Category Manager
Nature's Way | |
United States, Wisconsin, Green Bay | |
Jan 23, 2025 | |
- Category Manager -
Located in Green Bay, WI only. Welcome to a better way, an authentic way. Welcome to Nature's Way.
Inside our minds, inside our hearts, inside our business, inside our bottles. Our reason for being, the purpose that inspires our work every day, is quite simple: Help people live healthy lives. When we help people live healthy lives, we build a happier, healthier world for everyone. How we go about our work drives TRUST in who we are, what we do, and the products we produce. That means something important to the world, and it means the world to us. People TRUST Our products to be the gold standard Our words to be true Our claims to be honest, Our actions to have integrity. Together we work with an awareness of how even small actions affect others, an attitude of kindness and concern for each other, and a drive for action that helps people live healthy lives. It's the best way. The right way. The only way. Nature's Way. Be a part of helping people live healthy lives! SUMMARY The Category Manager is responsible for developing category management strategies, that are aligned with Nature's Way's business requirements and objectives, and executing these strategies to support the organization's long-term goals and short-term business plans. The Category Manager works closely with the Strategic Sourcing Manager and the Procurement team. ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. Other duties may be assigned. * Develop & execute category management strategies, based on organizational requirements and current & future market conditions, that provide top-line value, improvements to the total cost of ownership model, lower supply disruption risk, and improved supply chain agility. * Develop market intelligence within assigned categories including supply/demand, cost drivers, material indexes, benchmarks, and mergers & acquisitions in the industry to mitigate supply and cost risk. Identify potential hedging opportunities. * Provide subject matter expertise for the assigned categories through complete understanding of the industry, the competitive landscape, the suppliers, price changes/volatility, emerging markets, and future technologies/innovations. Communicate potential opportunities to the business. * Influence supplier segmentation within categories and develop risk mitigation plans. * Identify and develop strategic partners that will provide Nature's Way with additional resources, innovation, and a competitive edge. * Effectively lead supplier business meetings with strategic partners and preferred suppliers to drive business value. * Develop and manage supplier relationships to deliver reliable product supply and total cost effectiveness while meeting or exceeding all customer service, compliance, product requirements, and key performance metrics. This includes material and process selection for purchases, negotiating supply agreements and establishing supplier performance metrics. * Arrange and conduct regular steering meetings with suppliers and stakeholders. Involve other functional partners to resolve issues and drive continued supplier development. * Manage supplier performance with feedback through monthly scorecards to mitigate risk, support performance improvement, and proactively identify issues. Act as a trusted business advisor by managing and driving resolution of supplier issues and escalating as needed. Be a major contributor to the Supplier Risk Mitigation Program. * Work with Sales, Marketing, Product Development, and QA Teams to support new product development. Own and manage the supplier relationship throughout the project. * Develop sourcing strategies and execute supplier negotiation strategies. * Manage the RFP process. Prepare the request, select participants, review proposals, negotiate contracts and prices with suppliers, and award the business based on Total Cost of Ownership analyses. * Establish close working relationships with other cross functional areas (e. g. Quality, Manufacturing, Regulatory, Inventory, Product Development, Technical Manufacturing, and Marketing) to ensure full understanding and support of strategic sourcing's perspective to key processes. * Present category management strategies to department and senior leadership. Develop and build effective working relationships with them to foster collaboration and trust. SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES This position has no supervisory responsibilities. QUALIFICATIONS To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE Bachelor's Degree in Business, Operations Management or a related field and a minimum of five years of related experience; or equivalent combination of education and experience. OTHER SKILLS * Excellent interpersonal and collaboration skills * Supplier negotiating and contract management skills * Proven ability to lead cross functional teams in the resolution of product supply issues, execution of supply agreements, and delivery of cost improvement projects * Strong analytical, problem solving, and business acumen skills * Strategic thinking skills * Project management skills * Proficient in Microsoft Office applications * ISM (Institute for Supply Management) or ASCM (Association for Supply Chain Management) certification is desired * Experience with cGMP regulations and dietary supplement/pharmaceutical supply chain is preferred PERFORMANCE METRICS * Total Cost of Ownership (TCO): baseline and target * Supplier performance via Supplier Management Program Scorecards * Customer Order Fill Rates * Risk Management * New products launched * Inventory turns LANGUAGE SKILLS Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals. Ability to write routine reports. Ability to speak effectively before employees of organization. Must have excellent organizational, communication/interpersonal skills as well as attention to detail and follow through. MATHEMATICAL SKILLS Ability to add, subtracts, multiply, and divides in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. REASONING ABILITY Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form. Travel Up to 25% Domestic and International travel is required. Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor's legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c) |