Category Manager - Services/Indirect Spend

The Category Manager is responsible for purchasing contract & supplier management strategies / execution for an estimated $20 to $40 million dollars of goods or services and 20 to 50 contracts in Indirect Spend Categories.  Panduit (www.panduit.com) is a $750 million world-class developer and provider of innovative electrical and networking solutions and services.  We are an industry leader that has experienced double-digit growth for each of the last five years.  Panduit has achieved these results through a commitment to organic growth, investment in R&D and our people.  Panduit’s vision for the future includes the construction of a new environmentally friendly, state-of-the-art world headquarters four miles from our current location in Tinley Park, IL a suburb of Chicago, to be opened in 2009.Responsibilities: Acquires a deep understanding of the supply markets that provide indirect products or services.  Assesses the supply market and our current state to determine category policies and strategies.  Creation and documentation of impactful category strategies.  Develops and implements tactical plans to achieve optimal supply chain value and results. Internal collaboration with functional and divisional leaders to ensure category strategies meet the business goals and objectives.  Identifies and aggregates technical, commercial and demand requirements for contract negotiation.  Negotiates the best corporate contracts considering all technical and commercial requirements. Execution and management of a best in class category process, in which supplier service, cost, quality and delivery is measured.  Drives suppliers to continuously improve these attributes.  Manages the supplier conformance to the contract and to the expectations of performance to quality, delivery, quantity, service and cost reduction expectations. Manages a focused, collaborative results-driven support team Manages critical category issues and direction  Requirements: BA/BS degree required, MBA preferred.  CPM preferred. 12 years of progressive procurement experience. Includes two years of detailed category management responsibilities. Significant experience with the full spectrum of procurement functions.  Monitors company’s experience with procurement; implements improvements.  Familiar with industry benchmarks for cost of raw goods, services and capital assets as needed. Experience in architecting a global procurement strategy and processes.  Can articulate procurement’s contribution to the bottom line.  Experience with evaluation, selection and monitoring of a variety of preferred vendors.  Conducted evaluations for global suppliers.  Played a leading role in defining company’s evaluation and selection process and criteria.  Recognizes effective and ineffective processes and lessons learned.  Knowledge in enterprise-wide considerations for selection, licensing and costs. Significant experience with managing enterprise-level contract functions.  Plays a leadership role in defining the processes and tools for contract administration.  Participates in the design of contracts for global vendors. Plays an active role in defining the terms and conditions of contracts with vendors.  Has solid understanding of company and market experience with specific services and vendors. Able to effectively interact with legal before, during, and after contract execution.  Reviews and insures compliance with relevant company policies.  Stays informed on legal changes and industry trends that might affect contract design. Experience with the management of the following categories:  Professional Services, Consulting, Travel, Insurance, P-Card, MRO, Energy, Capital Equipment, Global Fleet or Telecommunications Services.  About Panduit / Benefits:Established in 1955, Panduit has engineered and manufactured leading-edge solutions and products, becoming an industry leader with sales over $750 million, 4000 employees, 12 manufacturing plants and more than 3 million square feet of facilities.  We offer an attractive compensation and benefits package including medical, dental, life insurance, 401k, profit sharing, tuition reimbursement, wellness program, smoke-free work environment and more.Key words: category manager, purchasing, procurement, CPM  See Job Description