Category Manager- Fleet and Procurement Services

Asplundh has always been an innovator with a focus to look for a "Better Way" to improve its safety, productivity, and performance. As we grow the business in size and scope, we recognize the need to adopt industry best practices, develop our talent pipeline, improve our procurement operations, and align more closely to our customers' expectations.

We are looking for a highly skilled and motivated Category Manager to support our business in the sourcing of indirect goods and services. The Category Manager is responsible for the development, implementation, and execution of sourcing strategies to leverage supplier relationships within and across the business enterprise to achieve the best total value. This position will also serve as point of contact for project-related needs, issues, and initiatives for the assigned category and includes Category and or Commodity management strategies and execution, supplier relationship management, negotiation, risk management and supply base performance management. Individual is responsible for the complete range of strategic sourcing activities including supplier relationship management, risk management, spend analysis, strategy formulation, contract negotiations, and supplier quality/performance.

Asplundh is a fast moving, dynamic environment where flexibility and adaptability are key attributes needed for success. The successful candidate will be a self-starter, motivated with expert overall sourcing expertise. This position provides a unique and exciting opportunity for the right person to make significant changes by helping us to transform our supply base, deliver business value to the field and support the growth of our enterprise.

Job Type: Exempt

Pay: Salary

Benefits:

• Benefits Available and vary per position and location.

Are you a real go-getter looking for an amazing opportunity with a nationwide full-service utility contractor offering competitive wages and incredible benefits? Keep reading because this job might be for you!

Since 1928, Asplundh has been dedicated to safe, efficient, and innovative line clearance services for the utility industry. Reliable, uninterrupted power is an important service provided by the world's electrical utilities and Asplundh has the expertise to help keep the power flowing. Over the years, diversification has opened vegetation management services to other specialized markets such as municipalities, railroads, pipelines, helicopter vegetation services, and departments of transportation.

A family-owned and operated corporation headquartered near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Asplundh has grown to employ over 36,000 service professionals throughout the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

Essential Functions & Responsibilities:

• Develop, implement, and execute sourcing strategies for assigned categories in alignment with business goals. Oversee assigned commodity contracts while coordinating ongoing supplier development.
• Through the analysis of current spend, processes and practices, develop category strategies that support the goals of the business units including supplier consolidation, process standardization, base and variable cost reduction, transaction cost removal, and process digitization that meets budget.
• Act as a Subject Matter Expert (SME) and provide thought leadership and category expertise to field partners, providing teams with additional insights and perspectives to make strategic decisions to collectively drive business results.
• Responsible for the overall performance and direction of assigned commodities, for the development, coordination and performance of cross-functional sourcing teams, transition and procurement performance.
• Develop budget goals and KPIs which include supplier rationalization, productivity, lead-time reduction, working capital improvement, quality and delivery performance.
• Track and report cost savings of assigned categories.
• Develop and optimize executive level relationships with suppliers.
• Develop and execute sourcing plans including but not limited to soliciting quotations, recommending suppliers, evaluating quotations, negotiating pricing, conducting cost analysis, and ensures that the proper legal agreements are correctly prepared.
• Direct and lead supplier discovery, RFI, RFQ, site visits and other strategic sourcing phases. Prepare cross-functional team supplier negotiations and act as representative in negotiations with major suppliers.
• Maintain solid supplier relationships through effective communication, seeking internal customer feedback and incorporating responses into strategies and action plans. Ensure that issues raised by suppliers or internal customers are resolved.
• Conduct quarterly business reviews (QBRs) with key suppliers to advance company objectives, develop supplier capabilities, address gaps in supplier performance.
• Keep management apprised of top developments with suppliers and in supply industries that affect short-term business performance and long-term business strategy.

Skills and Experience

• Bachelor's degree required (MBA preferred). Exceptional knowledge, experience & skill may be considered in lieu of education.
• CPSM; CSCP; or other similar certifications preferred.
• Minimum of 8+ years strategic sourcing and commodity management experience.
• Experience implementing category management and broad-based sourcing models into an organization, with specific categories of materials, components and services.
• Experience working with manufacturers of specialty equipment which supports vegetation mgmt., construction, lighting/signalization and related services.
• Strong commodity knowledge and project management experience. Can direct commodity strategies based on cross-functional goals and objectives.
• Ability to develop business cases, project plans, status and issue reports.
• Experience leading advanced negotiations with cross-functional teams, including adjusting to individual styles and tactics. Ability to coach Buyers and others in negotiation processes, tools and methodology.
• Experience with eProcurement Systems such as Coupa, Ariba, Zycus, GEP, etc. are a plus.
• Strong analytical, verbal, and written communication skills necessary to interact with numerous stakeholders across a variety of businesses and departments.
• Proven self-starter with a track record of managing multiple complex tasks with the ability to work within a matrix organization and track tasks and deadlines.
• Strong problem-solving and critical-thinking skills and an ability to identify problems, and to design and implement solutions.
• This position has no direct reports so being able to manage through influence is critical to the success of the role.
• Travel to up to 25%

Pre-Screen

• Upon offer, employees may be required to complete and pass a pre-employment drug screen, background, and/or MVR check.

Physical Requirements:

• Rarely: walking, kneeling, squatting, crawling, seeing distant, climbing on/off truck, climbing, lifting over 10 lbs. to 50 lbs., depth perception, color vision, lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling, climbing ladders, balancing, lifting up to 10 lbs., lifting up to 50 lbs.
• Occasionally: standing, stooping, body twisting, gripping, reaching, range of motion, climbing stairs.
• Frequently: sitting, sense of touch, manual dexterity, speaking clearly, reading, hearing-speech range.
• Constantly: seeing.

About Us:

As a full-service utility contractor, Asplundh performs tree pruning and removals, right-of-way clearing and maintenance, vegetation management with herbicides, and emergency storm work and logistical support. Asplundh is the parent company of Asplundh Infrastructure Group whose subsidiaries provide overhead and underground line construction, planning and design, meter reading and AMR/AMI installation, electrical testing, and street lighting/traffic signal services. Asplundh also operates Rotor Blade Airborne Utilities Management, overhead electric distribution, and transmission lines using MD 500 helicopters.

Individuals must be able to perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodation. Individuals with a disability who desire a reasonable accommodation should contact the ADA Coordinator at [redacted], ext. 1339.

An Equal Opportunity Employer.

Accessibility:
Equal Opportunity Employer.

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