The Sr. Category Manager owns and manages the North American purchasing strategy for assigned categories that fall within the scope of the Indirect Purchasing team, leading site purchasing optimization Strategy and Project prioritization. In this capacity, the Sr. Category Manager is responsible for all aspects of category management for these strategic and complex purchase categories across all business units in North America. Additionally, this position is responsible for leading other Category Managers and providing guidance to positively impact their professional development as future Saint-Gobain leaders.
Strategy
Validate and ensure execution of the Indirect Purchasing strategy to optimize site purchases at Saint-Gobain in North America with est. $650MM+ spend responsibility across Indirect site purchasing categories. The Strategy will align with corporative initiatives, properly translating these goals into tangible actions and deliverables that incorporate business unit specific requirements approved by Purchasing leaders across North America.
Establish and lead cross-functional teams to develop, advocate, and implement best-in-class purchasing category strategies to achieve short and long-term objectives, working closely with related internal departments (e.g. Purchasing Operations, EHS, Finance, Legal, Real Estate) to ensure success.
Maintain an understanding of industry purchasing best practices, sustainability and technology trends and continually educate team members and business partners; effectively communicate applicable industry information to relevant stakeholders and leadership. Pioneer changes in process after identifying Market best practices.
Proactively develop and manage strategy with Site Purchase suppliers to identify large-scale improvements across multiple sites including requirements for supplier reporting of program benefits and future opportunities where success is measured by feedback from the factory floor.
Sourcing and Contract Management
Develop, lead, and maintain sourcing activities that deliver the category strategy objectives: Identify spend, control sourcing strategy, and lead all sourcing, supplier negotiations, contract negotiations, and supplier selection to optimize the value proposition and drive savings associated with the various categories of indirect spend for North American businesses. Initiate team utilization of digital purchasing e-Tools.
Act as the link that harmonizes Site Purchases Optimization Strategy and align it with the Global Purchasing Teams (Paris) upstream as well as downstream to localized Site Purchasing teams in Saint-Gobain North America plants.
Lead contractual discussion with Vendors, engaging risk partners (Commercial Legal Counsel, IP Legal Counsel, Insurance, Cyber-security, etc.) according to project requirements and ensure a successful transition from the sourcing process to achieve the required business and functional needs; Finally, ensure all project documentation is maintained per policies.
Maintain a robust contract management process with SLA tracking, periodic Executive meetings or through any other necessary channels to guarantee purchases are delivered as negotiated between the Parties.
What will you do?
Performance and Reporting
Develop, maintain, and validate KPI reports to track program performance and ensure regular, consistent stakeholder engagement for each assigned category; collect and manage data from external (suppliers) resources as well as other industry benchmarks and internal purchasing resources. Engage with stakeholder leadership to partner in supplier meetings to ensure service level tracking, compliance, and opportunities for improvements/incremental cost savings. Prepare and publish progress and periodic reports to management.
Ensure periodic reviews for all Saint-Gobain businesses in North America related to Site Purchase strategy, preferred suppliers, and performance against compliance measurements.
Oversee Quarterly reviews for all Saint-Gobain businesses in North America related to MRO strategy, preferred suppliers, and performance against compliance measurements supporting site stakeholder community comprised of buyers, engineers, maintenance, and management personnel.
Guide and empower the Category Managers in material preparation for yearly reviews with Management Committee members related to Central Purchase strategy, preferred suppliers, and supplier performance..
People and Operational Management
Manage, maintain, and trust a high-performing team supporting site/networking optimized purchasing categories including coaching and mentoring direct reports on Indirect Purchasing strategy; Strong process focus; harmonization & best practices; and Applicable approvals (new vendor, p-card, etc.).
Drive regional project engagement through on-site travel and supplier relationship management/issue resolution, as well as to lead training for sites deemed deficient through performance management metrics requiring training activities for site personnel related to centrally managed programs.
Manage and react to day-to-day operational challenges with a centralized supply base reported by site community with a focus on adaptable and simple solutions that are scalable to 200+ sites, with an understanding that some projects require localized solutions to serve stakeholders.
Provide multi-modal communication to all levels of site stakeholders and global Purchasing leaders.
Understand applicable company policy and ensure personal and team compliance including the purchasing policy and procedures.
Other Duties
Align newly acquired businesses into the CertainTeed/Saint-Gobain Purchasing function and deploy synergies within the preferred vendor network aimed at reducing cost or improving service.
Consistent review of supplier catalogs available in Saint-Gobain's buying platform, Agora, to assess the ever-evolving needs of employees in need of a streamlined, non-Purchasing led purchase process and collaboration with the Director, Indirect Purchasing, and the Senior Manager, Indirect Central Purchasing to improve the program. Additionally, monitoring of Saint-Gobain employee usage of the Agora platform to find opportunities for continuous improvement.
What do you bring?
Bachelor's Degree in Purchasing, Logistics, Business, or similar field required; Master's degree preferred.
8+ years of relevant experience in a manufacturing company/environment preferred.
5+ years' experience in purchasing, sourcing, and procurement with a focus on indirect goods and services highly preferred.
Excellent negotiation, communication, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence all levels of employees and management, both inside the company and externally with suppliers.
Interest in developing a high-performing team and managing employee growth.
Deep understanding of category management, strategic sourcing, and total cost methodologies. Actively keeps abreast of developing best practices in procurement and key indirect category industries.
Ability to manage multiple high-visibility projects at once with demonstrated project management and supplier management skills and an eagerness to solicit feedback on the results.
Business management skills including the ability to develop and execute strategy. Solid understanding of business disciplines and financials with an ability to make data-driven decisions or recommendations and align decisions with strategies. Considers the impacts of decisions on other parts of the organization and a willingness to pivot quickly when presented with information that alters project course.
Strong Microsoft Office suite skills. Strong systems aptitude and analytical skills
Strong written & verbal communication skills, as well as effective presentation skills key to success
PMP, SPSM, CPSM, CPOM, or other Purchasing/Procurement certification(s) preferred.
What are our perks?
We provide unique options to fit your unique lives! Our Total Rewards Program is customizable to accommodate your needs.
Our menu of flexible options includes, but is not limited to:
LiveWell: Rewarding you for living a healthy lifestyle
At Saint-Gobain, our employees have pride in belonging to an organization whose culture is made up of these core values: Trust, Empowerment, & Collaboration. Our company encourages diversity and inclusion in all its forms while making the world a more beautiful and sustainable home.
Saint-Gobain provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, amnesty, or status as a covered veteran in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws. Saint-Gobain is an equal opportunity employer of individuals with disabilities and supports the hiring of veterans.