Cook Group

Overview

The Senior Manager, Procurement Category owns the development and execution of comprehensive strategic sourcing plans for defined spending categories. This includes, defining and leading the sourcing strategy across all phases. Conducting market analysis, selecting suppliers, and managing supplier relationships. Mitigating supply risks, negotiating contracts, and achieving procurement goals. Possessing deep subject matter expertise in the assigned category and understanding market trends. This role will also be responsible for providing leadership and development to personnel.

Responsibilities

• Develop and lead the comprehensive Category strategy for assigned areas, ensuring alignment with long-term business objectives.
• Conduct in-depth market analysis, considering trends, technology advancements, and competitor strategies.
• Champion best practices in risk management, quality assurance, data protection, information security, compliance, and process optimization, integrating them seamlessly into category strategy.
• Lead cross-functional teams to develop and implement an overall supply strategy for assigned categories.
• Oversee and guide the supplier assessment and qualification process, ensuring alignment with strategic sourcing goals.
• Implement a robust RFx strategic sourcing methodology, leading negotiations for complex supplier agreements and contracts for goods and services.
• Leverage expertise to secure the lowest total cost of ownership (TCO) while optimizing On-Time Delivery (OTD), lead times, customer satisfaction, and quality.
• Conduct in-depth price and cost analysis, benchmarking against industry best practices to identify cost-saving opportunities.
• Lead the Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) program for top suppliers, including implementation of a comprehensive Supplier Scorecard.
• Provide subject matter expertise on assigned categories to the global business, fostering effective communication and collaboration.
• Build and maintain strong, strategic relationships with key internal and external stakeholders, including senior leadership.
• Deliver clear and impactful presentations on category strategies, performance metrics, and market trends to senior management.
• Provide leadership and coaching to team members, delegating tasks and setting performance goals aligned with category objectives.
• Foster a collaborative and results-oriented team environment, promoting continuous learning and innovation.
• Identify and implement opportunities for technology deployment to optimize category-related processes.
• Translate internal and external client needs into actionable solutions that meet stakeholder expectations.
• Provide leadership and coaching to team members; assign individual and team priorities, performance goals and objectives.

Qualifications

Minimum Work Experience/Educational Requirements

• BA/BS degree required; MBA or the equivalent preferred
• 5+ years in procurement or supply chain
• Must have 3+ years of management experience
• Must be knowledgeable of procurement systems, tools, policies and procedures
• Both Direct and Indirect Procurement experience preferred
• Demonstrated experience in negotiations, driving cost reduction strategies and day to day procurement operations
• CPSM or CPM preferred
• Knowledge in demand planning and inventory management
• Excellent communication skills

Physical Requirements/Work Environment

• Excellent communication skills.
• Must be willing to manage within an organization undergoing change.
• Requires demonstrated leadership experience, interpersonal skills, teamwork, and a strong understanding of management principles.
• Requires advanced knowledge and skills within a specific technical or professional discipline with understanding of the impact of work on other areas of the organization.
• Work effectively with internal and supplier personnel at all levels, including senior management.
• Requires mastery level knowledge of job area typically obtained through advanced education combined with experience.