Senior Specialist, Category Management

Role Description

We are seeking an experienced and strategic Senior Specialist, Category Management to join our Maritime Category Management team. In this pivotal role, you will be responsible for leading category strategy development and execution across a diverse range of products and services. Your expertise in market analysis, supplier management, and cost optimization will drive value creation and deliver competitive advantage for our organization. As a senior member of the team, you will leverage your deep understanding of category-specific trends and your ability to forge strong relationships with stakeholders to ensure alignment with business objectives. If you are a results-driven professional with a proven track record in transforming procurement processes and delivering substantial cost savings, we invite you to apply for this exciting opportunity.

• Lead collaborative multi-region/plant/division, cross-functional teams to analyze spend, develop actionable spend management strategies, implement spend management strategies and proactively manage the supply base within a given commodity.
• Research and benchmark current commodity market conditions/trends, developing technologies, supply chain capacity/capability, product knowledge, customer requirements and supply/demand challenges.
• Guide the selection, development, and management of Strategic Suppliers to meet commodity cost and performance goals.
• Develop and implement spend management strategies including supplier assessments and rationalization, negotiation for best total cost of ownership, make vs. buy analyses, vendor managed inventories, inventory reduction programs, cycle time improvements, security of supply, supplier diversity, continuous improvement, commodity roadmaps, and procurement/stakeholder collaboration.
• Lead negotiations and completion of contracts with strategic and preferred suppliers to maximize benefits across L3Harris and its affiliates.
• Establish a strong network and foster collaboration with customers, suppliers, key stakeholders, and category team members. Manage supplier relationships of those commodities assigned, and assist in the development and implementation of supplier base strategies.
• Implement a rigorous and disciplined process for managing the supply base including leading periodic business reviews, monitoring and managing supplier performance (quality, cost, delivery, technology, service, and leadership), managing supplier relationships, performing root cause analysis and resolution, developing and monitoring supplier improvement plans.
• Propose and implement Corporate & Sector initiatives to meet desired business goals/objectives. Establish, implement, report and socialize on specific, actionable, measurable, achievable, time specific goals and objectives and related performance.
• Responsible to procure and manage assigned commodities to enable L3 Harris production. This includes purchase order issuance and maintenance, administration of engineering changes, costing and cost project administration and purchased material cost analysis.
• Create PO package with all required documentation; i.e., Price Analysis, Justification Worksheet, Order acknowledgement, PPV, Excess, etc.
• Identify and implement cost reduction opportunities, as well as overall material cost control.
• Resolving supplier base problems, including negotiations on Non-Conformances, invoicing, receipt discrepancy, terms and conditions, and service levels.
• Maintain documentation control in compliance with FAR regulations and company procedures and policies.
• Travel less than 20%.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Materials Management, Supply Chain, Finance or Engineering with a minimum of 6 years of relevant experience, including a minimum of 4 years in a strategic sourcing/commodity management role. Graduate Degree and a minimum of 4 years of prior related experience. In lieu of a degree, minimum of 10 years of prior related experience.
• Demonstrated management expertise in multiple indirect commodities.
• Understanding of Contractual Terms and Conditions and how to mitigate risk.
• Project management experience.
• Must have experience with MS Excel and PowerPoint for purposes of data analysis and creation of presentations.
• Procurement experience in an MRP (ERP) driven manufacturing environment.
• Proven negotiation experience.
• Understanding and working knowledge of engineering documentation, product configuration.
• Strong interpersonal and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a digital/remote environment.

Preferred Additional Skills

• MBA or Graduate degree.
• Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt certification.
• CPM or similar certifications.
• Strong understanding of Procurement, Manufacturing Operations, and material logistics.
• Cost analysis experience.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Outlook, Excel, Word, Project and PowerPoint.
• Global sourcing experience.

Benefits

• Health and disability insurance.
• 401(k) match.
• Flexible spending accounts.
• EAP.
• Education assistance.
• Parental leave.
• Paid time off.
• Company-paid holidays.