Category Manager

Job Summary:

The Category Manager is responsible for developing and executing category strategies for all facility management services, real estate and construction spend (and related goods/solutions if applicable) at Boyd Group, including all commercial activities and supplier negotiations related to our integrated facility management solution, Vixxo (fka Cushman & Wakefield). This role involves effective internal stakeholder collaboration with the various cross-functional teams, our construction and acquisition teams, as well as external supplier management, contract negotiations, and market intelligence to ensure cost efficiency, quality, and innovation across the facility services and construction value chain. This role will also be responsible for adjacent spend categories including utilities, and equipment maintenance as managed through our IFM partner.

Key Job Responsibilities 

• Category Strategy Development: Create and implement forward-looking Procurement & Sourcing strategies for facility management services, real estate and construction products and services, incorporating market trends, technological innovations, and supplier capabilities to drive cost and process improvements. 
• Supplier Relationship Management: Build and maintain strong relationships with facility management services, real estate, and construction service providers. Lead supplier selection, performance evaluations, and continuous improvement initiatives to ensure best-in-class offerings for the usage of Boyd corporate and operations/shop teams.
• Contract Negotiation & Management: Negotiate strategic contracts, pricing, and terms with facility management services, real estate and construction vendors to achieve cost savings and value-added services while ensuring compliance with corporate policies. This also includes partnering with Boyd Indirect Procurement regional analyst teams to support targeted vendor opportunities.
• Market Analysis and Benchmarking: Conduct thorough, regular market research and analysis, benchmarking supplier offerings, pricing trends, and technology advancements to inform strategic decisions and risk mitigation.
• Drive Process Improvement: Lead initiatives to streamline procurement processes, leveraging digital tools and analytics to enhance efficiency and transparency. Specifically, manage the enterprise trade partnership with our IFM solution partner, Vixxo to simplify the work order to payment process for our shops to procure facility and equipment maintenance and repair service solution providers.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with internal Facility Management, Construction, Acquisition IT, Risk, Finance, Legal, and Operational teams to align category management strategies with broader business objectives and ensure seamless procurement processes
• Performance Reporting: Develop dashboards and reporting mechanisms to track savings, supplier performance, and category KPIs. Present insights and strategic recommendations to senior leadership.

Education and/or Experience Required (including certifications)

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Business, Supply Chain Management, or a related field

• 5+ years of procurement experience with a focus on facility management services, real estate and construction categories, preferably in a complex, multi-site organization.

• Demonstrated success in strategic sourcing, supplier negotiation, and Professional Services category management.

• Knowledge of Procurement tools and technology (preferably Vixxo) and ability to operationalize outcomes of Procurement activities via buy channel enablement and compliance management.

Required Skills/Abilities 

• Strategic Sourcing & Negotiation: Strong ability to design facility management services, real estate and construction sourcing strategies and negotiate complex contracts while balancing cost, quality, and risk.
• Market & Financial Acumen: Proficient in market analysis, cost modeling, and benchmarking to drive competitive sourcing decisions.
• Relationship Management: Excellent interpersonal and communication skills to build rapport and influence with internal stakeholders, facility management services, real estate and construction, and manage external vendor relationships effectively.
• Data Analysis & Reporting: Skilled in leveraging procurement analytics and digital tools to provide actionable insights. Familiarity with Domo, MS Excel, Power BI, or similar platforms for data visualization.
• Project Management: Proven project management skills, with the ability to lead cross-functional initiatives and drive change in a dynamic, results-focused environment.
• Technical Acumen: Understanding of solutions, services, and trends that affect procurement decisions and supplier performance, with a focus on bringing new ideas to Boyd stakeholders for consideration based on cost and process optimization opportunities. 

Other Requirements (i.e., physical requirements, travel, etc. that is not covered above).

• Travel & Location: Boyd has corporate offices in Chicago, IL and Winnipeg, Canada. Preference is to be located in one of those areas, however, work from home is acceptable. Occasional travel may be required to visit supplier sites, attend industry events, or participate in meetings at Boyd Group’s corporate offices.
• Tools & Technology: Proficient in using procurement software (e.g. Workday), IFM Systems systems (e.g. Vixxo), data management and visualization software (e.g. Domo or Power BI), and other digital tools such as Google Suite to manage internal processes and supplier relationships.
• Oversight: Capable of working independently and with minimum supervision