Category Manager, Global Business Services

DRAFT STATUS: Content below is role-ready, while yellow-highlighted metadata and the final review section identify assumptions or decisions needed before posting. 

JOB SUMMARY 

The Category Manager, Global Business Services is responsible for developing and executing global sourcing and category strategies for assigned indirect goods and services. The role partners with business stakeholders to translate requirements into commercially sound sourcing plans, lead competitive events and negotiations, manage supplier and contract performance, and deliver measurable value through savings, cost avoidance, working-capital improvement, service, quality, timing, and supply continuity. As a first-level manager, the position provides tactical leadership to a single team or functional area while retaining hands-on category and project accountability. 

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES 

Strategic Sourcing and Category Management 

• Develop and implement global sourcing strategies for assigned indirect categories, including advertising and marketing, fleet, office supplies and equipment, and professional services. 

• Use spend analytics, stakeholder input, market intelligence, demand forecasts, and total-cost considerations to build category plans and sourcing pipelines. 

• Identify value opportunities beyond leveraged sourcing, including demand management, specification optimization, supplier consolidation, insource-versus-outsource analysis, and strategic or operational process improvement. 

• Conduct market research to identify capable suppliers, evaluate market trends, and assess emerging products, technologies, and service models. 

• Plan and lead RFx events from business requirements through supplier evaluation, recommendation, negotiation, and award, using eSourcing tools as appropriate. 

• Define project goals, roles, responsibilities, timelines, decision criteria, and stakeholder alignment for sourcing initiatives. 

Contracting and Commercial Management 

• Lead negotiations covering price, service levels, scope, payment terms, risk allocation, and other commercial terms within delegated authority. 

• Partner with Legal, Finance, Risk, and business stakeholders to develop and maintain global or regional agreements that protect company requirements and assets. 

• Manage contract renewal schedules, sourcing workload, and implementation plans to support continuity and timely value capture. 

• Document sourcing recommendations, business cases, approvals, contracts, savings, and project outcomes in accordance with company controls. 

Supplier Performance and Risk 

• Identify, evaluate, select, and manage suppliers based on total value, quality, delivery, service, innovation, compliance, and risk. 

• Establish supplier performance measures and lead periodic business reviews for strategic suppliers. 

• Use KPIs and stakeholder feedback to anticipate performance concerns, determine root causes, and coordinate corrective actions. 

• Assess and mitigate risks related to supplier performance, market volatility, service continuity, confidentiality, and contractual obligations. 

Stakeholder Partnership and Implementation 

• Build productive relationships with global and regional stakeholders to understand business needs, prioritize initiatives, and align category strategies with operational and financial objectives. 

• Coordinate cross-functional teams through sourcing decisions, supplier transitions, contract implementation, and issue resolution. 

• Communicate project progress, risks, trade-offs, negotiation outcomes, and recommended actions to stakeholders and leadership. 

• Support adoption of sourcing strategies and contracted solutions across relevant business units and regions. 

Value Delivery and Continuous Improvement 

• Track and report spend addressed, validated savings, cost avoidance, working-capital impact, supplier performance, contract coverage, and project status. 

• Identify and implement improvements to sourcing processes, supplier management, analytics, tools, and stakeholder experience. 

• Ensure procurement activity complies with applicable company policies, approval requirements, ethical standards, confidentiality expectations, and relevant regulatory requirements. 

People and Resource Leadership 

• Provide day-to-day direction, coaching, prioritization, and performance support for assigned team members or resources. 

• Allocate work to meet category objectives and project deadlines while adhering to established budgets and procedures. 

• Develop team capability in strategic sourcing, negotiation, analytics, contract management, stakeholder partnership, and supplier management. 

• Escalate major decisions or commitments carrying significant cost, risk, or precedent for higher-level review. 

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS 

• Bachelor's degree in supply chain management, purchasing, business administration, finance, operations, engineering, or a related field. 

• Five or more years of progressive experience in procurement, strategic sourcing, category management, purchasing, or supplier management. 

• Experience managing indirect spend categories through multi-step strategic sourcing processes. 

• Demonstrated experience leading RFx processes, supplier evaluations, commercial negotiations, spend analysis, contract support, and cross-functional implementation. 

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to translate data and market information into sourcing recommendations. 

• Strong communication, presentation, negotiation, project management, and stakeholder management skills. 

• Ability to manage multiple priorities and work effectively across functions, regions, and levels of the organization. 

• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, Word, and PowerPoint and familiarity with procurement, ERP, or eSourcing systems. 

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS 

• MBA or other relevant advanced degree. 

• Professional certification such as CPSM, CPM, CSCP, or a comparable supply management credential. 

• Experience sourcing professional services, marketing and advertising, fleet, office supplies or equipment, or similar Global Business Services categories. 

• Experience in a complex global manufacturing, automotive, industrial, or similarly matrixed organization. 

• Experience using eSourcing tools, spend analytics, supplier scorecards, and total-cost-of-ownership methods. 

• Prior experience leading employees, project teams, or shared resources. 

SCOPE AND DECISION AUTHORITY 

• Provides tactical leadership to one team or Global Business Services category portfolio and contributes individually to key sourcing work. 

• Makes day-to-day sourcing, prioritization, supplier-management, and project decisions within established policies, procedures, budgets, and delegated authority. 

• Recommends sourcing awards, contract strategies, supplier changes, and resource priorities based on analysis and stakeholder input. 

• Refers major commitments, exceptions, high-cost decisions, or matters with significant enterprise risk to the appropriate leader or approval body. 

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT 

[Stakeholder decision required] The source materials do not establish location, work arrangement, travel expectations, or role-specific physical demands. Before posting, HR and the hiring manager should confirm whether standard office work, cross-time-zone collaboration, supplier/site visits, travel, or local accommodation language applies. 

OTHER DUTIES 

Additional duties, responsibilities, and activities may be required based on business needs.