Procurement Career Paths

Job Title: Category Sourcing Manager

Location: [Insert location]

Reports to: [Insert name and title of supervisor]

A category sourcing manager is responsible for contractual knowledge and guidance in sourcing processes, especially within a specific category or categories.

Key Responsibilities: 

• Manage the company’s supply portfolio while ensuring transparency in spend.
• Create and execute efficient sourcing and category management strategies and initiatives.
• Analysis and calculation of procurement costs and discovering ways to be cost-efficient.
• Develop negotiation strategies and secure cost-effective deals.
• Find ways to optimize processes and procedures to become more efficient.
• Cooperate and collaborate with stakeholders to agree on terms and processes.
• Research and forecast shifts in supplier negotiation positions and power.
• Perform cost analysis, scenario analysis, and benchmarking.
• Discover trustworthy suppliers and develop partnerships with them.
• Discover and partner with trustworthy vendors and suppliers.

KPIs for this role

• Cost Savings: Cost savings that are achieved through sourcing initiatives.
• Supplier Performance: Supplier performance quality based on contract requirements.
• Contract Compliance: The supplier’s compliance with contract terms and conditions.
• Sourcing Cycle Time: Average time taken to complete the sourcing process.
• Supplier Diversity: The percentage of spend with diverse suppliers.
• Spend Under Management: Percentage of spend managed through strategic sourcing processes and initiatives.
• Supplier Risk Management: Monitor and mitigate risks in supplier relationships and contracts.
• Category Spend Analysis: Analyze spend data and identify opportunities for cost reduction.
• Stakeholder Satisfaction: Satisfaction levels of internal stakeholders concerning category sourcing processes.
• Supplier Relationship Management: Effectiveness of supplier relationship management efforts in maintaining a positive relationship with suppliers.

Key Skills and Qualifications: 

• Bachelor’s Degree in supply chain management, logistics, business administration, or a related field.
• Work experience as a Sourcing Manager, Procurement Manager, or similar for at least 5-7 years.
• Familiarity and willingness to learn sourcing and vendor management or other relevant software.
• Understanding of market dynamics and sound business judgment.
• Strong project management and leadership skills.
• Ability to negotiate with suppliers and also sustain positive networking relationships.
• Excellent skills in collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data.

• Manage the company’s supply portfolio while ensuring transparency in spend.
• Create and execute efficient sourcing and category management strategies and initiatives.
• Analysis and calculation of procurement costs and discovering ways to be cost-efficient.
• Develop negotiation strategies and secure cost-effective deals.
• Find ways to optimize processes and procedures to become more efficient.
• Cooperate and collaborate with stakeholders to agree on terms and processes.
• Research and forecast shifts in supplier negotiation positions and power.
• Perform cost analysis, scenario analysis, and benchmarking.
• Discover trustworthy suppliers and develop partnerships with them.
• Discover and partner with trustworthy vendors and suppliers.

• Procurement Systems Knowledge: Understanding of procurement systems, their functions, their processes, and many more.
• Strategic Sourcing: Ability to create, develop, and implement strategic sourcing strategies and processes.
• Vendor Management: Management of vendor relationships and contracts.
• Negotiation Skills: Strong negotiation skills to secure advantageous terms while being cost-efficient.
• Project Management: Ability to manage multiple projects and initiatives and complete them promptly according to importance and urgency.
• Analytical Skills: Proficiency in analyzing data and market trends for making informed and data-driven decisions.
• Communication Skills: Effective written and verbal communication skills.
• Leadership Skills: Leading and motivating a team to achieve company goals.
• Financial Acumen: Understanding of financial principles and tracking savings and costs.
• Contract Management: Drafting and managing contracts to mitigate risks and ensure and advantageous position for the company.

• Cost Savings: Cost savings that are achieved through sourcing initiatives.
• Supplier Performance: Supplier performance quality based on contract requirements.
• Contract Compliance: The supplier’s compliance with contract terms and conditions.
• Sourcing Cycle Time: Average time taken to complete the sourcing process.
• Supplier Diversity: The percentage of spend with diverse suppliers.
• Spend Under Management: Percentage of spend managed through strategic sourcing processes and initiatives.
• Supplier Risk Management: Monitor and mitigate risks in supplier relationships and contracts.
• Category Spend Analysis: Analyze spend data and identify opportunities for cost reduction.
• Stakeholder Satisfaction: Satisfaction levels of internal stakeholders concerning category sourcing processes.
• Supplier Relationship Management: Effectiveness of supplier relationship management efforts in maintaining a positive relationship with suppliers.