Job Title: Senior Category Manager

Job Location: Grand Rapids, MI.

Job Description:

The Senior Category Manager guides the strategy and performance management for select critical supplier partners that support the business, as well as lead direct report(s) who execute Purchase Order management. This role supports the Avionics division programs of Commercial Aviation Solutions Sector. You will be responsible for leading a small team tasked with creating and maintaining an category strategies and managing supplier performance to simplify our supply chain, reduce costs and create ensure a high level of support by implementing negotiation strategies while ensuring product availability to support our customers. Your team will partner with our Product Lines, Operations, Finance and  Engineering to ensure vendor requirements are well defined, communicated and managed both short term and sustainably. You will be responsible for establishing standard processes for supplier evaluation, sourcing, cost reduction planning and supplier management for your Category area(s). You will take an active role in talent management and development of a world class procurement team.

Essential Functions:

•             Manages a small team of professionals focused on supplier performance management for area of responsibility including delivery, quality and cost

•             Owns alignment of category strategies to the needs of the business with frequent communication with Cross-Functional Leaders and Functional Leadership

•             Directs the execution of tactics established by functional leadership and category strategy. Establishes operational plans for job area with ownership for short- to mid-term results (e.g., month, quarter, annual)

•             Collaborates on development and negotiation of supplier contracts and maintainance of a database for contract renewal / expiration actvities – ensures prep work for contract renegotiation/renewal/termination is completed

•             Communicates with all stakeholders candidly within and outside of the organization; speaks with data to influence others to agree to or accept new concepts, practices, and approaches

•             Improve working capital through payment term extensions and effective replenishment strategies such as Vendor Managed Inventory, consignment agreements, etc

•             Moves fast to gather category and subject matter expertise/insights and market intelligence to ensure sourcing solutions meet business needs

•             Escalation point for unresolved supplier performance concerns

•             Evaluates and performs complex data analysis and build financial models (TCO, should cost, supplier scorecards, savings tracking, make vs buy or insource vs outsource decision models)

•             Ability to travel to supplier locations on an as-needed basis to identify plans to resolve risks/opportunities related to delivery and quality performance

•             Ensuring supplier reviews and communication cadence is maintained - Weekly/Monthly performance communications + Quarterly Business Reviews

•             Owns robust assessment of supplier capabilities and identifies potential new supplier partners

•             Operationalizes supplier contracted obligations/service levels into measurable business expectations, provides candid and frequent feedback on their performance, moves fast on continuous improvement and development of new capabilities per business needs

Qualifications:

•             Requires advanced business knowledge, general management and leadership capability to lead business area and direct reporting teams

•             Experience working in a highly regulated environment with multiple stakeholders

•             Bachelor's Degree with a minimum of 10 years of prior related experience

•             Graduate Degree with a minimum of 8 years of prior related experience

•             In lieu of a degree, minimum of 16 years of prior related experience

•             Understanding of global economics and ability to use market data/analytics to predict trends

•             Demonstrated negotiation skills and demonstrated cost out accomplishments

•             Strong business acumen and ability to build strong business case to support sourcing decisions

•             Strong interpersonal and planning skills to lead change through influencing abilities

•             Strong communication and collaboration skills with the ability to present and discuss strategy and analysis

Preferred Qualifications:

•             Experience working within aerospace, commercial and/or military defense industry is highly preferred

•             Experience with software licenses, contract labor and engineering services is a plus