Category Lead

Your Job

As a Category Lead at Koch, you will be responsible for developing and executing category management and strategic sourcing strategies across indirect spend categories to create long-term value for the organization. In this role, you will leverage market intelligence, supplier relationships, financial analysis, and procurement expertise to optimize costs, mitigate risks, improve supplier performance, and support business growth objectives. You will collaborate closely with business stakeholders, suppliers, and cross-functional teams to drive innovative sourcing solutions and continuous improvement across the procurement ecosystem.

Our Team

The Procurement & Supply Chain team partners with Koch businesses to deliver strategic sourcing solutions that create value, improve operational efficiency, and support long-term business objectives. We work collaboratively with stakeholders, suppliers, and industry partners to develop innovative procurement strategies, strengthen supplier relationships, and enable sustainable business growth through principled decision-making and continuous improvement.

What You Will Do

Category Strategy & Management

• Develop and execute multi-year category strategies across indirect spend categories such as IT, Professional Services, Facilities, Marketing, HR Services, and other enterprise support functions.
• Apply category management expertise, including Total Cost of Ownership (TCO), should-cost modeling, value chain analysis, and financial assessments to identify and prioritize value creation opportunities.
• Conduct spend analysis, benchmarking, and market assessments to uncover sourcing opportunities, process improvements, and cost optimization initiatives.
• Monitor category performance, supplier spend, and savings targets while ensuring alignment with overall sourcing strategies.
• Adapt category strategies based on changing market conditions, business priorities, and supplier capabilities.

Strategic Sourcing & Negotiation

• Lead end-to-end sourcing initiatives, including supplier identification, competitive tendering, evaluation, and selection processes.
• Develop sourcing strategies that balance business objectives, risk tolerance, and long-term value creation.
• Lead complex negotiations to secure optimal pricing, commercial terms, service levels, and contractual outcomes.
• Establish and manage price-setting mechanisms, benchmark analyses, and cost models aligned with category strategies.
• Drive continuous savings opportunities while maintaining quality, service, and supplier performance expectations.

Supplier Relationship Management

• Build and maintain strategic relationships with key suppliers and business partners.
• Develop supplier performance management frameworks to drive accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement.
• Manage supplier onboarding processes, including due diligence, qualification, risk assessments, and governance requirements.
• Identify, assess, and mitigate supplier-related risks to ensure supply continuity and business resilience.
• Lead supplier development initiatives that support long-term value creation and strategic partnerships.

Contract Management & Governance

• Lead contract development, negotiation, execution, and lifecycle management activities.
• Ensure agreements align with business needs while protecting organizational interests and mitigating risk.
• Oversee contractual compliance, including management of NDAs, DPAs, MSAs, and other commercial agreements.
• Ensure adherence to procurement policies, governance frameworks, ethical standards, and regulatory requirements.
• Monitor contract performance and implement improvements to maximize value realization.

Stakeholder Engagement & Leadership

• Partner with business leaders and stakeholders to understand requirements and align sourcing strategies with business objectives.
• Lead cross-functional category teams and facilitate collaboration across multiple Koch businesses and functions.
• Present sourcing recommendations, category strategies, and market insights to senior leadership and key decision-makers.
• Drive change management initiatives that support procurement transformation and business performance improvements.
• Influence stakeholders through data-driven insights and effective communication.

Procurement Technology & Continuous Improvement

• Leverage procurement platforms and digital technologies to improve sourcing processes and spend visibility.
• Utilize tools such as Ariba, Coupa, or similar procurement solutions to enhance category performance and operational efficiency.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives that streamline procurement processes and improve business outcomes.
• Utilize analytics, reporting, and market intelligence tools to support strategic decision-making.
• Promote innovation and adoption of best practices across procurement and supplier management activities.

Who You Are (Basic Qualifications)

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Finance, Economics, Procurement, or a related field.
• Proven experience in Strategic Sourcing, Category Management, Procurement Consulting, or related procurement functions focused on indirect spend categories.
• 5+ years of experience managing Total Cost of Ownership (TCO), category spend, and/or P&L ownership across multiple spend categories.
• Demonstrated success delivering cost savings, sourcing efficiencies, and transformational procurement initiatives.
• Experience developing and executing category strategies, competitive bidding processes, benchmarking exercises, should-cost analysis, and pricing frameworks.
• Strong understanding of procurement lifecycle processes, including Purchase Requisition (PR) to Purchase Order (PO) workflows.
• Experience managing supplier onboarding, qualification, due diligence, and risk management processes.
• Knowledge of contract management principles and commercial agreements, including NDAs, DPAs, and MSAs.
• Experience using procurement technologies such as Ariba, Coupa, SAP, or similar platforms.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel for spend analysis, financial modeling, and reporting.
• Strong PowerPoint skills with experience developing executive-level presentations and category strategy communications.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to influence stakeholders at all organizational levels.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, navigate ambiguity, and drive results in a dynamic environment.
• Flexibility to support business requirements across multiple shifts, including 9:00 AM–6:00 PM, 12:00 PM–9:00 PM, or other business-required schedules.

What Will Put You Ahead

• Professional certifications such as CPSM, CIPS, CSCP, CPM, or equivalent procurement and supply chain credentials.
• Experience leading complex global sourcing initiatives across multiple geographies and business units.
• Strong expertise in indirect procurement categories such as IT, Professional Services, Facilities, Marketing, and HR Services.
• Experience utilizing advanced analytics, digital procurement tools, and spend intelligence platforms to drive sourcing strategies.
• Knowledge of supplier risk management frameworks and third-party risk assessment methodologies.
• Experience implementing procurement transformation, operating model redesign, or process optimization initiatives.
• Strong financial acumen with experience conducting value chain analysis, should-cost modeling, and business case development.
• Demonstrated ability to build strategic supplier partnerships that drive innovation and business growth.
• Experience working within manufacturing, shared services, global enterprise, or complex business environments.
• Proven ability to influence senior stakeholders and lead cross-functional teams without direct authority.

Who We Are

At Koch, employees are empowered to do what they do best to make life better. Learn how our business philosophy helps employees unleash their potential while creating value for themselves and the company.

Additionally, everyone has individual work and personal needs. We seek to enable the best work environment that helps you and the business work together to produce superior results.

At Koch companies, we are entrepreneurs. This means we openly challenge the status quo, find new ways to create value, and get rewarded for our individual contributions. We strive to create an environment where employees are empowered to realize their full potential while helping the business succeed