Category Manager - Chemicals

Xylem is a Fortune 500 global water solutions company dedicated to advancing sustainable impact and empowering the people who make water work every day. As a leading water technology company with 23,000 employees operating in over 150 countries, Xylem is at the forefront of addressing the world's most critical water challenges. We invite passionate individuals to join our team, dedicated to exceeding customer expectations through innovative and sustainable solutions. What You’ll Do / Your Impact Own the global category strategy for Chemicals (direct material), aligning supplier capabilities to business needs. Lead complex sourcing initiatives that improve cost, quality, delivery performance, and supply continuity. Influence cross-functional stakeholders and suppliers to deliver measurable results in a global, matrixed environment. Drive sustainable supplier performance against key performance indicators (KPIs), including productivity, quality, delivery, consolidation, risk management, sustainability, diversity, and working capital. Build and strengthen partnerships with strategic suppliers by leveraging global spend and the supply base to maximize performance while minimizing business risk (including contract management). Maintain an effective supply chain that consistently delivers optimal cost, quality, and delivery performance to Xylem manufacturing sites. Partner with regional procurement leaders, R&D, Quality, and Engineering to develop category strategies and incorporate internal voice of the customer (VOC). Predict future global trends and disruptions within the industry and utilize de‑risking methodologies to effectively increase supply chain resiliency. Stay current on changing technology and demand, with a clear understanding of product taxonomy down to the sub‑tier level. Identify and lead productivity opportunities and the sourcing efforts required to ensure successful project execution. Identify & execute second sourcing and regional sourcing initiatives to meet company objectives and mitigate supply risk. Facilitate regular cross‑functional category project meetings, monitor progress against committed timelines, and establish and maintain a Corporate Category Council to educate stakeholders and collect VOC. Drive a continuous improvement mindset in an environment with a track record of achieving significant KPI improvement (Productivity, Quality, Service Levels, Delivery and Cost) year over year. Analyze spend data and present insights and recommendations based on the needs of the audience. Ensure applicable suppliers have current Corporate Supply Agreements (CSAs) in place, are up to date with the latest corporate expectations, and remain fully compliant. Qualifications Required Qualifications 3+ years of experience in strategic sourcing, procurement, or category management (global preferred) Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience (business, supply chain, engineering, or related field) Experience with ERP/MRP and procurement management software Demonstrated performance sourcing and negotiating to deliver measurable results to KPIs Experience partnering in a global environment (EMEA, Americas, APAC) Proven ability to quickly establish credibility and influence others to drive change across an organization Preferred Qualifications Master’s degree Sourcing experience in a water‑related industry, chemicals Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Strong influence and change management skills, especially in a matrix environment with cross‑functional stakeholders. Ability to present information clearly and effectively to a variety of audiences (Verbal, Written, Presentation) Ability to influence senior management, teams and individuals across multiple cultures, disciplines, and geographies. Strong verbal and written communication skills. Ability to work collaboratively across business units’ hierarchy and functions. Ability to analyze spend data and present insights, recommendations and strategies based on the needs of the audience. Demonstrated experience working with cross‑functional teams with proven abilities to influence others. Fluent written/spoken English required. Work Environment & Travel Potential for hybrid and/or remote work, with the expectation of frequent visits and interactions at manufacturing site(s). Manufacturing settings may require PPE and may include exposure to hazardous materials and loud noise. Travel: Roughly 25%. Global collaboration: Ability to partner with teams and suppliers across time zones as needed. Compensation: Starting pay is dependent on multiple factors, such as skills, experience, and work location. Benefits: Competitive total rewards package, including Medical, Dental, Vision, wellness programs, 401(k) with company contribution, paid time off, paid parental leave, and tuition reimbursement (and more). The estimated salary range for this position is $125,000 to $135,000 plus bonus. Starting pay is dependent on multiple factors, such as skills, experience and work location, and is not typically at the top of the range. At Xylem we offer a competitive compensation package with a generous benefit package, including Medical, Dental, Vision plans, 401(k) with company contribution, paid time off, paid parental leave and tuition reimbursement. Xylem does not provide visa sponsorship for this position. We are a proud Equal Employment Opportunity (including disability and veterans) and affirmative action workplace. Xylem fosters an inclusive environment free from discrimination or harassment. Please note that the information in this job description outlines the general nature of the position and is not an exhaustive list of duties. Xylem is dedicated to providing reasonable accommodations to enable all employees to perform their essential job functions. We reserve the right to modify this job description and assign additional duties as needed. #J-18808-Ljbffr