Category Manager – Direct Materials | Strategic Sourcing, SAP, Manufacturing | Denver, CO (Hybrid)

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?

Supply Chain Manager / Purchasing Manager | San Diego, CA

Position: Supply Chain Manager / Purchasing Manager

Location: San Diego, CA (Scheduled work from home days available)

Position Overview

We are looking for an experienced Supply Chain Manager / Purchasing Manager to join our dynamic team. This role involves managing the order-to-delivery supply chain to ensure the availability of necessary commodities to support manufacturing or distribution. You will develop, implement, and manage supply chain strategies, ensuring alignment with business growth and cost reduction targets while delivering continuous supplier performance improvement.

Key Responsibilities

• Ensure supplier value stream performance aligns with company demand.

• Develop and execute supplier sourcing strategies that support business growth and cost reduction.

• Provide internal consultation on the availability of future commodities and the impact on design programs.

• Identify performance gaps within the supply base and develop improvement plans.

• Lead, mentor, and train a high-performing team to drive business results and build a strong global supply chain.

Required Skills and Experience

• Planning: Ability to contribute to operational, tactical, and strategic planning. Develop and communicate tactical plans and ensure alignment with the overall business plan.

• Critical Thinking and Decision-Making: Apply decision-making techniques and analyze situations to reach informed, productive decisions.

• Negotiating: Proven experience negotiating internally and externally, ensuring win-win outcomes.

• Leadership: Ability to motivate and lead a team, utilizing leadership styles and strategies to achieve objectives.

• Contingency and Disaster Recovery Management: Develop and maintain plans to ensure business continuity, working with other teams and customers.

• Contracts Management: Experience in managing contracts and ensuring compliance with organizational protocols and regulations.

• Strategic Sourcing: Ability to improve procurement processes through data analysis and market research.

• Supply Chain Management: Extensive experience in managing and optimizing the entire supply chain process, from planning to execution.

Compensation

• Base Salary: $140,964 to $211,446

• Benefits: Full benefits package

• Relocation Assistance: Not provided

• Security Clearance: Not required

This position offers an exciting opportunity to develop and implement strategic supply chain solutions while leading a dynamic team. If you have extensive experience in supply chain management and are eager to contribute to business success, we encourage you to apply!