Procurement Category Management Manager

This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, who manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for a Procurement Category Management Manager based in the United States. This remote leadership role offers the opportunity to shape sourcing strategies across a diverse, high-value procurement portfolio. You will oversee approximately $180 million in spend, influencing supplier strategy, commercial outcomes, innovation, and risk management. The position combines strategic procurement leadership with hands-on category management and cross-functional collaboration. You will work closely with manufacturing, commercial, finance, technology, and R&D stakeholders to deliver sustainable business value. The role also provides an opportunity to advance responsible sourcing, digital procurement, automation, and AI-enabled processes. Success requires strong business judgment, analytical thinking, influence, and the ability to navigate complexity in a fast-changing environment. This is a high-impact opportunity for an experienced procurement professional seeking broad scope, autonomy, and meaningful professional growth. Develop and execute long-term category sourcing strategies that optimize supplier selection, pricing, commercial agreements, sourcing flexibility, and supply continuity while reducing financial and operational risk. Manage a diverse procurement portfolio representing approximately $180 million in spend, identifying opportunities for value creation, cost optimization, innovation, and sustainable growth. Build and manage a continuous-improvement pipeline designed to deliver year-over-year productivity and savings, working closely with Finance to track and validate results. Lead supplier performance management, including regular business reviews, performance assessments, and improvement plans in collaboration with relevant functional stakeholders. Develop sustainable sourcing initiatives, including greenhouse-gas reduction, improved upstream traceability, and other responsible procurement practices. Partner with internal teams and suppliers to support new product, ingredient, technology, and innovation launches. Leverage supplier relationships to identify and secure innovative materials, ingredients, technologies, and commercial solutions. Support tail-spend and procurement transformation initiatives using digital, automated, and AI-enabled platforms. Manage budgets and monthly price forecasting through cost modeling, market intelligence, procurement tools, and financial analysis. Lead cross-functional teams in resolving complex procurement and supply challenges while driving alignment across a matrixed organization. Identify opportunities to improve processes, challenge existing ways of working, and act as a catalyst for transformation and continuous improvement. Requirements: Bachelor’s degree strongly preferred; an equivalent combination of education and relevant professional experience may be considered. An MBA is desirable but not required. 7+ years of experience in procurement, category management, strategic sourcing, or a related function. Strong category management experience with direct raw materials, ideally within food, pharmaceutical, chemical, nutraceutical, consumer health, or a similarly complex industry. Demonstrated ability to develop and execute strategic sourcing initiatives and deliver measurable commercial and operational results. Experience collaborating with manufacturing, commercial, corporate, finance, technology, and R&D stakeholders, with the ability to influence effectively at multiple organizational levels. Strong strategic mindset, business acumen, and agility, with the ability to operate effectively in ambiguous, fast-changing environments. Familiarity with AI-based procurement platforms, digital tools, and technology-enabled process improvement. Proven leadership capabilities, including relationship building, emotional intelligence, trust-building, and the ability to ins