Category Manager

Category ManagerOur client is seeking an experienced Category Manager to support strategic sourcing and procurement initiatives across large-scale industrial and capital projects. This role will lead category management strategies focused on engineered equipment, bulk materials, OEMs, fabricators, and strategic supplier relationships while partnering closely with engineering, estimating, operations, and leadership teams.The ideal candidate brings a strong background in strategic sourcing, supplier relationship management, commercial negotiations, and procurement strategy within EPC, industrial construction, or engineering-driven environments.Key ResponsibilitiesLead and coordinate strategic sourcing events while serving as a subject matter expert for supply chain and procurement teams throughout the sourcing lifecycleDevelop and execute category management strategies using utilization analysis, benchmarking, cost models, and enterprise spend dataEstablish category goals, KPIs, and performance metrics focused on savings, risk mitigation, supplier performance, and value deliveryPartner with estimating, proposals, and sourcing teams to align pricing strategies, commercial models, indexing strategies, and risk mitigation approachesAnalyze spend and utilization data while building dashboards and reporting tools to support forecasting and category performance trackingMonitor market trends and supplier markets to identify opportunities for cost optimization, supplier improvement, and risk reductionEnsure sourcing strategies align with operational objectives, compliance requirements, and enterprise prioritiesBuild and maintain strong relationships with internal stakeholders, business leaders, and strategic suppliersLead issue resolution and supplier escalations impacting category executionDefine and implement supplier performance management standards aligned with sourcing strategiesDevelop sourcing guidelines, governance standards, and compliance guardrails for procurement activitiesSupport Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) initiatives and long-term supplier engagement strategiesPrepare and deliver presentations, reporting, and sourcing recommendations to senior and executive leadershipDrive process improvements, training initiatives, and continuous improvement efforts across procurement functionsMaintain proficiency with procurement and ERP systems including Oracle, PPMS, and third-party supplier platformsQualificationsRequiredBachelor's degree in Procurement, Supply Chain Management, Engineering, Business, or related field5–7+ years of category management or strategic sourcing experience within EPC, industrial construction, manufacturing, or engineering environmentsExperience supporting large capital projects and sourcing engineered equipment, fabricated materials, OEM products, or bulk materialsProven experience developing and executing category strategies, spend analysis, cost modeling, and supplier performance initiativesExperience negotiating commercial agreements and managing supplier contractsHands-on experience utilizing ERP or procurement systems for spend analysis and supplier management (Oracle preferred)Strong stakeholder management and cross-functional collaboration skills with engineering, estimating, operations, and executive leadership teamsStrong analytical, negotiation, communication, and organizational skillsPreferredExperience supporting multiple industrial market sectorsExperience working with external clients and engineering organizationsBackground supporting multi-year sourcing programs or large, complex capital projectsAdvanced analytical experience including commodity cost modeling, pricing analysis, and ROI evaluation