WHAT DOES A GLOBAL CATEGORY MANAGER DO?

Published: Apr 22, 2025 – The Global Category Manager develops and implements sourcing strategies collaboratively with internal stakeholders to ensure alignment and execution. This position manages supplier relationships through structured governance, drives innovation, and extends strategic collaboration. The manager also negotiates pricing and contract terms using cost models and sourcing tools to optimize total cost of ownership.

A Review of Professional Skills and Functions for Global Category Manager

1. Global Category Manager Essential Functions

  • Category Strategy: Create, implement, and lead the Third Party (3P) transformational category strategy globally and regionally.
  • Supply Chain Optimization: Work with regional supply chain and procurement to optimize ‘make vs buy’ decisions in conjunction with category strategy.
  • Cross-Functional Collaboration: Collaborate across procurement and supply chain, with cross-functional team inputs from GLT, IPM, Regional Sales and Marketing teams.
  • Supplier Management: Establish a cross-functional project team to determine the Performance and Relationship management with suppliers with continuous improvement programmes.
  • Supplier Portfolio Strategy: Define the role of 3rd party suppliers and the optimal 3rd party portfolio end state (with procurement, technical, portfolio/IPM modelling, and network ops lens).
  • Category Management: Complete category management framework/7-step sourcing process globally (ensuring local relevance).
  • Benchmarking Best Practice: Lead external benchmarking/Best Practice and recommend a sustainable 3P strategy that is fit for the Lubricants business for the future.
  • Strategic Roadmapping: Develop and deploy the roadmap to maximise value, both globally and locally.
  • Cost Savings Execution: Plan, execute, and deliver savings and value, both COGS and CASH, associated with the consolidation of 3P.
  • Sustainable Sourcing: Develop a Global/Regional sourcing network for sustainable products for the business, e.g., RRBO blending, E Fluid blending.
  • HR Category Strategy: Create, implement, and execute category strategy across the full HR category.

2. Global Category Manager Additional Details

  • Category Management: Utilize category management levers and drive the use of traditional and advanced category strategies and sourcing tools
  • Procurement Optimization: Optimize the procurement process and add value, as well as negotiate and deliver cost savings
  • Goal Alignment: Meet business requirements, sustainability goals, and procurement organization objectives
  • Leadership Collaboration: Lead the collaboration with business and functional leadership (i.e., sustainability)
  • Sourcing Strategy: Establish and execute sourcing and value creation strategies for the corporation.
  • Vendor Relationship Management: Work with third-party energy procurement service providers, build and maintain healthy, sustainable business relationships
  • Vendor Engagement: Proactively work with third-party energy procurement service providers
  • Performance Improvement: Drive improvements that result in cost reduction, productivity, and service enhancements
  • Performance Program Management: Establish and lead a third-party energy procurement service provider's performance program
  • Performance Analytics: Metrics, key performance indicators and analysis, scorecards, and formal business reviews.
  • Project Oversight: Oversee third-party energy procurement service providers' project execution and performance
  • Service Integration: Ensure delivery that meets expectations and is appropriately integrated with a complex environment
  • Issue Resolution: Ensure the timely resolution of issues related to the third-party energy procurement service providers' performance
  • Energy Project Management: Manage key Energy-related projects, in collaboration with the Strategic Projects and Transformation team, to improve total value to the company
  • Energy Policy Collaboration: Collaborate with Gov. Affairs resources on legislative lobby efforts related to energy policy

3. Global Category Manager Role Purpose

  • Cost Savings Identification: Be responsible for the GCM Consumables Team's identification of cost savings and improvement opportunities.
  • Procurement Strategy Development: Lead the development and implementation of the procurement strategies for Consumables.
  • Cross-Functional Coordination: Coordinate with the TS, project teams, and suppliers to evaluate Consumables commercially and technically for all initiatives.
  • Technical Assistance: Provide Consumables technical assistance to the sites related to operational issues.
  • Document and Model Management: Develop and manage technical documents, business cases, Total Cost of Ownership (TCO)/Continuous Improvement (CI) models.
  • Cost Modeling: Build and manage GCM/TCO Savings Workbooks, should cost, and SC-IBP price input models for Consumables.
  • Market Intelligence Management: Manage relevant commodity, market intelligence, 3rd party, service, and product information vital.
  • Supply Chain Solutions: Recommending global, regional, and local supply chain solutions.
  • Relationship Development: Identify, develop, and foster strategic customer and supplier relationships.
  • Customer Requirement Analysis: Conduct customer requirement analysis to understand customers' procurement needs and requirements to align with corporate requirements.
  • Process Leadership: Lead and facilitate the SC regions as the business process specialist and project manager.
  • Sourcing Execution Enablement: Enable the sites and projects to execute sourcing deliverables.
  • Contract Development: Be responsible for the development of new contracts with suppliers and coordinating legal reviews.
  • Contract Management: Provide commercial recommendations/modifications for existing and developing contracts according to Corporate guidelines.

4. Global Category Manager General Responsibilities

  • Policy Development: Assist in the development of global SC policies and initiatives
  • Market Awareness: Maintain awareness of market trends, conditions, and changing technologies
  • Market Intelligence Reporting: Produce market intelligence reports to go out to the business
  • Category Prioritization: Establish category priorities based on potential technical and commercial benefits and opportunities
  • Performance Metrics Development: Develop and track category performance metrics and customer satisfaction metrics
  • Policy Compliance: Ensure that managed categories comply with all policies and procedures (including SC, Ethics, Health and Safety, Sustainability and External Relations)
  • Team Development: Attract, develop, and retain a highly effective supply chain team
  • Subject Matter Expertise: Provide subject matter guidance and expertise to the regional SC teams
  • Performance Objectives Setting: Define performance objectives for each team member
  • Succession Planning: Individual development plans that build strong succession pools for the organization
  • Organizational Effectiveness: Make the overall corporation more effective and efficient
  • Cultural Awareness: Understanding of local cultural norms, political, and social issues
  • Team Culture Coaching: Demonstrate and coach "team values" to all employees to foster a teaming culture
  • Change Leadership: Lead change and actively sponsor key activities and initiatives

5. Global Category Manager Key Accountabilities

  • Order Management: Reschedule and cancel materials based on requisitions and ERP MRP output.
  • Supplier Support: Supports commodity managers and supplier quality engineers to identify low-cost/best service suppliers.
  • Contract Negotiation: Prepares and/or reviews bid requests and negotiates contracts within budgetary limitations and scope of authority.
  • Supplier Interface: Interfaces with suppliers and customers to secure both delivery and the best market price.
  • Tactical Buying: Makes tactical buying decisions.
  • Sourcing Program Execution: Executes corporate sourcing programs and enforces compliance with CAPEX rules.
  • Supplier Review: Conducts quarterly supplier reviews.
  • Procurement Records Management: Maintains procurement records, reports, and metrics.
  • SOX Compliance Management: Oversees and manages Procurements related to SOX functions at the site, including DOA setup and approval levels as per Corporate Structure.
  • Savings Budget Management: Develops, manages, and executes the site's annual Procurement Savings Budget.
  • Performance Improvement: Develops and drives improvement programs to meet performance standards.
  • Team Leadership: Provides team lead for Energy Global Category Team.
  • Category Leadership: Lead the Category, deliver savings, and ensure Risk Management is compliant with their current policies.

6. Global Category Manager Roles and Details

  • Cost Reduction Achievement: Ensure achievement of cost reduction targets for the IT Software and Cloud (SaaS, IaaS, PaaS) category
  • Target Monitoring: Ensure target achievement according to the IMandS operational dashboard (especially cost reduction/avoidance, supplier reduction, and PO coverage)
  • CIPS Methodology Application: Ensure that the CIPS methodology is applied in a meaningful and pragmatic manner
  • Sourcing Strategy Facilitation: Facilitate sourcing strategy review meetings involving internal clients
  • Category Strategy Development: Develop category strategies to meet internal customer needs and cost reduction targets
  • RFI RFQ Management: Drive category-related RFIs and RFQs
  • Global Contract Negotiation: Lead major global contract negotiations concerning contract and commercial matters (contract drafting, contract negotiations, risk analysis)
  • Legal Negotiation Leadership: Lead legal negotiations within the boundaries set with GF-Legal
  • Negotiation Strategy Alignment: Align negotiation strategies with internal clients such as GF IS, GF Legal
  • Tactical Negotiation Support: Support the Tactical Buyers Team in negotiations of IS contracts
  • Preferred Supplier Program Support: Support execution and contribute to the Preferred Supplier’s Program, applying the Company’s Terms and Conditions
  • Preferred Supplier Management: Actively manage preferred suppliers and run regular review meetings (in close collaboration with GF IS)

7. Global Category Manager Responsibilities and Key Tasks

  • Real Estate and Facility Services Leadership: Lead Real Estate and Facility Services for GEA Procurement, Supply Chain regional category managers
  • Category Team Leadership: Leadership of the global and regional Category Area team
  • Strategy Communication Support: Support the Regional Category Managers in communicating and executing the agreed procurement strategies
  • Regional Global Linkage: Act as a link between the Region and the Global Category Area, a member of the Category Area LT
  • Category Strategy Definition: Define the procurement Category strategy and governance processes in conjunction with the overall procurement strategy
  • Cost Structure Focus: Focus on the total spend and the entire supply chain on the category level to achieve the best cost structures
  • Cost Saving Management: Identify and realize cost-saving potential, set and control saving targets for the relevant categories
  • Process Optimization: Continuously optimize procurement processes and related key figures
  • Strategy Development: Develop and implement mid- and long-term procurement strategies for specific categories
  • Procurement Internationalization: Drive the internationalization of procurement activities
  • Supplier Portfolio Management: Ensure an appropriate portfolio of regional suppliers
  • Procurement Strategy Execution: Execute procurement strategy - supplier tendering, negotiation, etc., for key global suppliers in the area
  • Digital Procurement Implementation: Implement digital procurement solutions for the area with an excellent team and IT
  • Process and Tool Utilization: Ensure proper use of processes and tools

8. Global Category Manager Duties and Roles

  • Global Category Strategy Leadership: Leads Global Category Management strategies for Clinical Research and Development services.
  • Internal Relationship Management: Develops and maintains strong relationships with key internal partners
  • Vendor Relationship Management: Establishes and manages relationships with global vendors, ensuring continuous improvement, spend/cost transparency, and cross-divisional account management.
  • Strategic Initiative Leadership: Leads strategic initiatives supporting the category and builds long-term cost optimisation strategies that drive value with key suppliers.
  • Category Expertise Development: Develops and demonstrates in-depth knowledge of the Central Labs category, as well as related services like specialty labs and couriers, suppliers, services, and their cost drivers.
  • Service Delivery Management: Ensures best-in-class delivery of external services in the related categories
  • Productivity and Cost Improvement: Supports Clinical Development and realises year-on-year productivity improvements, cost savings, and process improvements in close collaboration with the customers in the business.
  • Opportunity Identification: Identifies opportunities that focus on cost reductions, efficiencies/quality improvements, risk mitigation, industry and supply trends, and shifts in technology
  • Innovation Support: Proactively support the business in assessing new innovative/technology solutions.
  • Risk Assessment and Execution Speed: Assess risks and look for ways to maximize the speed of execution and success in programs/studies.
  • Contract and Cost Accountability: Accountable for contract commercial terms, as well as ongoing, year-on-year savings and cost reductions.

9. Global Category Manager Roles and Responsibilities

  • Sourcing Strategy Execution: Define, implement, and support the execution of a sound sourcing strategy for electronic components by coordinating a matrix-aligned and globally dispersed team of experienced Division category managers.
  • Market Trend Communication: Communicate market trends, including market drivers, cost structures, supply outlooks, and technical developments.
  • Supply Chain Risk Management: Supply chain risk management ensures mid and long-term planning is in place to mitigate potential supply shocks and changes to the regulatory landscape.
  • Risk Monitoring: Proactively monitor risks, lead escalations, and other material management initiatives appropriate to the category.
  • Key Supplier Management: Act as the focal point (Key Supplier Manager) for strategic suppliers and coordinate supplier management activities across and on behalf of ABB Electrification.
  • Strategic Supplier Leadership: Lead the strategic relationship with several select electrical material suppliers for the Business Area.
  • Category Maturity Development: Drive actions to increase category maturity, including the use of digital tools to augment visibility to tier N spend and proactively manage risks.
  • Contract Negotiation: Shape/redline all contractual clauses with Legal Counsel to achieve the best possible performance and minimize Technicolor's risk.
  • TCO Term Negotiation: Negotiate all terms influencing TCO, including payment terms, incoterms, flexibility, development funds, exclusivity, and MFN.
  • Strategic Category Management: End-to-end, strategic Category Management across their Professional Services category (all subcategories), on a global scale
  • Supplier Relationship Management: Supplier Relationship Management, including management of global suppliers, gaining more value from their suppliers, and performance management

10. Global Category Manager Job Description

  • Sourcing Strategy Development: Develop the category Sourcing strategy, have it validated by internal stakeholders, and lead its execution.
  • Stakeholder Collaboration: Work collaboratively with the internal stakeholders to define and propose the Sourcing strategy
  • Strategy Communication: Communicate the strategy regularly to internal stakeholders, e.g., Category townhalls on key sites, training, maintain a preferred supplier list, and a simplified strategy statement (1 page), etc.
  • Strategy Execution: Lead the execution of the approved strategy, report quarterly, and escalate issues.
  • Supplier Approval: Approve the use of new suppliers, whether they are part of the strategy, or exceptions, or bring disruption requiring a respin of the strategy.
  • Supplier Relationship Management: Manage the relationship with the suppliers and the governance thereof.
  • Supplier Governance Mapping: Map the suppliers to the appropriate relationship model, and propose a structured governance approach for the supplier.
  • Governance Execution: Lead the execution of the governance with the internal stakeholders.
  • Supplier Knowledge Development: Develop supplier knowledge and intimacy, document the supplier's organization, and identify decision makers, influencers.
  • Extended Collaboration: Extend the collaboration beyond traditional boundaries - Innovation (cross-technology adoption), joint commercial approach toward customers, standardization bodies, and other third parties.
  • Contract Negotiation: Thoroughly negotiate the prices and associated contractual terms for all components, software, and services that Technicolor procures in the category.
  • Sourcing Tools Utilization: Leverage appropriate tools, e.g., e-Sourcing RFQs, e-Auctions, Total Cost of Ownership, etc.
  • Should-Cost Modeling: Create a "Should-Cost" model applicable to the category to challenge supplier pricing based on cost breakdown and/or market price datapoints.
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