Category Manager

Donaldson is committed to solving the world’s most complex filtration challenges. Together, we make cool things. As an established technology and innovation leader, we are continuously evolving to meet the filtration needs of our changing world. Join a culture of collaboration and innovation that matters and a chance to learn, effect change, and make meaningful contributions at work and in communities. ​

The Category Manager, Procurement role is a great opportunity to join a high-impact team within Donaldson. This role will be working closely with multiple functions within the organization globally along with our suppliers. Individuals with strong communication and negotiation skills will be successful in this function. This is a highly-visible team that is relied upon to ensure we continue to operate at a high level. Qualified candidates must be able to work a hybrid schedule at our Bloomington, MN office.

Role Responsibilities:

• Support the development and implementation procurement strategies that ensure supply and financial objectives are achieved.  Monitors commodity markets that influence cost and supply in areas of responsibility and uses this information to refine commodity strategies. Executes fact-based negotiations that drive best total cost and ensure continuous supply for Donaldson.
• Communicate category strategies and trends, to the Donaldson leadership team and other stakeholders and also provides periodic overviews of category strategy effectiveness.
• Manage category pricing to align with current market conditions and in consideration of cost of commodity inputs.  Independent of market prices, drives year-over-year cost reductions with all assigned suppliers.
• Identify, on-board and develop suppliers appropriate to Donaldson strategic sourcing objectives.  Uses supplier performance management data and tools to drive supplier performance around quality, delivery, cost and continuous improvement.  Performs regular reviews with suppliers to recognize and benchmark strong performance and/or develop meaningful action plans to remedy sub-standard performance. 
• Provide support to Donaldson plant and distribution center teams to ensure strong alignment around servicing our end customers and ensuring efficient and profitable operations within Donaldson.
• Engage the Supplier Quality Management team in supplier development processes to ensure 50 DPPM quality levels are achieved.
• Complete comprehensive risk management assessments of the supply base through formal assessment tools, audits and analysis, coupled with face-to-face and on-site interactions. Identifies and implements countermeasures to mitigate identified risks.

Travel: Up to 10%

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree
• 3+ years of procurement experience, ideally in buying and negotiation

Preferred Qualifications:

• CPSM Certification would be ideal
• Critical thinker who possesses quantitative/data analytical skills
• Strong negotiator who uses knowledge-based data-drive negotiating techniques
• Proficient with Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint
• Ability to read market and commodity conditions and use information to drive pricing
• Ability to identify and implement innovative cost savings projects
• Ability to interpret technical drawings and specifications of assigned commodities
• Driven by continuous learning and development; passionate about innovation and improvement
• Proactive/sense of urgency

Annual Salary Range: $84,000-$115,500.  Actual salaries will vary based on several factors including, but not limited to applicable work experience, training, education, performance.  

Employee benefits are part of the competitive total rewards package that Donaldson Company, Inc. provides to you. Our comprehensive benefits program includes health benefits, retirement plan (401k), paid time away, paid leaves (including paid parental leave) and more. 

Immigration Sponsorship Not Available: 

• Applicants for this position must be currently and legally authorized to work in the United States without the need for current or future sponsorship (e.g., H-1B, J-1, F-1, CPT, OPT, etc.).  

• Donaldson will not offer immigration sponsorship or assume sponsorship of an employment visa for this position.  

• International relocation or remote work arrangements outside of the U.S. will not be considered. 

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Employment opportunities for positions in the United States may require use of information which is subject to the export control regulations of the United States. Hiring decisions for such positions are required by law to be made in compliance with these regulations. Applicants for employment opportunities in other countries must be able to meet the comparable export control requirements of that country and of the United States.

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Our policy is to provide equal employment opportunities to all qualified persons without regard to race, gender, color, disability, national origin, age, religion, union affiliation, sexual orientation, veteran status, citizenship, gender identity and/or expression, or other status protected by law.