Job Title: Category Manager - Direct Component & Hardware Procurement

Department: Supply Chain / Procurement

Reports To: VP of Procurement

Direct Reports: None

FLSA Status: Exempt

Employment Type: Full-Time

Work Location: Hybrid (Can be based out of the Lexington office)

Position Summary

The Category Manager - Direct Component & Hardware Procurement is responsible for developing and executing strategic sourcing strategies that optimize cost, quality, service, supply continuity, and supplier performance across assigned direct material categories.

This position focuses on externally manufactured components designed by the company and hardware sourced from OEM manufacturers. The Category Manager partners closely with Operations, Engineering, Maintenance, Quality, Finance, and Plant Leadership to ensure uninterrupted material supply while driving continuous cost improvement, supplier consolidation, inventory optimization, and total cost of ownership reductions.

The role requires strong commercial acumen, supplier relationship management, analytical capabilities, and the ability to influence cross-functional stakeholders in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

Key Responsibilities

Essential Functions & Responsibilities

Responsibility

% of Time

Develop and execute strategic sourcing strategies for assigned direct material categories.

20%

Lead cost reduction, supplier negotiation, and total cost of ownership initiatives.

20%

Manage supplier relationships, performance, contracts, and business reviews.

15%

Lead supplier consolidation and Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI) initiatives.

15%

Analyze spend, market conditions, and supplier performance to identify opportunities.

10%

Lead RFP, RFQ, and RFI processes.

10%

Support new facilities, equipment, capital projects, and other strategic procurement initiatives.

10%

Strategic Sourcing & Category Management

• Develop and execute strategic sourcing plans for assigned categories.
• Establish category strategies aligned with company cost, quality, service, and operational objectives.
• Identify opportunities for supplier consolidation and rationalization.
• Evaluate sourcing alternatives based on cost, quality, capacity, lead time, risk, and service.
• Develop competitive sourcing strategies to improve supplier performance and reduce total cost.
• Monitor market conditions, commodity trends, and supplier capabilities.
• Develop long-term sourcing strategies that support business growth and operational requirements.

Cost Reduction & Total Cost of Ownership

• Identify and implement cost-saving and cost-avoidance opportunities.
• Utilize:

• Strategic negotiations
• Competitive bidding
• Supplier rationalization
• Value engineering
• Should-cost analysis
• Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) analysis
• Standardization

• Analyze purchase price variance and market pricing trends.
• Develop annual cost reduction objectives and initiatives.
• Track and validate realized savings in partnership with Finance.
• Identify opportunities to reduce freight, inventory, quality, and other supply-related costs.

Supplier Management

• Establish and maintain strong strategic relationships with key suppliers.
• Develop supplier performance expectations and KPIs.
• Lead supplier scorecards and business reviews.
• Monitor supplier performance related to:

• Quality
• Delivery
• Cost
• Capacity
• Responsiveness
• Service

• Develop corrective action plans for underperforming suppliers.
• Partner with Quality and Operations to resolve supplier performance issues.
• Evaluate supplier financial, operational, and capacity risks.

Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI)

• Establish, implement, and manage Vendor Managed Inventory programs.
• Identify categories and suppliers appropriate for VMI.
• Develop inventory parameters and replenishment expectations.
• Partner with suppliers and plant teams to establish appropriate stocking levels.
• Monitor VMI performance and material availability.
• Reduce inventory carrying costs while maintaining production continuity.
• Establish KPIs to measure VMI effectiveness.

Supplier Consolidation & Standardization

• Lead supplier consolidation initiatives to reduce supply base complexity.
• Identify opportunities to standardize components and hardware across facilities.
• Partner with Engineering, Maintenance, and Operations to reduce part proliferation.
• Evaluate opportunities to leverage enterprise-wide purchasing volumes.
• Develop preferred supplier strategies.
• Ensure supplier consolidation does not negatively impact quality, service, capacity, or supply continuity.

Contract & Commercial Management

• Negotiate pricing, contracts, rebates, service agreements, and long-term supply agreements.
• Maintain commercial terms for assigned suppliers.
• Ensure contract requirements are clearly documented and communicated.
• Monitor contract compliance.
• Identify opportunities to improve commercial terms.
• Partner with Legal and Finance on significant supplier agreements.
• Maintain accurate contract and supplier documentation.

RFQ / RFP / RFI Management

• Lead competitive bidding processes for assigned categories.
• Develop RFQs, RFPs, and RFIs based on business requirements.
• Evaluate supplier proposals based on total cost, quality, service, capacity, and risk.
• Develop sourcing recommendations for leadership approval.
• Coordinate supplier negotiations and final selection.
• Maintain documentation supporting sourcing decisions.

Spend Analysis & Procurement Analytics

• Analyze spend data to identify sourcing opportunities.
• Monitor spending trends and supplier concentration.
• Identify contract compliance issues.
• Analyze purchase price variance and cost trends.
• Develop category spend reports and dashboards.
• Track savings, cost avoidance, and procurement performance.
• Provide data-driven recommendations to Procurement and executive leadership.

Capital & New Facility Support

• Support new facility, equipment, expansion, and capital projects.
• Source required components, equipment, materials, and services.
• Partner with Engineering, Operations, Maintenance, and Finance to develop procurement strategies.
• Identify qualified suppliers and competitive sourcing opportunities.
• Ensure sourcing activities support project timing and budget requirements.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

The Category Manager works closely with:

• Procurement / Strategic Sourcing
• Plant Leadership
• Operations
• Engineering
• Maintenance
• Quality
• Finance
• Supply Chain
• Logistics
• Inventory Control
• IT
• Legal
• Suppliers and External Partners

Key Performance Indicators (KPI)

The Category Manager is accountable for:

Cost & Financial

• Annual Cost Savings
• Cost Avoidance
• Purchase Price Variance
• Total Cost of Ownership Reduction
• Contract Savings
• Working Capital Improvement

Supplier Performance

• On-Time Supplier Delivery
• Supplier Quality
• Supplier Responsiveness
• Supplier Performance Score
• Corrective Action Closure

Inventory

• Inventory Reduction
• Inventory Turns
• VMI Performance
• Material Availability
• Inventory Carrying Cost

Procurement

• Supplier Consolidation
• Contract Compliance
• Procurement Cycle Time
• RFQ/RFP Savings
• Spend Under Management

Decision Making Authority

Authorized to Independently:

• Develop sourcing strategies for assigned categories.
• Conduct supplier research and market analysis.
• Lead RFQ, RFP, and RFI processes.
• Negotiate pricing within established authority levels.
• Recommend supplier consolidation opportunities.
• Manage supplier performance reviews.
• Develop and monitor supplier KPIs.
• Recommend VMI opportunities and inventory strategies.
• Identify cost reduction and cost avoidance opportunities.
• Recommend supplier selection based on established sourcing criteria.

Requires Procurement Leadership Approval:

• Final supplier selection for significant strategic categories.
• Contracts exceeding established approval thresholds.
• Pricing commitments outside established authority.
• Long-term supply agreements.
• Significant supplier changes that could impact production continuity.
• Major VMI program commitments.
• Capital expenditures.
• Material changes to procurement policies or sourcing strategy.

Required Qualifications (Include Education, Experience, Certifications)

Experience

• Minimum 5 years of strategic sourcing, category management, or procurement experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Strong experience managing direct component procurement and hardware categories.
• Proven track record of delivering measurable cost savings and supplier performance improvements.
• Experience implementing and managing Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI) programs.
• Strong contract negotiation and supplier relationship management experience.
• Experience with ERP systems such as SAP, Oracle, JD Edwards, Microsoft Dynamics, or equivalent.
• Advanced analytical skills with proficiency in Microsoft Excel and spend analysis tools.
• Experience with contract management.

Preferred Qualifications

• Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM).
• Certified Purchasing Manager (CPM).
• APICS/ASCM Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP).
• Lean Manufacturing or Six Sigma experience.
• Experience supporting multiple manufacturing facilities.
• Knowledge of inventory optimization and supply chain best practices.
• Experience with Business Process Outsourcing (BPO).
• Experience supporting acquisitions, facility expansions, or major capital projects.

Education

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

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities (KSA's)

Knowledge

Comprehensive knowledge of:

• Strategic sourcing
• Category management
• Direct material procurement
• Component and hardware sourcing
• Supplier relationship management
• Contract management
• Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI)
• Total Cost of Ownership (TCO)
• Spend analysis
• Supplier performance management
• Inventory optimization
• Manufacturing operations
• Supply chain principles
• Competitive bidding
• Negotiation strategies
• ERP and procurement systems

Skills

Demonstrated ability to:

• Negotiate complex commercial agreements.
• Develop strategic sourcing strategies.
• Analyze spend and financial data.
• Build and maintain strategic supplier relationships.
• Lead supplier negotiations and competitive bidding events.
• Identify and deliver measurable cost savings.
• Develop supplier scorecards and performance metrics.
• Lead cross-functional projects.
• Influence stakeholders without direct authority.
• Communicate effectively with suppliers, plant leadership, and executives.
• Manage multiple priorities and projects simultaneously.

Abilities

Ability to:

• Think strategically while executing tactical procurement activities.
• Analyze complex data and make sound business recommendations.
• Negotiate effectively in high-value commercial situations.
• Balance cost, quality, service, capacity, and supply risk.
• Build collaborative relationships across multiple business functions.
• Manage supplier performance and difficult supplier conversations.
• Travel to supplier and company locations as required.
• Work independently with minimal supervision.
• Make decisions in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

Work Environment

This position is primarily office-based within a manufacturing environment and requires regular interaction with Procurement, Operations, Engineering, Maintenance, Quality, Finance, and Plant Leadership. The position may require travel to supplier locations, manufacturing facilities, trade events, and other business locations.

The Category Manager must be comfortable working in a fast-paced environment where supply continuity, cost management, supplier performance, and operational priorities can change quickly.

Physical Requirements

The employee is regularly required to:

• Sit for extended periods while performing computer-based work.
• Occasionally stand and walk through manufacturing and warehouse environments.
• Travel to supplier and company locations.
• Occasionally lift up to 20 pounds.