Job SummaryThe Senior Category Analyst plans, sources and negotiates transportation services for their assigned transportation category (package truck or export containers) to provide to the organization the lowest total cost to serve and ensures that the carriers and suppliers KPIs, SLAs, and contractual obligations are being met.
The jobholder is responsible for the preparation of all data for RFX's activities, developing and executing category strategies, managing supplier performance and the day-to-day activities within their assigned transportation category. The jobholder will also provide freight expense estimates for new or potential business, for project analysis to support network and modal optimizations, and source the necessary capacity with suppliers and carriers to support the business.
Success in this position is primarily measured by cost reduction/avoidance impact, successful management of suppliers, the ability to work with other departments on transportation-related projects, thus providing a high level of service to the company and our customers.
Duties and Responsibilities- Actively manage the procurement of transportation services and create/store contracts for assigned transportation category.
- Manage the relationship between the internal customers and carriers/suppliers.
- Work with carriers/suppliers to resolve contractual service deficiencies.
- Work with Operations team, QA, carriers/suppliers, and plants to address, resolve, and escalate transportation quality issues.
- Ensure transportation requirements are met by validating suppliers would be capable of delivering in accordance with agreed-upon capacity requirements.
- Prepare RFIs, RFPs, and RFQs.
- Obtain and analyze offers; prepare bid comparisons.
- Lead negotiations with vendors and work with Legal to complete contracts.
- Negotiate prices and terms and conditions with vendors while managing risks and opportunities related to the sourcing portfolio.
- Review industry and market information and set strategy for assigned categories and contracts.
- Monitor industry pricing and capability trends and mitigate price increases and capitalize on decreases.
- Develop best practice tools, templates and processes and optimize the use of appropriate automation tools and standard forms.
- Ensure that transportation-related contract pricing is entered into SAP or TMS systems accurately and on time to support the business.
- Support Marketing innovation projects through identification of new suppliers and/or quoting new projects with existing suppliers.
- Support cost savings projects by negotiating savings with suppliers and tracking savings opportunities
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities- Bachelor's degree preferred, with preference towards Business, Logistics, Engineering, Supply Chain or Operations Management. In lieu of a degree, 7+ years of relevant Supply Chain/Logistics experience preferably in a food environment.
- 3 years freight procurement experience required.
- Advance degree a plus.
- Experience with internet-based load management (track and trace) software.
- Familiar with package freight transportation equipment along with transportation regulatory requirements preferred.
- Identify carriers/suppliers and have ability to negotiate contract pricing and terms, establish SLAs and KPIs with carriers/suppliers and can conduct performance reviews on a regular cadence.
- Experience with SAP, Warehouse Management or Transportation Management systems, Business Warehouse or similar reporting packages, databases, and analytical tools highly preferred.
- Experience in sourcing in a freight category such as transportation for bulk trucks, package truck, intermodal and export movements are highly preferred.
- Experience working with vendors, negotiating contracts, and conducting financial analysis
- Strong contract negotiation skills.
- Strong analytical skills with high level of organization, follow-through & accuracy. Ability to collect, organize, analyze and disseminate information with attention to detail and accuracy.
- Good interpersonal skills and ability to work in a team environment.
- Demonstrates high level of customer service skills.
- Able to prioritize in complex and fast-paced environment.
- Strong working knowledge of all MS Office products- especially Excel.
