Category Manager - Upfit

Job Description
Develop and execute global sourcing strategies for Direct Material (Truck Upfit Equipment and/or assigned items), leveraging synergies across the enterprise and driving a “One Supply Chain” philosophy. Plan and implement activities for timely, cost-effective procurement, quality products, planning and on-time delivery of assigned category products. Prioritize and maintain balance between cost of acquisition and cost of possession to maximize return on investment including methodologies to maximize working capital.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
Strategic Supplier Management
Develop strategic initiatives in assigned commodities to facilitate cross-business synergies utilizing both domestic and offshore supply base.
Lead supplier sourcing, evaluation and selection, negotiation, performance monitoring, relationship management, and continuous improvement.
Work closely with BU Purchasing leads, Finance, Engineering, and Sales &
Marketing to develop and maintain technology and/or category strategies.
Develop and maintaining strong global supplier relationships, including supplier site visits and relationships at all levels of their organization.
Track and report on supplier strategies, monitoring spend, business allocation, capability gap analysis and facilitate cross-functional review and evaluation.
Develop strategies for the mitigation of risk in the supply chain, overall and for specific new product programs.
Provide benchmarking studies, market analysis, and implement best practices across the enterprise.
Negotiate buys &
long-term agreements for components and raw material.
Organize and lead regular strategic supplier business reviews.
Process Responsibilities
Facilitate the support of category analysis (internal and external) in support of the Strategic Sourcing processes.
Manage sourcing and negotiations, implementation of agreements and integration of key suppliers, performance monitoring, ongoing supplier and contract management for assigned commodities.
Assist in the development and enhancement of processes;
systems and reporting capabilities to drive efficiencies in providing regional procurement services.
Help improve processes and leverage technology to reduce costs, identify and implement best practices, and measure performance.
Provide direction and prioritization to re-engineering team efforts.
Identify appropriate competitive benchmarks and implements approved process changes necessary to achieve first quintile performance in benchmark group.
Drive Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) reduction efforts and initiatives to achieve the benefits.
Assist in the improvement of systems and work processes.
Supplier Continuous Improvement
Generate and present supplier performance metrics to suppliers and manage associated corrective action and continuous improvement initiatives, such as VA-VE and lead time reduction programs.
Perform and/or evaluate root cause problem resolution for all supplier related issues and ensure the integrity of corrective actions.
Organize and execute regular supplier site evaluations and audits.