leaders, and executives.
• Work effectively in a fast-paced product development environment.
• Travel to supplier and company locations as required.
• Lead projects without direct authority.

Core Competencies

• Technical Procurement
• Strategic Sourcing
• Category Management
• Value Analysis / Value Engineering
• Cost Modeling
• Supplier Negotiation
• New Product Integration
• Engineering Collaboration
• Design for Manufacturability
• Design for Cost
• Supplier Development
• Project Management
• Supply Chain Risk Management

Work Environment

This position is primarily office-based within a manufacturing environment but requires regular interaction with Engineering, Operations, Quality, Plant Leadership, and suppliers. The Procurement Technical Category Manager will spend time in manufacturing and engineering environments reviewing