Category Manager - Chemicals, Gases, Energy & Utilities

Primary Duties & Responsibilities

• Develop and execute multi-year category strategies for Chemicals & Gases and Energy & Utilities.
• Lead strategic sourcing, supplier negotiations, competitive bidding, pricing initiatives, and contract renewals.
• Develop and maintain preferred supplier and long-term agreement strategies.
• Manage strategic supplier relationships and lead supplier performance, governance, and escalation activities.
• Identify, negotiate, validate, and track savings, cost avoidance, and working capital opportunities.
• Ensure negotiated savings are translated into executed PO pricing and appropriately reflected through established Procurement and Finance reporting processes.
• Partner with Finance and Data Analytics to maintain accurate savings methodologies, forecasts, dashboards, and performance reporting.
• Develop annual savings opportunity pipelines and category forecasts.
• Support tax exemption, tariff optimization, utility, and other energy cost-reduction initiatives.
• Support renewable energy programs and sustainability initiatives, including supplier engagement, site coordination, and emissions-related requirements.
• Coordinate with site managers, GMs, Operations, Finance, Sustainability, and other stakeholders on sourcing and implementation activities.
• Provide commercial leadership for strategic and higher-risk programs, representing site and business requirements during supplier negotiations.
• Maintain contract visibility, renewal planning, compliance, and lifecycle governance.
• Identify opportunities to consolidate fragmented supplier relationships into structured LTAs, preferred supplier agreements, and enterprise-level relationships.
• Monitor supplier and program KPIs and drive corrective actions where performance does not meet expectations.
• Standardize commercial terms, including payment terms, and identify opportunities to improve working capital.
• Provide category forecasts, total-cost guidance, market intelligence, and commercial recommendations to stakeholders.
• Support Power BI, ASL, and other procurement reporting and preferred-supplier governance processes.

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in business, engineering, finance, Procurement or a related field required
• 5+ years Procurement experience

Skills

• Strong business acumen including structured problem solving, analytical skills, data analysis and solid understanding of strategic sourcing and contract management concepts required
• Strong history of thinking systemically, challenging the status quo and building value-based relationships required
• Ability to create, communicate and execute a strategic roadmap and influence collaboration and coordination
• Ability to multi-task and drive closure of open issues/concerns
• Creative and innovative problem solver with significant project management experience
• Strong experience in procurement processes and system integration projects
• Contract negotiation and management experience and skills
• Ability to work collaboratively, prioritize and meet deadlines under pressure
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills along with strong interpersonal skills

Working Conditions

• In office
• Desk work
• Could be located at any US Coherent site

Safety Requirements

All employees are required to follow the site EHS procedures and Coherent Corp. Corporate EHS standards.

Quality and Environmental Responsibilities

Depending on location, this position may be responsible for the execution and maintenance of the ISO 9000, 9001, 14001 and/or other applicable standards that may apply to the relevant roles and responsibilities within the Quality Management System and Environmental Management System.

Culture Commitment

Ensure adherence to company’s values (ICARE) in all aspects of your position at Coherent Corp.:

Integrity – Create an Environment of Trust

Collaboration – Innovate Through the Sharing of Ideas

Accountability – Own the Process and the Outcome

Respect – Recognize the Value in Everyone

Enthusiasm – Find a Sense of Purpose in Work

Coherent Corp. is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected Veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.