Strategic Sourcing & Category Manager
M Force Partners is seeking a Strategic Sourcing & Category Manager to lead category strategy, supplier performance, and cost optimization initiatives within a complex, direct-spend manufacturing environment. This role is responsible for developing long-term sourcing strategies, managing supplier relationships, and driving year-over-year cost improvements while ensuring continuity of supply.
The ideal candidate is a strategic, data-driven leader with deep experience in direct materials sourcing, supplier negotiations, and cross-functional collaboration across operations, finance, and project teams.
Key Responsibilities
- Develop and execute category strategies and multi-year sourcing roadmaps for assigned direct-spend categories
- Analyze total spend, pricing structures, and commercial terms to identify cost and value opportunities
- Identify, qualify, and onboard new suppliers to strengthen supply resilience and competitiveness
- Lead RFQs, RFPs, and supplier negotiations to support optimal supplier selection
- Lead Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) activities, including performance reviews and corrective action plans
- Conduct Quarterly Business Reviews (QBRs) with key suppliers to evaluate performance, align priorities, and drive improvement
- Monitor supplier performance metrics and implement corrective actions where required
- Partner with suppliers to maintain demand-supply alignment in dynamic environments
- Drive purchase price variance (PPV) containment and avoidance initiatives
- Build and manage a sustainable pipeline of cost savings through should-costing, process improvement, and innovation
- Partner with Finance to validate savings calculations and track execution of cost initiatives
- Ensure procurement savings are calculated and reported in accordance with internal guidelines
- Collaborate with Field Operations, Finance, Project Management, Engineering, and Supply Chain teams
- Advocate for procurement strategies that support broader business objectives
- Communicate complex sourcing strategies and performance data to senior leadership
- Leverage ERP, spend analytics, eSourcing, and contract management systems to support sourcing decisions
- Develop dashboards and KPIs to monitor supplier performance and sourcing effectiveness
- Support the development and execution of strategic agreements (NDA, JDA, MSA) in partnership with legal teams
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Supply Chain Management, or Business Administration
- 10+ years of experience in strategic sourcing, procurement, or category management within construction, manufacturing, or industrial environments
- Strong background in direct spend sourcing and supplier negotiations
- Demonstrated expertise in total cost of ownership (TCO) analysis
- Experience working with ERP systems, spend analytics tools, eSourcing platforms, and contract management systems
- Strong business acumen with the ability to influence across a matrixed organization
- Excellent written, verbal, and executive-level communication skills
- Willingness to travel 10% or more as business needs require
Preferred Qualifications
- Master's degree or MBA
- Certifications such as CPM, CPSM, Six Sigma Green/Black Belt, or PMP
- Experience in OEM, elevator, aerospace, oil & gas, or similar industries
- Familiarity with SAP, Oracle, Ariba, or comparable P2P platforms
- Experience supporting global or multi-region sourcing initiatives
Key Skills & Attributes
- Strategic, agile thinker with a results-driven mindset
- High integrity, accountability, and sense of urgency
- Comfortable navigating ambiguity and changing priorities
- Strong analytical capability with the ability to translate data into actionable insights
- Collaborative leader who builds trust with internal and external partners
