Category Manager (Logistics Procurement)

At Niagara, we’re looking for Team Members who want to be part of achieving our mission to provide our customers the highest quality most affordable bottled water.

Consider applying here, if you want to:   

• Work in an entrepreneurial and dynamic environment with a chance to make an impact.   
• Develop lasting relationships with great people.   
• Have the opportunity to build a satisfying career.

We offer competitive compensation and benefits packages for our Team Members.

Category Manager, Procurement Logistics

The Category Manager (Procurement Logistics) is part of the PET Resin logistics procurement team and is responsible for the sourcing and operational management of 3PL warehousing and dry bulk (pneumatic truck) transportation. This role is critical in driving operational efficiency and cost effectiveness across the supply chain. The Category Manager identifies opportunities to reduce Total Cost of Ownership (TCO), ensure supply continuity, and meet quality and service expectations. This position also leads procurement analysts and partners closely with Procurement leadership to develop and execute category strategies. The ideal candidate brings strong analytical capabilities along with significant experience in logistics procurement and operations.

Essential Functions

• Develop a deep understanding of category drivers and act as the subject matter expert for logistics procurement across the business, from both strategic and operational perspectives.

• Lead the development and execution of category strategies in collaboration with cross-functional stakeholders to reduce TCO while improving traceability, quality, service, and innovation.

• Oversee daily operations to ensure efficient and reliable delivery of PET resin from 3PL warehouses to Niagara plants via pneumatic truck.

• Own and manage the RFx process end-to-end, including bid development, supplier evaluation, negotiation, and contract execution, in alignment with Procurement leadership.

• Foster strong collaboration across internal and external stakeholders, including carriers and cross-functional teams such as Plants, Planning, Finance, Accounts Payable, Quality Assurance, and Legal.

• Standardize, optimize, and continuously improve the Procure-to-Pay (P2P) process for the category.

• Establish, monitor, and manage key performance indicators (KPIs), holding suppliers and internal partners accountable for performance.

• Lead supplier business reviews (monthly and quarterly) to drive performance, continuous improvement, and strategic alignment.

• Drive system initiatives and process improvements, including transportation management systems (e.g., Oracle Transportation Management - OTM) implementation and upgrades.

• Build and maintain strong, professional relationships with key suppliers and internal stakeholders; demonstrate resilience and leadership during periods of change or disruption.

• Leverage data from multiple sources to identify opportunities and support fact-based decision-making; ensure analyses are accurate, comprehensive, and actionable.

• Lead, mentor, and develop a team, fostering a high-performance culture and supporting individual growth and organizational success.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

• 6 Years – Experience in Logistics (warehousing, transportation) procurement and operations or other related field

• 6 Years – Experience in Position

• 2 Years – Experience Supervising Employees

• *experience may include a combination of work experience and education

Preferred Qualifications:

• 10+ Years– Experience in Logistics (warehousing, transportation) procurement and operations or other related field

• 10+ Years – Experience working in Position

• 6 Years – Experience Supervising Employees

• 2 Years – Experience of People Management

*experience may include a combination of work experience and education

Travel requirements

• This position requires 20-30% traveling.

Competencies

• Creative Thinking: able to think creatively, generating new ideas and approaches to situations.

• Strategic Thinking: able to grasp the big picture and think long-term.

• Recognition of Opportunity: recognizes new opportunities and acts to take advantage of them.

• Quantitative Analysis: skillful in using quantitative analysis to understand business issues.

• Assertiveness: able to defend a point of view and to confront others appropriately when necessary; unafraid to take controversial positions and challenge the conventional wisdom or status quo.

• Comfort with Risk: takes risks when appropriate, isn’t afraid to innovate and experiment.

• Organizational Priority: able to make decisions that are in the best interest of the organization, even though they cause individual people distress.

• Decisiveness: able to make decisions even in ambiguous situations and without full information.

• Self-Motivation/Time Management: able to determine and prioritize tasks with minimal direction

• Negotiation Skill: skilled in negotiating tactics, effective in utilizing analysis and creative solutions to extract the greatest value for the company.

• Software Skill: Advanced working knowledge in Microsoft Office (especially in Excel)

• Merit-orientation: judges ideas and people on merit alone, without bias or favoritism.

• Influence: can influence and persuade other people, even without direct authority.

• Political Skill: knows how to get things done within the political framework of an organization.

• Leadership: comfortable taking a leadership role.

• Oral Communication: a skillful public speaker, good at presenting ideas and plans in a persuasive manner.

• Written Communication: a good writer; expresses ideas and positions clearly.

• Cross Cultural: Able to interact effectively with people of different cultures and backgrounds.

Education

• Minimum Required:

o Bachelor's Degree in (Business Administration, Management, Mechanical/Industrial Engineering) or other related field

• Preferred:

o Master's Degree in (Business Administration) or other related field

Certification/License:

• Required: N/A

• Preferred: N/A

Foreign Language

• Required: None Required

• Preferred: None Required

Typical Compensation Range

Benefits

Our Total Rewards package is thoughtfully designed to support both you and your family:

Regular full-time team members are offered a comprehensive benefits package, while part-time, intern, and seasonal team members are offered a limited benefits package.

• Paid Time Off for holidays, sick time, and vacation time
• Paid parental and caregiver leaves
• Medical, including virtual care options
• Dental
• Vision
• 401(k) with company match
• Health Savings Account with company match
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Expanded mental wellbeing benefits including free counseling sessions for all team members and household family members
• Family Building Benefits including enhanced fertility benefits for IVF and fertility preservation plus adoption, surrogacy, and Doula reimbursements
• Income protection including Life and AD&D, short and long-term disability, critical illness and an accident plan
• Special discount programs including pet plans, pre-paid legal services, identity theft, car rental, airport parking, etc. 
• Tuition reimbursement, college savings plan and scholarship opportunities
• And more!

https://careers.niagarawater.com/us/en/benefits

* *Los Angeles County applicants only** Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers, the California Fair Chance Act, and any other applicable local and state laws.

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Employment agencies that have fee agreements with Niagara Bottling, LLC and have been engaged on a search shall submit résumé to the designated Niagara Bottling, LLC recruiter or, upon authorization, submit résumé into this career site to be eligible for placement fees.