Global Category Manager

This is an exciting opportunity to join the Waters Global Sourcing organization!  Reporting to the Director of Global Sourcing, the Global Category Manager will be responsible for establishing and translating into action global procurement strategies for commodity categories and specialized materials in support of a worldwide life sciences manufacturer. 

He/she will work closely with key stakeholders from Waters sites and divisions to develop effective cost reduction strategies and implementation plans, utilizing strategic sourcing best practices to capture real savings while making effective supply base decisions. This will include direct savings captured through consolidating company-wide purchasing volume and applying operational and commercial TCO levers to reduce cost and managing contracts with suppliers. 

The Global Category Manager will be responsible for managing the strategic coordination of sourcing and supplier relationship management, including developing and aligning the organization around commodity strategies, participating in supplier selection activities, and establishing purchase contracts governing assigned commodities.  A primary responsibility of this role concerns working closely with technical subject matter experts in evaluation and selection of suppliers so as to provide Waters with the highest levels of quality at the lowest landed cost while ensuring adequate capacity, on-time delivery, and commitment to continuous improvement. The scope includes supporting current products as well as new product development.

Responsibilities

• Develop effective global commodity strategies for assigned categories. This includes segmenting the commodity into sourceable categories, developing and executing supply base strategies to improve supplier performance (cost, quality, delivery), and ensuring appropriate levels of capacity to support business-unit demand.
• Manage supplier relationships and opportunities for cost-out and product/supplier improvement, while ensuring production, delivery, and capacity requirements for all commodities.
• Develop, champion, and ensure implementation of ideas that will optimize total cost of ownership year-over-year for assigned spend categories according to group guidelines.
• Work closely with Site leaders, RD&E, and Manufacturing and Commercial Technology Managers partners to fulfill supply chain requirements.
• Manage supplier development/relationships to ensure continuity of good and services that meet the quality, service and price performance standards of the company
• Develop negotiations strategies and drive negotiations to achieve stated goals and Objectives
• Drive improvement of procurement efficiency and effectiveness throughout Waters through the establishment of harmonized systems, tools and supply chain processes.
• Remain current with market trends through relationships with suppliers and market experts; identify and communicate new technologies and solutions to key problems in the assigned spend areas
• Maintain a working knowledge of applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations as well as any internal policies (e.g. code of ethics) or procedures to ensure that the behavior exhibited by the organization with the highest level of integrity, honesty, and transparency.
• Lead cross-functional negotiating teams targeting key spend categories.
• Collaborate effectively across different organizational levels, sites, functions, businesses, and geographies to realize procurement goals and objectives.
• Manage corporate risk and apply risk minimizing techniques. ( inclusive of FX management)
• Participate in supplier startup activities (e.g., supplier approval process, specification/print development when necessary, trials, etc.). Coordinate cost-estimating and design parameters for new projects and products.
• Negotiate with external suppliers and internal stakeholders; conduct problem resolution and settle disputes; develop win/win solutions; and promote positive relations.
• Coordinate the exchange of technical information regarding product and product processing with adequate safeguards for confidentiality.
• Evaluate social, economic, and governmental information to determine the risks and opportunities regarding global sourcing (e.g., tariffs, dumping duties, exchange rates, etc.).
• Develop productive relationships with others in Supply Chain Management organization via mentoring, teaching and training.
• Possess analytical and technical skills required to understand business practices and recommend proper automation opportunities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in supply chain management or engineering or a closely related field from an accredited institution; Masters level degree preferred
• Minimum of 7 years of experience in a high tech / fast paced manufacturing-based business
• Familiarity with MRP, ( SAP a plus ), JIT, lean manufacturing, kanban a plus
• Negotiating skills
• Demonstrated understanding of key financial metrics
• Ability to read and interpret blueprints
• Knowledge of and/or experience with manufacturing in a regulated environment
• Strong oral, written and presentation skills
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills

Company Description

Waters Corporation (NYSE: WAT), the world's leading specialty measurement company, has pioneered chromatography, mass spectrometry and thermal analysis innovations serving the life, materials, and food sciences for more than 60 years. With more than 7,000 employees worldwide, Waters operates directly in 35 countries, including 15 manufacturing facilities, with products available in more than 100 countries. Our team focuses on creating business advantages for laboratory-dependent organizations to enable significant advancement in healthcare delivery, environmental management, food safety, and water quality.   

Working at Waters enables our employees to unlock the potential of their careers. Our global team is driven by purpose. We strive to be better, learn and improve every day in everything we do. We're the problem solvers and innovators that aren't afraid to take risks to transform the world of human health and well-being. We're all in it together delivering benefit as one to provide the insights needed today in order to solve the challenges of tomorrow. 

Diversity and inclusion are fundamental to our core values at Waters Corporation. It is our responsibility to actively implement programs and practices to drive inclusive behavior and increase diversity across the organization. We are united by diversity and thrive on it for the benefit of our employees, our products, our customers and our community. Waters is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, gender identity or protected Veteran status. 

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