New 
Category Manager-Plastics
 QPS Employment Group | |
125,000
| |
 United States, Colorado, Lakewood | |
 Mar 05, 2026 | |
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Position Title: Category Manager - Plastics
Wage: $125,000 - $160,000/year Accelerate Professional Talent Solutions has a great opportunity available for a Category Manager at a company in Lakewood, CO. This is a direct hire position. Apply today! As a Category Manager, you will play a pivotal role in leading the strategic development and management of critical supply categories, with a focus on plastics. You will collaborate with cross-functional teams to drive cost savings, enhance supplier performance, and implement innovative sourcing strategies that support a global manufacturing network. Your expertise in supplier negotiations, market trend analysis, and category management will be instrumental in delivering measurable results and fostering strong partnerships. If you thrive in a dynamic, fast-paced environment focused on continuous improvement, this is the perfect opportunity for you! Category Manager Responsibilities: - Develop and execute long-term category strategies for highly critical and visible direct materials supporting our global manufacturing network - Prepare RFx, analyze proposals and lead cross-functional supplier selections based on total value proposition - Plan and execute supplier negotiations around pricing, capacity, business and legal terms - Cultivate expert-level knowledge of category trends including cost drivers, global pricing, supply and demand material lead times, technical/manufacturing processes, and supplier market dynamics, and category specific market intelligence - Drive alternate sourcing, supplier consolidation and localization to maximize pricing leverage and cycle time improvements - Drive and manage enhanced margin through improved material cost savings - Drive commodity/category performance improvement to stated goals: Lead time improvements, Minimum Order Quantity improvements, Localization or Vendor Managed Inventory opportunities, Payment Terms, Incoming Quality, decrease inventory levels and increase inventory turns, and continuous supplies - Prepare Business Cases, including ROI models, and effectively present Cost Savings proposals to appropriate parties for approval and qualification - Negotiate business T & C's relating to: payment terms, delivery terms, inventory strategies (VMI, safety stock, and inventory liability), lead times, price reduction and other strategic issues with key suppliers - Lead in the development and execution of global or regional negotiation strategies with suppliers, including specific targets for pricing, service, quality, and inventory - Collaborate closely with customer-facing teams, operation teams, and R&D / Quality Engineering teams to ensure that the supplier strategy is in line with product and customer needs Qualifications for Category Manager: - Bachelor's degree in business, supply chain or operations field - Master's degree in Business Administration (MBA) or Engineering or technical discipline preferred - At least six years of experience in similar role or related experience at a global manufacturing company - Experience in Medical Device industry preferred - Experience in managing and optimizing supply chains in a manufacturing environment - Experience with ERP (SAP preferred) and Power BI - Supplier relationship management & contract negotiation - Executive-level communication and stakeholder management in a global company - Excellent verbal and written communication, analytical, leadership, problem-solving and organizational skills - Demonstrated ability to consistently work through multiple issues by capitalizing on available resources and prioritizing accordingly - Demonstrated use of comprehensive analytical skills to determine alternatives and present recommendations - Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and ability to thrive in a continuous improvement environment - Knowledge and use of relevant PC software applications and skills to use them effectively - Proficiency in Microsoft Office is required, with at least intermediate expertise in Excel (including advanced formulas, conditional formatting, pivot tables, charts and graphs, and data analysis), PowerPoint (such as creating charts/graphs from Excel data and converting text into SmartArt), and MS Outlook IND345 | |