Category Manager

We are currently searching for a Category Manager, Procurement - Sales & Marketing. This role leads sourcing strategies to supply primarily services to open, operate, and maintain Lucid Marketing teams globally. We’re looking for talent to drive, identify, develop, manage, and improve various programs while identifying additional managed spending opportunities.

This role will closely interact with various internal business partners, including, but not limited to, Marketing, Finance, Legal, Logistics, and Accounts Payable, to name a few. This role will partner with contractors, manufacturers, vendors, materials, service, and equipment providers. They will help maintain and improve our Indirect Procurement Category Strategy, which manages day-to-day contracting, supplier management, and supports the cross-functional team's execution.

You Will:

• Collaborate with both project and operations teams to build positive partnerships and identify potential suppliers with the right qualifications to meet Lucid’s expectations and timeline.
• Review bid packages, quotes, and scope documentation for accuracy, validity, and potential risk assessment.
• Conduct in-depth financial and spending analyses to find trends and discrepancies.
• Conduct market and supplier analysis to identify market trends for opportunities to reduce costs.
• Create RFQs and RFPs, review, analyze, and clarify quotations from vendors, and develop sound sourcing and business recommendations, balancing cost, quality, lead time, and technical considerations.
• Lead strategic sourcing activities and serve as a procurement guide on projects and initiatives.
• Manage the entire RFP process for projects you lead- from conducting initial due diligence to finalizing contract negotiations (including determining the award scenario based on identifying the best supplier to provide quality product, service, capability/capacity, and price)
• Organize, produce, and present RFP findings to management.
• Assist in developing a project implementation plan to ensure successful program rollout and proper compliance. Monitor projects throughout the lifecycle of the contract. Conduct quarterly business reviews.
• Manage overall vendor relationships and act as the single point of contact for all commercial issues that you manage.
• Manage vendor and contractor development and project timelines, and develop solutions to delays or problems that arise.
• Assist stakeholders in managing blanket purchase orders.
• Reconcile vendor’s outstanding invoices by working with vendor AR teams and the Lucid AP team
• Help mentor and guide junior members of the team.
• Own key supplier relationships and performance, both strategic and tactical, through the entire life cycle of company projects. Travel 15-25% to visit suppliers to perform business and program reviews.
• Perform other job-related duties as requested.

You Bring:

• Bachelor’s degree in supply chain or related field
• 5+ years of indirect procurement experience at the mid-advanced level. Relevant years of work experience in procurement or supply chain discipline may be considered in lieu of a bachelor’s degree.
• Strong negotiation skills and strategic business experience.
• 5+ Years of experience conducting full life cycle-bid processes (RFI, RFP, and informal bids), negotiating with vendors, writing contracts, and implementing contracts/ agreements, managing product and/or service rollout.
• Commodity management experience.
• Strong organizational skills to function effectively under time constraints, within established deadlines, and high attention to detail.
• Excellent speaking and presentation skills
• Able to create, read, and evaluate reports and generate correspondence and statistical reports.
• Product launch experience, beyond sourcing behind a desk
• You have innovative ideas that you will bring to the table to help optimize cost and schedule.
• Excellent analytical, negotiation, and problem-solving skills. Passionate about results, strategy, and hands-on execution. A creative, calculated risk-taker with the ability to manage supply issues and resolve supplier disputes while preserving relationships with suppliers and internal partners.
• Proficient in Excel, Project, PowerPoint, Word, Smartsheet, ShareFile, and ERP systems (SAP).
• Ability to adapt to constantly evolving circumstances and changing organizational requirements.
• Ability to mitigate unforeseen problems creatively and effectively. Self-starter with the ability to effectively and creatively problem-solve and identify solutions while maintaining a high level of flexibility, professionalism, and integrity.
• Ability to use discretion and maintain confidentiality regarding sensitive information.
• Self-motivated with a high level of initiative and follow-through.
• A commitment to learning and development that encourages personal and professional growth.
• The candidate for this position is required to work in our Corporate office in Phoenix, AZ.