Category Manager

Category Manager

Innovating since 1905, G&W Electric has grown into a global leader in engineered electrical power grid solutions. Working with us means joining a worldwide team of passionate manufacturing professionals striving to continually improve the technologies the world depends on to deliver safe, reliable electricity. Our culture is focused on employee success, so we foster an entrepreneurial environment that encourages everyone to thrive.

Essential Functions:

• Conduct local and global market analysis, market intelligence, sourcing strategies, etc.
• Responsible for the implementation and development of cost reduction plans on a world-wide basis.
• Maintain and expand global sourcing opportunities as well as identify and select quality competitive suppliers for multiple locations.
• Develop a category strategy which encompasses each global supplier and clearly illustrates a (3) year plan with clear goals and objectives. The objectives will include price, performance and inventory.
• Responsible for developing cost savings approaches and strategies for assigned commodities and suppliers including negotiation, quoting, supplier consolidation, long term agreements/contracts and other strategies approved by Director of Supply Chain.
• Execute approved strategies to achieve targeted annual cost savings goals
• Monitor market conditions and trends for assigned commodities. Responsible for timely recommendations of changes to cost savings strategies as they relate to market trends and conditions.
• Develop and execute supplier reduction/consolidation strategies to meet annual Supply Chain goals
• Conduct Quarterly business reviews with the category suppliers and ascertain progress against goals and objectives.
• Facilitate escalated resolution of supplier quality issues including management of the NCR process in collaboration with the quality team
• Develop action plans and manage the execution of supplier improvements to eliminate quality issues and improve delivery performance to meet G&W requirements
• Recommend changes to purchasing processes to improve on-time delivery to customers
• Provide functional leadership to the buyers to support cost/benefit analysis when expediting material including supplier expedite fee's and freight expenses
• Recommend purchasing management changes that will improve material availability levels without jeopardizing customer service, safety stock levels, ordering parameters, etc

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Strong computer skills, including MS Word and MS Excel
• Excellent communication skills and presentation skills; MS Powerpoint
• Strong analytical skills; ability to identify root cause

Education/Experience:

• Bachelor's Degree preferred.
• Previous experience in purchasing management/supply chain management in a manufacturing setting required
• Experience in a "make to order" or "engineer to order" manufacturing environment preferred
• APICS or ISM certification a plus
• Experience with building presentations for an executive audience a plus

Physical Demands: (The work is classified as Medium Physical Demand Level (PDL) by the US Dept. of Labor's Dictionary of Occupational Titles.)

Frequencies: Occasional (1-33%); Frequent (34-66%); Continuous (67-100%)

Lifting Demands :

Lift up to 50 lbs. on an occasional basis floor to chest.

Lift up to 35 lbs. on an occasional basis floor to waist.

Carry up to 50 lbs. on an occasional basis up to 25 feet.

Postural Demands :

Sitting – frequent

Standing – occasional

Walking – occasional

Bending/stooping – occasional

Customer Satisfaction/Safety/Quality/Environmental:

• Our goal is to provide a world-class service to our customers by delivering defect-free products on time to both our internal and external customers. Your comments and suggestions are an integral part of our success.
• Responsible for ensuring that quality systems function effectively and products meet customer requirements.
• Responsible for following safety and environmental rules and regulations.
• Responsible for ownership of his/her own safety and that of their coworkers.
• Responsible for maintaining a safe and healthy work environment.
• Making certain potential hazards are identified and corrected in a timely manner.
• Responsible and empowered to make the decisions and take the necessary actions that are required to fulfill the quality policy.
• Responsible for the quality of his/her work.
• Conform to G&W's Environmental Management System (EMS) and comply with applicable regulatory requirements.
• Contribute to continual improvement of activities, products and services that will help prevent pollution, reduce waste and protect our environment.

Why join us? G&W enjoys a long reputation for product quality, innovation and world-class customer service to the power industry. We have established this reputation by believing that our greatest asset is our employees. We owe our success to the initiative and talents of highly skilled individuals within our team-based organization. Our goal is to set the standard for customer satisfaction by ensuring a superior level of service, performance and innovation. As a global organization and industry leader, we are committed to cultivating an engaging work environment that embraces our core values and develops our talent. Our continuous focus on growth and innovation means that you become part of a company that provides challenging opportunities, rewards excellence and combines your individual expertise to achieve a higher level of shared success. As part of our organization, you also help power the world!

G&W Electric is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. All employees and applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender, national origin, race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, protected veteran status, or any other classification protected by federal, state, or local law. G&W Electric participates in the E-Verify process for all new hires.