Senior Category Manager

About Williams-Sonoma DC - Olive Branch, MS

Since it was founded in 1956, Williams - Sonoma has grown from Chuck Williams’ single store in Sonoma, CA into one of the largest retailers in the country, with some best known and most beloved brands in home furnishings, including Williams – Sonoma, Pottery Barn and West Elm.

Our Distribution Centers serve as vital connections between factories and our retail, online and mail-order customers around the world. The Supply Chain environment is dynamic and fast-paced, and the network is expanding rapidly. If you have a background in distribution, manufacturing, engineering, transportation, finance, human resources, or home delivery – and are looking for a job with a strong opportunity for gaining new skills and for advancement – our Supply Chain Organization could be just the place for you.

Williams-Sonoma, Inc Supply Chain Overview

By managing resources responsibly, caring for our people, and uniting around our values, we lead our industry and are proud to be recognized for our continuous action and progress in the following areas: Barron's 100 Most Sustainable Companies; Forbes Best Employers for Women and Diversity; Newsweek America's Most Responsible Companies; and USA Today Customer Service Champions. These honors reflect that we are truly a people-first organization. 

• Over 4,000 Full-Time Associates across the Supply Chain
• 14.5M square feet of small parcel, personalization, furniture, and manufacturing space in the domestic US, Williams-Sonoma has developed an agile and capable distribution network consisting of the following:
  • Large package / furniture distribution centers located in Southern California, Northern California, Texas, Georgia, and New Jersey totaling 9.2M square feet plus another 1.2M square feet of standalone final-mile furniture hubs.
• Small package eCommerce distribution centers located in Mississippi and Arizona totaling 3.2M square feet, consisting of over 1,000 full-time associates and 1,500 seasonal/temporary associates in Mississippi
  • Sutter Street Manufacturing upholstery factories located in North Carolina and Mississippi totaling with over 1,400 full-time employees producing approximately $900 million to $1 billion in sales of upholstered furniture
• Transportation Department for Ocean, Air, Trucking, and Rail consisting of over 30 transportation professionals located in Memphis, TN
• 700 associates in our Sourcing offices in 10 countries in Asia and Europe including China, Vietnam, Singapore, India, Italy, and Turkey

The Sr. Category Manager, Facilities, Energy & Sustainabilityposition will be working out of Olive Branch, MS. is responsible for identifying, recommending, and implementing strategic initiatives that deliver cost savings, cost avoidance, risk reduction, and service-level improvement across key indirect spend categories.

This role will focus on facilities services, maintenance and repair, waste and recycling, utilities, renewable and green energy initiatives, managed print, corporate mailroom and print center services, and programs supporting company carbon neutral, waste diversion, and broader sustainability goals.

This position develops category strategies, supplier relationships, and contract structures in close partnership with internal business partners, Operations, Facilities, Sustainability/ESG, Finance, Legal, and other cross-functional stakeholders. The Sr. Category Manager determines supplier and contract strategies that minimize risk, improve supplier performance, and optimize total cost of ownership while supporting operational continuity and company sustainability objectives.

The successful candidate will be an effective communicator and an expert in strategic sourcing, category management, supplier governance, and supply chain management techniques.

• Lead complex Indirect categories by working with business partners to develop strategies around contracting, negotiation, communication, supplier selection, supplier governance, and ongoing value delivery.
• Serve as the category expert for facilities, maintenance, waste and recycling, utilities, renewable energy, managed print, corporate mailroom, and print center categories. Use market intelligence, spend analytics, supplier capability assessments, and performance data to understand market drivers, supplier base, category spend, service levels, and improvement opportunities.
• Develop and execute sourcing strategies that support cost savings, cost avoidance, operational reliability, sustainability targets, carbon neutral goals, green energy goals, and waste diversion goals.
• Lead competitive events, supplier negotiations, and contract renewals for complex and often multi-million-dollar agreements. Partner with Legal to incorporate appropriate commercial protections, service level commitments, sustainability requirements, data/reporting obligations, and performance remedies.
• Perform market analysis, financial analysis, should-cost modeling, and supplier risk assessments to determine business risk, cost drivers, and sourcing opportunities across assigned categories.
• Identify new sources of supply and develop optimal pricing methodologies for labor, materials, services, utilities, energy, recycling rebates, waste hauling, print, and mailroom services. Utilize the most strategic supply chain model to acquire products and services at the maximum level of value.
• Manage and enhance supplier performance through standardized processes, scorecards, business reviews, continuous improvement efforts, and corrective action plans to obtain optimal results related to quality, cost, delivery, service, compliance, and sustainability.
• Develop supplier scorecards, service level agreements, key performance indicators, and reporting processes, including metrics related to savings, avoided cost, service quality, uptime, diversion rates, emissions, energy consumption, rebates, and contract compliance.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders to translate business needs into sourcing plans, implementation roadmaps, governance routines, and measurable outcomes.
• Support budgeting, forecasting, variance analysis, and pipeline development by maintaining visibility into spend, savings opportunities, contract expirations, market trends, and supplier performance.

Check out some of the required qualifications we are looking for in amazing candidates….

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Engineering, Finance, Business or similar field
• At least 7+ years of sourcing, procurement, category management, supplier management, facilities services, utilities, energy, sustainability, or related indirect spend experience
• This is an onsite and in office role
• Experience in contract strategy and negotiation, including knowledge of commercial terms and conditions, service level agreements, indemnity, insurance, pricing structures, renewal language, termination rights, audit rights, and performance remedies
• Experience using market data, indexes, benchmarking tools, utility/energy pricing structures, supplier reporting, and spend analytics to support sourcing recommendations
• Strong analytical and advanced planning skills, including comfort with cost modeling, bid analysis, baseline development, savings validation, and supplier performance reporting
• Ability to manage multiple projects across different areas of the business while balancing cost, service, risk, and sustainability objectives

We prefer some of these qualities as well….

• Master’s degree in Business
• Advanced negotiation strategy development and execution
• Strong leadership characteristics and excellent communication skills
• Ability to collaborate, influence and build strong working relationships with internal and external customers
• Strategic thinking and ability to formulate and translate strategies into plans that can be effectively executed
• Demonstrated experience in managing multiple projects across different areas of the business
• Consistent drive for results
• Strong analytical and advanced planning skills
• Proven track record of delivering large savings projects
• Solid understanding of financial analysis and cost modeling
• Ability to bring creativity and innovation to problem solving.
• Ability to independently run projects end to end and overcome internal and external obstacles
• Ability to work with all levels and functions within the Company
• Lean / Six Sigma

Review these physical requirements, as they play a major part in this role….

• Must be able to walk, stand, bend, and climb stairs/ladder; Sits for a long period of time
• Able to use computer for an extended period of time

Our company benefits are second to none in the industry….

• Generous discount on all Williams-Sonoma, Inc. brand products
• 401(k) plan and other investment opportunities
• Paid vacations, Employee Assistance Programs, Time Off to Volunteer, Matching Gifts Community Service Program, and Holidays (in some locations)
• Health benefits, dental and vision insurance, including same-sex domestic partner benefits, Legal and Identity Protection Plans and Pet Insurance
• For more information on our benefits offerings, please visit MyWSIBenefits.com
• To learn more about our Supply Chain culture and regional associate events, please visit: (Login credentials may be required)

EOE