Sr. Manager, Global Category Management

The Role:

The Senior Manager, Global Category Management operates in a dual capacity as both a strategic category leader and a people leader. This role is responsible for directly managing select high-impact global categories while also leading a team of sourcing managers to deliver against enterprise sourcing objectives. The position is accountable for both individual category performance and overall team results, ensuring consistent execution of global strategies, strong supplier performance, and delivery of cost, quality, and service targets. This role plays a critical part in advancing procurement capability while maintaining hands-on ownership of key business-critical categories.

Operating within a matrixed, global manufacturing environment, the role partners closely with Engineering, Operations, Planning, and Finance to ensure continuity of supply while advancing standardization, supplier performance, and long-term value creation.

Key performance indicators for this role include Cost savings and cost avoidance ($ and %) for direct materials categories, Supplier on-time delivery (OTD) and quality performance, Strategic spend under management and contract coverage, Supply continuity, Contribution to working capital improvements (inventory, payment terms), and Team capability development and performance outcomes.

Applicants are required to reside within a commutable distance of Cary, IL and maintain a regular on-site presence five days per week.

Your Responsibilities:

Category Ownership

• Own and execute global category strategies for assigned direct material categories
• Lead end-to-end sourcing activities including RFx, negotiations, and supplier selection
• Deliver measurable cost savings, cost avoidance, and value engineering outcomes
• Monitor commodity markets and develop mitigation strategies for cost and supply risk
• Establish and manage strategic supplier relationships for assigned categories

Category Strategy Leadership

• Provide direction, governance, and coaching to sourcing managers across additional categories
• Ensure consistency and quality of category strategies, sourcing approaches, and supplier management practices
• Review and challenge category plans to ensure alignment with business and financial objectives

People Leadership & Team Development

• Lead, coach, and develop a team of global category managers and analysts
• Set clear performance objectives across both individual category ownership and team delivery
• Build team capability in strategic sourcing, analytics, and supplier management
• Foster accountability, collaboration, and a performance-driven culture

Supplier Strategy & Executive Engagement

• Lead executive-level supplier relationships for both owned and team-managed categories
• Establish governance models for strategic suppliers, including performance reviews and innovation initiatives
• Oversee supplier risk management and continuity planning across the category portfolio

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with Engineering on product qualification, specification optimization, value engineering, and should-cost modeling
• Align with SIOP / Integrated Planning teams to support demand and supply balancing
• Collaborate with site procurement teams to ensure execution of global strategies at the local level

Cost & Value Leadership

• Deliver individual category savings targets while ensuring team achievement of aggregate cost and productivity goals
• Identify and execute value engineering and supplier innovation opportunities
• Monitor commodity markets and develop forward-looking cost mitigation strategies

Procurement Excellence & Governance

• Ensure compliance with global procurement policies, contracts, and ethical sourcing standards
• Drive standardization of processes, tools, and data across regions and businesses
• Support digital procurement initiatives (eSourcing, analytics, ERP)

Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Engineering, Business, or related field; MBA preferred
• 7-10+ years of experience in strategic sourcing or category management, preferably in direct materials
• Experience in global manufacturing environments
• 3-5+ years of people leadership experience with global teams
• Strong negotiation, analytical, and stakeholder management skills
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional initiatives and influence without direct authority in a matrixed, global organization
• Strong communication skills with executive presence
• Demonstrated capability with Microsoft Office products (Excel, PowerPoint), PowerBI, and project planning tools
• Must be within commuting distance of Cary, IL and work on-site five days a week

Preferred:

• Sourcing experience with metals or electrical components categories
• Strong coaching and talent development mindset
• Experience with ERP and eSourcing platforms (e.g., JDE, Microsoft Dynamics 365, Oracle, Ariba, Coupa)
• Lean/Six Sigma or continuous improvement background
• APICS or ISM certification preferred (CPIM, CPM, CIRM)