Global Category Lead I

Job Purpose

The global category lead is responsible for developing and managing the strategies for their assigned subcategories. 

Through impactful cost management, innovative business solutions, and improved process efficiency, this role will enable the business to achieve outstanding operational and financial results.

This role will be responsible for collaborating both regionally and globally to develop and implement subcategory strategies requiring strong project management skills and the ability to influence others to effectively drive change in the company. Also responsible for contract negotiations and management, supplier relationship management, stakeholder engagement, management of category procurement activities, and building global leverage with strategic suppliers.

In this role, the category lead will be responsible for logistics & equipment categories. The role will directly support the Logistics team as the primary stakeholder, with a focus on sourcing strategy development, global contract renegotiations, and supplier performance and relationship management.

The role will also be responsible for the installed equipment base (equipment supporting operations) globally at all TechnipFMC sites. The global category lead will provide strategic direction to the regional category leads for installed equipment. This individual will also support manufacturing automation and standardization initiatives under the guidance of the Global Category Manager for Equipment. A key objective for this role is to build and operate a global network with the regional category leads for equipment where strategies will be developed collaboratively across the regions with a focus on global strategy alignment. Another key success factor is to build a deep understanding of the category with the aim to improve our forecasting and planning process alongside the business for critical equipment for manufacturing operations.  

Position Duties

Category Lead Activities  

• Strategy Development: develops and implements sourcing strategies for specific subcategories. This includes identifying cost-saving opportunities, improving efficiency, and managing risks as well as designing and executing large scale tenders to maximize spend leverage at the appropriate level (regionally / globally)
• Supplier Relationship Management: owns the supplier relationship and will be responsible for the governance and action plans required to effectively manage those relationships, negotiate contracts, and ensure suppliers meet their contractual obligations. The category lead will also identify and assess potential new suppliers.
• Market Analysis: conducts market research to understand trends, identify potential new suppliers, and assess risks and opportunities in the supply market.
• Cost Management: works to reduce costs and improve efficiencies. This can involve negotiating better prices, finding more efficient suppliers, or implementing new programs or processes to reduce or eliminate operational wastes.
• Stakeholder management: partners with stakeholders to integrate sourcing and procurement earlier into the source to pay process and align category strategies with business needs to ensure category strategy compliance.
• Training and development: acts as a mentor, coach and leader within the team
• A member of the “help chain”: handles and resolves conflicts which may arise with stakeholders and suppliers to maintain the strategy, stakeholder and supplier relationships while preventing business disruptions.
• Champions safety, quality, delivery and cost with suppliers to ensure requirements are met consistently

Position Requirements

• At least 5-8 years of experience required in sourcing and procurement.
• Self-directed, able to prioritize/manage a high level of issues and tasks, and work in a team-oriented environment.
• Very strong interpersonal skills. The ability to quickly build credibility with stakeholders, influence change, and to “open doors” are essential for success.
• Supplier contracting experience. Knowledge of key sections, common red line areas and reasonable fallback positions.
• Basic understanding of the financial cost structure associated with a supply chain.
• Excellent written and verbal communications skills.
• High level of attention to detail.
• Microsoft Suite proficiency: Outlook, Excel, Power BI, SharePoint, To Do, One Drive

Preferred Requirements

• At least 2 years of Indirect procurement experience in Logistics or Manufacturing/Operational Equipment sourcing.
• BA or BS in Business Administration, Supply Chain Management or other related degree.
• ISM or APICS certification
• A proven track record of bringing transformational change to a portfolio of indirect spend, thus expanding Procurement’s impact on control, compliance, and cost reduction.
• Experience with supplier relationship management process