Lead, Category Management

L3Harris is dedicated to recruiting and developing high-performing talent who are passionate about what they do. Our employees are unified in a shared dedication to our customers’ mission and quest for professional growth. L3Harris provides an inclusive, engaging environment designed to empower employees and promote work-life success. Fundamental to our culture is an unwavering focus on values, dedication to our communities, and commitment to excellence in everything we do.

L3Harris is the Trusted Disruptor in defense tech. With customers’ mission-critical needs always in mind, our employees deliver end-to-end technology solutions connecting the space, air, land, sea and cyber domains in the interest of national security.

Job Title: Lead, Category Management

Job Code: 45384

Job Location: Melbourne, FL (On-Site)

Job Schedule: 9/80: Employees work 9 out of every 14 days – totaling 80 hours worked – and have every other Friday off

Job Description

L3Harris’ Corporate Headquarters located in Melbourne, FL is seeking a Lead, Category Management to join our Corporate Direct Category Management Team. This highly visible, fast-paced, multi-dimensional role drives organizational value by providing strategic and day-to-day leadership across our Enterprise Electronics OEM spend. Key responsibilities include working with executive management and functional stakeholders to lead category management, strategic sourcing, and supplier relationship management. This includes creating and executing category and sourcing strategies aimed at cost reduction, supply simplification, and ensuring product availability, with a spend responsibility of $500M - $1B. Strong business acumen, advanced negotiation skills, and a deep understanding of global economics and market data are required to forecast trends, reduce material costs, and drive continuous improvement. The role requires evaluating supplier risk and actively implementing risk mitigation strategies. Additionally, this position demands excellent interpersonal and leadership skills to influence change across Segments and Programs.

This role will report to the Director of Category Management as part of the Corporate Direct Category Management Team and our strategic supply chain organization focused on leveraging the company’s scale and deploying best practices that achieve best possible quality, technology, cost and delivery for our customers.

Essential Functions

• Own building, managing and ensuring execution of the category strategy for Electronic OEMs and distributors
• Partner as a subject matter expert (SME) on a continuous basis with internal customers to understand evolving business objectives, expectations and specific requirements
• Set procurement performance targets against Enterprise-wide strategic goals and monitor performance
• Develop market insights through research and data, industry developments, supply/demand dynamics, emerging technologies, leading-edge practices
• Maintain detailed knowledge of, and extensive experience in, requirements for materials, services, and supplier capabilities in Electronic OEMs
• Drive regular communications with Segment Category teams, SC leadership, and cross-functional teams on category status, challenges, and cost or cash opportunities
• Recommend all procurement levers, including supplier rationalization, direct negotiations, make vs. buy analyses, vendor managed inventories, inventory reduction programs, rebates, should-costing
• Develop and lead multi-year sourcing strategies and advise Sourcing Specialist, Segment Category Managers, and Procurement
• Define negotiation strategies and lead negotiations with strategic and preferred suppliers to maximize benefits across L3Harris and its affiliates
• Develop Statements of Work and Terms and Conditions with suppliers in accordance with engineering, production, and quality requirements
• Influence cross-functional teams and suppliers to drive design to value ideation, joint process improvement, and enhanced innovation
• Coordinate with Segments to deliver flawless new product introduction (NPI) with preferred suppliers that achieve targeted BOM cost and all program objectives and milestones
• Direct SRM process for portfolio of strategic suppliers and act as key point in escalation path for Segment supplier issues (e.g., supplier quality and service, contract disputes, and other discrepancies)
• Organize quarterly business reviews with key suppliers and coordinate with Segments to drive supplier accountability
• Assess supplier and platform risks, develop the appropriate contingency plans, and drive inclusion into overall decision-making process
• Leverage advanced procurement analytics and tools (e.g., cost modeling, price regression analysis, scenario planning, eAuctions, etc.) and drive systems and analytics best practices across the organization

Qualifications

• Bachelor's with 9 years prior experience in data engineering, Graduate Degree with 7 years prior experience in data engineering. In lieu of a degree, minimum of 13 years of prior related experience in Category Management and Strategic Sourcing processes.

Preferred Additional Skills

• Experience in Aerospace & Defense (A&D) industry preferred with specific FAR/DFAR experience
• Self-managed/motivated – ability to independently set priorities, meet commitments with a desire to continuously improve
• Strong interpersonal and planning skills to lead change through influencing abilities
• Ability to own collaboration across Segments and gain executive buy-in
• Coordinate across commodities and segments
• Strong communication and collaboration skills with the ability to present and discuss strategy and analysis

L3Harris Technologies is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. L3Harris is committed to treating all employees and applicants for employment with respect and dignity and maintaining a workplace that is free from unlawful discrimination. All applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding or other related medical conditions), gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, disability, genetic information, citizenship status, characteristic or membership in any other group protected by federal, state or local laws. L3Harris maintains a drug-free workplace and performs pre-employment substance abuse testing and background checks, where permitted by law.

Please be aware many of our positions require the ability to obtain a security clearance. Security clearances may only be granted to U.S. citizens. In addition, applicants who accept a conditional offer of employment may be subject to government security investigation(s) and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information.

By submitting your resume for this position, you understand and agree that L3Harris Technologies may share your resume, as well as any other related personal information or documentation you provide, with its subsidiaries and affiliated companies for the purpose of considering you for other available positions.

L3Harris Technologies is an E-Verify Employer.