Category Manager - Indirect

This is the base salary pay range that an applicant can expect to make upon hire.   Pay within this range will vary based upon relevant experience, skills, and education among other factors. In addition, this position is eligible for an incentive bonus. 

The Indirect Category Manager plays a highly visible and business‑critical role in driving Johns Manville’s cost competitiveness, operational continuity, and strategic supplier partnerships across Indirect spend categories including IT, Capital Expenditures, MRO, and Industrial Gases. This role directly influences manufacturing cost structure, reliability of supply, and the success of capital and transformation initiatives by delivering measurable savings, resilient supplier strategies, and disciplined contract execution. For a motivated sourcing professional, this position offers the opportunity to own complex categories, lead enterprise‑level initiatives, and make a tangible financial and operational impact.

Key Performance Objectives

Cost Optimization & Value Creation

• Deliver year‑over‑year, measurable cost savings and value creation through strategic sourcing initiatives, supplier negotiations, and demand management.
• Lead category strategies that improve total cost of ownership while supporting operational and capital requirements.
• Establish, track, and report monthly scorecards that measure cost savings, supplier performance, and category health.

Strategic Sourcing & Contract Excellence

• Own and execute RFPs, RFQs, and contract negotiations for Services, Construction, IT, and Indirect Materials, ensuring favorable commercial and risk outcomes.
• Develop, negotiate, and manage contracts to ensure compliance, value realization, and alignment with operational needs.
• Maintain a forward‑looking sourcing calendar that ensures timely renewals, competitive bidding, and proactive risk mitigation.

Supplier Performance & Relationship Management

• Build high‑impact supplier partnerships through structured business reviews, supplier workshops, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Ensure uninterrupted, compliant, and sustainable supply of indirect goods and services across JM facilities.
• Lead supplier onboarding and qualification efforts to strengthen and diversify the supply base.

Cross‑Functional Leadership & Business Partnership

• Partner with plant, engineering, IT, finance, and operations stakeholders to align sourcing strategies with business priorities.
• Lead and contribute to multi‑functional projects that optimize the supply base, support capital execution, and improve operational outcomes.
• Support Berkshire Hathaway spend leverage initiatives and enterprise‑wide sourcing opportunities.

Process, Systems & Governance

• Manage indirect and CapEx purchasing activity in SAP ECC, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and appropriate stakeholder input.
• Identify opportunities to improve sourcing processes, category governance, and data visibility.
• Apply financial analysis, market intelligence, and regulatory awareness (OSHA, environmental) to sourcing and negotiation decisions.

Why This Role Is Attractive

• High Visibility & Impact: Direct ownership of cost savings and supply continuity that materially affect manufacturing and capital performance.
• Strategic Scope: Broad category responsibility across critical indirect spend areas with opportunities to influence enterprise strategy.
• Leadership Without a Title Ceiling: Lead complex initiatives, supplier negotiations, and cross‑functional teams with autonomy and accountability.
• Professional Growth: Exposure to Berkshire Hathaway sourcing leverage, capital sourcing, and senior stakeholder engagement.
• End‑to‑End Ownership: From strategy development through execution, this role delivers clear, measurable results.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; CPSM certification preferred
• Minimum 5 years of supply chain experience, including 3+ years of category management
• Demonstrated success delivering cost savings and managing complex supplier portfolios
• Strong negotiation skills with knowledge of contract development and contract law
• Strategic thinker with strong analytical and financial acumen
• Proven ability to lead cross‑functional initiatives and influence without authority
• Working knowledge of SAP or similar ERP systems
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office tools
• Travel approximately 10%

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Please Keep in Mind

If you do not meet 100% of these requirements, we at JM still want to hear from you. So, if you are interested in the role, we encourage you to apply so we can learn how your skills and talents can contribute to our team.

Benefits

Johns Manville (JM) offers a wide range of benefits to employees. Some are subsidized by the company and others are fully employee-paid. Health benefits include a choice of comprehensive medical plans, a dental plan, vision plan, wellness program and critical illness insurance. JM sponsors a 401(k) plan which includes a sizeable company match. JM offers paid vacation and also provides paid sick and parental leave for eligible employees.

Additionally, Johns Manville provides basic life Insurance, short-term and long-term disability coverage, an employee assistance program, and business travel accident coverage. Supplemental life insurance and accidental death and dismemberment insurance are available as well. The company also offers a variety of tax saving accounts; health spending account, traditional flexible spending account, and a dependent care spending account. JM also offers a tuition reimbursement program for undergraduate and certain graduate programs.

Johns Manville supports employee growth with vast educational opportunities and a company-wide mentoring program. This program pairs employees and leaders to grow skills, build stronger internal networks and strengthen the company’s succession planning process. Johns Manville also offers soft and hard skills training facilitated by internal and external presenters. Our talent management team prioritizes the holistic growth of our workforce.

Diversity & Inclusion

Johns Manville believes diversity and inclusion in our workplace is critical for the long-term success of our company. We are committed to retaining, developing and attracting a diverse workforce that fosters an inclusive work environment in which all employees are treated with dignity and respect. This is the right thing to do for our employees, our company and our communities.

Incumbent must be physically able to perform essential job functions. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.

We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. We maintain a drug-free workplace and perform pre-employment substance abuse testing.