Procurement Technical Category Manager
Tarter USA | Supply Chain / Procurement | Full-Time, Exempt | Hybrid – Lexington / Dunnville
Want a seat at the table before the product is even designed?
Most procurement roles get called in after decisions are already made. This one gets you in the room while the drawing is still on the screen. As our Procurement Technical Category Manager, you'll sit at the intersection of Engineering and Supply Chain — shaping supplier selection, manufacturing processes, and product design early enough to actually bend the cost curve, not just chase it after the fact.
If you can read an engineering drawing as easily as a spend report, and you get genuine satisfaction from finding the cheaper, better, smarter way to make something — this role was built for you.
What You'll Own:
- New Product Integration (NPI) – Serve as Procurement's voice in new product development, partnering with Engineering to qualify suppliers, drive Design for Manufacturability and Design for Cost, and keep sourcing on schedule for launch.
- Value Analysis / Value Engineering (VA/VE) – Lead cross-functional cost-reduction initiatives spanning material substitutions, process improvements, design simplification, and make-vs-buy calls — then prove out the savings with Finance.
- Technical category management – Build sourcing strategies grounded in real manufacturing knowledge: machining, stamping, forging, casting, molding, fabrication, welding, and finishing.
- Cost modeling & should-cost analysis – Dig into material, labor, overhead, tooling, and freight costs to know what something should cost before a supplier tells you what they want to charge.
- Supplier development & negotiation – Evaluate supplier capabilities and capacity, lead RFQs and negotiations, and build the kind of supplier relationships that deliver innovation, not just parts.
- Supply risk management – Spot capacity, geographic, and geopolitical risks early, and build the mitigation plans — and alternate sources — that keep production running.
What You Bring:
- 5+ years in strategic sourcing, engineering, category management, or technical procurement in a manufacturing environment.
- Experience supporting New Product Introduction or New Product Development programs.
- A real grasp of manufacturing processes and the ability to read engineering drawings and specs without needing a translator.
- A track record of leading VA/VE or cost-reduction initiatives that delivered actual, validated savings.
- Strong negotiation, analytical, and project management chops.
- A bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Procurement, Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Business Administration, or a related field.
- Bonus points for an engineering background, Lean/Six Sigma experience, global sourcing exposure, or fluency in SAP, Oracle, Epicor, or similar ERP systems.
Why This Role:
This is procurement for people who think like engineers and negotiate like closers. You'll challenge existing designs and sourcing strategies constructively, influence decisions before costs get locked in, and drive savings that show up in the product, not just the spreadsheet. No direct reports, direct impact — you'll report to the VP of Procurement and be trusted to run your categories with real autonomy.
Work Environment:
Hybrid between our Lexington and Dunnville locations, with regular time on the floor alongside Engineering, Operations, and Quality — plus occasional travel to supplier sites and industry events. PPE required when you're on the production floor; curiosity required everywhere else.