GLOBAL CATEGORY MANAGER SKILLS, EXPERIENCE, AND JOB REQUIREMENTS

Published: Apr 22, 2025 – The Global Category Manager has a proven expertise in strategic sourcing, procurement, and category management with a strong foundation in S2P processes and supplier relationship management. This role requires skills in data-driven decision-making using tools such as Excel, Power BI, and procurement platforms like Ariba and Coupa. The manager also demonstrates strategic agility, lean thinking, and the ability to influence cross-functional teams across global operations and complex commodity categories.

Essential Hard and Soft Skills for a Standout Global Category Manager Resume
  • Procurement Management
  • Vendor Management
  • Contract Management
  • Market Research
  • Risk Management
  • Project Management
  • Category Strategy
  • Supplier Management
  • Cost Reduction
  • Sourcing Strategy
  • Negotiation
  • Process Improvement
  • Problem-Solving
  • Cross-functional Collaboration
  • Communication
  • Relationship Building
  • Stakeholder Management
  • Change Management
  • Mentorship
  • Team Leadership

Summary of Global Category Manager Knowledge and Qualifications on Resume

1. BA in Finance with 3 years of Experience

  • Experience in a large manufacturing or multi-industry global organization
  • Experience in a strategic sourcing role with strong negotiation skills
  • Capability to collaborate with senior leadership across regions, both internally and externally
  • In-depth understanding of purchasing tools and practices with strong MS Office skills
  • Strong costing and analytical skills
  • Solid understanding of SAP or other equivalent ERP systems
  • Travel up to 30%, global and domestic
  • Strong skills in emotional intelligence and communication with impact
  • Handle ambiguity well, can make decisions without all the data, can shift gears comfortably, and can optimally cope with change
  • Believe that the best work is done in teams, be seen as a cooperative peer, candid yet fair.
  • Can handle multiple priorities simultaneously because of excellent planning, organization, and time management skills.
  • Interpersonally curious, understanding that internal and external teamwork fuels improvement and best practice

2. BA in Economics with 7 years of Experience

  • Manufacturing, distribution, or supply management experience within the Food and Beverage industry
  • Proven experience and background in categories under responsibility.
  • Experience in leading sourcing projects, including RFI, RFP, RFQ, and contract development.
  • Negotiation, Benchmarking, Market Analysis, and Competitive Intelligence abilities
  • Solid Procurement Project Management skills.
  • Demonstrated ability to successfully manage large- and small-scale projects.
  • High degree of judgment and independent decision-making, Broad strategy formulation within specific assigned categories.
  • Advanced proficiency in Excel and PowerPoint.
  • Demonstrated ability to gather, analyze, and draw conclusions from quantitative data.
  • Strong interpersonal skills, ability to communicate and engage at all organizational levels, ability to cultivate and sustain high-quality professional relationships
  • Outstanding presentation skills with the ability to work individually or as part of a team environment.
  • Creative thinking and problem-solving skills, along with time management, prioritizing, planning, and self-direction skills.

3. BA in Retail Management with 9 years of Experience

  • Experience in strategic sourcing/category management and procurement, showing increasing growth and responsibilities
  • Familiarity with sourcing events and savings methodologies
  • Experience in Procurement spend data management and sourcing/contracting tools
  • Lean and Change Management experience
  • Experience with major ALB goods commodities - raw materials, capital equipment and services, MRO, Energy, Packaging, Facilities Management, etc., global freight and logistics
  • Extensive knowledge of Excel, PowerPoint, Power BI, and other advanced analytical tools
  • Experience in procurement platforms (Ariba, Coupa, Ivalua, Jaggaer, Oracle)
  • Excellent influencing without authority skills with creative thinking and strategic agility/perspective
  • Have excellent data analysis skills
  • Experience in understanding category management frameworks and supplier relationship management
  • Strong understanding of the S2P (Source to Pay) process
  • Strong decision-making abilities and business acumen
  • Interpersonal skills and ability to partner with stakeholders and multiple functional groups on projects/programs

4. BA in Supply Chain Management with 6 years of Experience

  • Experience in Manufacturing, Supply Chain, and Strategic Sourcing
  • Strategic Sourcing expertise and solid understanding of sourcing methodologies and tools.
  • Demonstrated experience developing and implementing sourcing strategies that have fulfilled measurable business objectives.
  • Experience leading virtual project teams in a local, regional, or global environment
  • Demonstrated analytical decision-making skills and creative thought process ability
  • Ability to get things done and multi-task, to act with a sense of urgency, and to take on tactical roles to achieve objectives.
  • Knowledge of general manufacturing principles and practices
  • Knowledge of new product commercialization processes
  • Knowledge of quality and regulatory requirements (cGMP, GMPs, etc.)
  • Experience working in an international and cross-functional environment
  • Excellent prioritization skills as well as strong decision-making/judgment skills
  • Fluency in English, both in oral and in written communication, and other EU languages

5. BA in International Business with 10 years of Experience

  • Experience in construction/supply chain, specifically with large, complex Capital Projects
  • Experience in one or more key categories, including General Contractors, Mechanical and Electrical Equipment, Construction Services, and Operations Services.
  • Construction experience - experience on large-scale projects - sourcing, managing, and administering contracts, large dollar contracts of over $400+ Million
  • Knowledge of the data center industry and experience managing a variety of project delivery methods
  • Ability to drive collaboration between a cross-functional team to drive faster, impactful results.
  • Strong commercial understanding and experience driving strategic development of key categories (General Contractors, Mechanical and Electrical Equipment, Construction Services, Operations Services).
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
  • High energy and drive to achieve results in ambiguity and a matrixed organization.
  • Technical ability to write contracts, ability to set up sourcing plans and negotiation strategies, and execute them.
  • Familiarity with common process improvement methodologies (Lean, Six-Sigma, etc.) and ability to facilitate change management.
  • Ability to implement new processes and get buy-in from a cross-functional team.
  • High-integrity, must be ethical, and a strong value-based individual focused on fairness and maintaining confidentiality.
  • The ability to travel up to 25% globally
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