Category Manager

Location: Chicago, IL

Work Setting: Hybrid – minimum 2 days onsite, up to 3 days remote

Compensation: $125,000

Benefits: Full medical, dental, vision, 401(k) with employer match, paid time off, profit sharing, and comprehensive employer benefits package

Position Summary

The Category Manager – Indirect Goods & Services is responsible for enterprise-wide sourcing strategy, supplier governance, and cost optimization across a broad portfolio of indirect spend categories supporting operations throughout North America. This role serves as a strategic business partner to Operations, Finance, HR, IT, Legal, and other functional leaders, helping drive cost discipline, contract compliance, supplier performance, and procurement process improvements across a highly distributed industrial environment.

This position will manage sourcing initiatives and supplier relationships across categories including MRO, facilities services, logistics, professional services, CAPEX, operational supplies, PPE, uniforms, and other indirect goods and services. The ideal candidate will bring strong strategic sourcing expertise, advanced negotiation capability, financial acumen, and the ability to influence stakeholders while managing complex supplier networks and enterprise-level spend.

What You’ll Do

• Develop and execute category strategies aligned to cost, service, operational, and business priorities
• Lead RFIs, RFPs, RFQs, supplier evaluations, contract negotiations, and sourcing initiatives across indirect categories
• Manage supplier performance, service-level agreements, pricing structures, and ongoing supplier relationships
• Drive cost savings, supplier consolidation, spend governance, and demand management initiatives
• Establish and enforce preferred supplier programs and improve contract compliance across the organization
• Negotiate Master Service Agreements (MSAs), Statements of Work (SOWs), pricing models, and commercial terms
• Conduct supplier scorecards, Quarterly Business Reviews (QBRs), and corrective action initiatives with key vendors
• Partner closely with Operations, Finance, HR, IT, Legal, and Procurement stakeholders to align sourcing strategies with business needs
• Identify sourcing risks, supplier dependencies, and operational improvement opportunities
• Manage contract lifecycle activities including creation, execution, compliance tracking, and repository management
• Develop dashboards, spend analytics, KPI reporting, and procurement visibility tools using procurement systems and analytics platforms
• Improve spend under management, reduce maverick spend, and support working capital optimization initiatives
• Support procurement technology improvements, data governance, and reporting standardization efforts

What You Bring

• 7–10+ years of strategic sourcing, category management, or indirect procurement experience
• Experience managing indirect spend categories such as MRO, facilities, services, logistics, CAPEX, operational supplies, or professional services
• Demonstrated success managing large-scale supplier spend and enterprise vendor relationships
• Strong contract negotiation experience involving complex service agreements and vendor contracts
• Strong stakeholder management and cross-functional collaboration capability
• Financial acumen including budgeting, cost modeling, benchmarking, and savings analysis
• Experience supporting industrial, manufacturing, transportation, heavy equipment, or multi-site operational environments
• Ability to lead multiple sourcing initiatives and enterprise projects simultaneously
• Strong analytical, communication, negotiation, and relationship-management skills
• Bachelor’s degree required

Preferred Qualifications

• MBA, CPSM, ISM, or related procurement certifications preferred
• Rail, transportation, industrial manufacturing, or heavy industrial experience strongly preferred
• Experience with procurement systems, data lakes, Power BI, spend analytics, or dashboard reporting
• Exposure to Lean Six Sigma or continuous improvement methodologies
• Experience implementing procurement governance frameworks and supplier performance programs
• Experience supporting distributed operations or large multi-site service networks

What You Get

• Highly visible procurement role supporting operations across North America
• Opportunity to manage significant enterprise spend and strategic supplier relationships
• Hybrid work flexibility with only 2 required onsite days weekly
• Competitive compensation package including bonus potential and profit sharing
• Long-term career growth opportunity within procurement and supply chain leadership
• Exposure to executive leadership and cross-functional operational initiatives
• Stable industrial organization with strong operational footprint and long-term growth potential
• Collaborative environment with broad interaction across Operations, Finance, HR, IT, Legal, and leadership teams