Category Manager – Direct Materials
📍 Location: Denver, Colorado (Hybrid – 3 days onsite / 2 days remote)
💼 Employment Type: Full-Time
🎓 Education: Bachelor’s Degree required
📈 Experience Level: Mid-Senior
🕒 Experience Required: 5–7+ years
✈️ Travel: Occasional
🌎 Visa Sponsorship: Not available
🚚 Relocation Assistance: Not available
Role Overview
We are seeking a Category Manager – Direct Materials to lead strategic sourcing initiatives across a multi-site manufacturing environment.
This role is responsible for optimising cost, quality, and supply continuity, while driving supplier performance and supporting innovation through strong cross-functional collaboration with R&D, Product, and Operations teams.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Sourcing & Cost Optimisation
Develop and execute data-driven category strategies for direct/raw materials
Build and maintain should-cost models to support negotiations and pricing decisions
Deliver year-over-year cost savings through:
Strategic negotiations
Competitive sourcing events
Supplier rationalisation
Value engineering initiatives
Track and report performance using KPIs, scorecards, and executive updates
Supplier & Contract Management
Manage supplier relationships to ensure:
Quality performance
Cost competitiveness
Supply reliability
Lead supplier development initiatives to improve capability and alignment
Own contract lifecycle management, including compliance and renewals
Manage $20M+ spend categories
Project & Cross-Functional Leadership
Lead cross-functional teams across:
R&D
Product Management
Operations
Finance
Quality
Support:
New supplier qualification
New product introductions (NPI)
Material evaluation and innovation initiatives
Act as the primary commercial interface across multiple facilities
Risk Management & Supply Continuity
Proactively identify and mitigate supply chain risks
Develop and implement contingency plans
Lead root cause analysis and corrective actions for supply disruptions
Ensure uninterrupted supply of critical materials
Process Improvement
Identify and implement process improvements to increase efficiency
Streamline sourcing and supply chain operations
Drive adoption of best practices across the organisation
Required Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree required
5+ years of experience in supply chain or sourcing, including:
At least 3 years sourcing within a large/complex organisation
Proven experience sourcing direct/raw materials in manufacturing environments
Experience managing $20M+ spend categories
Strong contract negotiation and supplier management experience
Technical Skills
Expertise in should-cost modelling and cost analysis
Strong understanding of commodity/category management principles
Experience with e-sourcing tools
Proficiency with:
SAP or similar ERP systems
Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Outlook
Preferred Qualifications
CPSM (Certified Professional in Supply Management) certification
Experience supporting new product development or R&D initiatives
Background in multi-site manufacturing environments
Key Competencies
Strong analytical and strategic thinking skills
Excellent communication and stakeholder management abilities
Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams
Proactive, collaborative mindset with focus on continuous improvement
Ability to present insights to senior and non-technical stakeholders
Ideal Candidate
The ideal candidate will:
Have direct experience sourcing raw/direct materials within manufacturing
Be comfortable managing large spend categories and complex supplier networks
Demonstrate strong commercial acumen and negotiation capability
Thrive in a cross-functional, fast-paced environment
Have a track record of delivering cost savings and supplier performance improvements
Benefits
Comprehensive benefits package
Health and wellbeing coverage
Paid time off
Additional employee benefits
Screening Question
Do you have experience sourcing raw or direct materials for manufacturing plants?