Category Manager

Get to know the role

• Job Title: Category Manager, Logistics
• Job Summary: This role supports the logistics spend category at The Pokémon Company International (TPCi), including the development of category plans, execution of sourcing strategies, negotiation of contracts, and management of supplier performance. 
• FLSA Classification (US Only): Exempt
• People Manager: No

What you’ll do

• Employ a customer-centric approach to providing internal and external stakeholders (i.e., TPCi process and business stakeholders and third-party suppliers) with excellent category management support.
• Partner and collaborate with Global S2P Services teams (i.e., Procurement Operations, Accounts Payable, and T&E), cross-functional teams (e.g., Legal, Information Security, Finance, etc.), and third-party managed service providers (MSPs) to support stakeholders effectively.

Category Management

• Develop and maintain relationships with functional business stakeholders in respective group of categories.
• Develop category plans for categories in alignment with overall category management objectives.
• Develop the formal category requirements aligned to business priorities and category management objectives.
• Develop category plans based on analysis of spend data, supply market dynamics, category intelligence, and business requirements.
• Develop, measure, maintain, benchmark and track Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for categories.
• Continuously research category management best practices and new trends that could be implemented for TPCi.
• Evaluate and analyze annual spend data, external market data, and other necessary information to support the enhancement and validation of category-specific strategies.
• Collaborate with business stakeholders to develop build influence, evaluate, and change the status quo; identify and obtain buy-in for category strategy and value opportunities.
• Drive value beyond cost (i.e., risk mitigation, operational efficiencies, innovation, etc.).

Strategic Sourcing

• Coordinate and implement strategic sourcing initiatives for assigned categories.
• Execute strategic sourcing projects using best practice sourcing methodology to deliver exceptional total value in partnership with key stakeholders across the business.
• Assess supplier capabilities and identify new suppliers.
• Prepare and present business cases and should-cost models; perform complex data analysis and build financial models (i.e., ROI, NPV, supplier scorecards, savings tracking, make vs. buy decision models).
• Analyze and summarize RFP responses and results and prepare recommendations for business stakeholders.
• Ensure savings are delivered in a timely manner and that TPCi realizes expected benefits.
• Oversee and negotiate business terms within contract agreement forms for respective categories within TPCi Legal’ s established risk framework.
• Coordinate drafting and negotiation of terms and conditions with the Legal department; identify and escalate legal risk to Legal department as needed.

Supplier Performance Management

• Manage supplier performance within the supplier relationship management framework and category strategy.
• Establish and manage the governance processes with suppliers and outsourced partners for categories.
• Implement strategies to best manage the supplier base for categories, reviewing suppliers against contracted obligations/service levels and business expectations.
• Provide feedback on supplier performance, seek continuous improvement, and innovation.
• Execute supplier performance measurement framework and develop stakeholder guidelines in conjunction with category management strategic objectives, leveraging performance management information as appropriate.
• Identify and manage supplier risks and risk response plans.
• Schedule, manage, and facilitate supplier relationship management meetings and reviews.
• Develops implementation and transition plans acting as a change agent.
• Implements and drives procurement strategy, policies, and procedures.
• Enforces compliance to procurement policies and works to increase adoption.

What you’ll bring

• Five (5) to seven (7) years of related professional experience.
• Bachelors degree in a related field or a demonstrated equivalent level of experience.
• Category management subject matter expertise and deep knowledge of source-to-pay (S2P) processes.
• Experience is international logistics and global supply chain operations, including freight forwarding, customs and import/export requirements, warehousing, transportation, and management of third-party logistics (3PL) providers across multiple regions is required.
• Proficiency in spend analysis, market intelligence analysis, financial analysis, demand/supply planning, sourcing strategy development, negotiation, stakeholder management, contracts management, supplier performance management, project management, etc.
• Effective organizational skills and managing multiple and competing priorities and projects effectively.
• Self-motivation and innate sense of agency and autonomy.
• Excellent communication and customer service skills (verbal and written).
• Ability to present at the executive-level and communicate elements of complex deals and make recommendations.
• Ability to travel up 2 times a year domestically and internationally.

Base Salary Range: For this role, new hires generally start between $85,000.00 - $113,000.00 per year. The full range is $85,000.00 - $153,000.00 per year. This range is applicable for the labor market where the role is intended to be hired. The final base salary is directly related to the candidate’s qualifications and professional experience uniquely.

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