Graco manufactures and markets premium equipment to move, measure, control, dispense and spray a wide variety of fluid and powder materials. What does that mean? Well, we pump peanut butter into your jar, and the oil in your car. We glue the soles of your shoes, the glass in your windows and the screen on your phone. We spray the finish on your vehicle, coatings on your pills, the paint on your house and texture on your walls. Graco is part of your daily life.
The Category Manager will lead procurement activities across Capital Expenditures (CapEx), Corporate Marketing, Human Resources, and Professional Services categories. This role is pivotal in delivering cost optimization, innovation, and operational excellence across high-impact indirect spend areas.
The ideal candidate will bring deep expertise in category management, sourcing, and contract management, with a strong ability to collaborate cross-functionally and influence at all levels of the organization. You will use market intelligence, data-driven insights, and sourcing best practices to enhance supplier performance, mitigate risk, negotiate favorable contracts, and unlock business value.
What You Will Do at Graco
Category Strategy & Planning
Develop and execute multi-year category strategies for CapEx, Marketing, and Human Resources, aligning with corporate objectives.
Conduct market intelligence, spend analysis, and supplier benchmarking to identify cost-saving opportunities, vendor consolidation, innovation potential, and risk mitigation.
Partner with business stakeholders to define sourcing roadmaps, renewal plans, and total cost of ownership (TCO) objectives.
Sourcing & Procurement Execution
Lead end-to-end sourcing initiatives (RFI/RFP), including development of business requirements, evaluation criteria, contract award recommendations, and supplier onboarding.
Drive commercial negotiations, including pricing, SLAs, data privacy, intellectual property, and liability terms.
Identify and implement opportunities for strategic supplier rationalization, demand management, and cost avoidance.
Stakeholder Engagement
Act as the primary procurement advisor to stakeholders in Operations, Marketing, Human Resources, Engineering, and other functions.
Build strong cross-functional partnerships and lead business alignment on sourcing strategies, supplier selections, and contract terms.
Supplier & Contract Management
Oversee and manage complex supplier relationships, ensuring performance against SLAs, KPIs, and compliance obligations.
Support contract renewals and renegotiations to optimize spend and reduce commercial and legal risk.
Continuous Improvement
Track and report key procurement metrics such as cost optimization (savings/avoidance), contract coverage, supplier performance, and project timelines.
Stay current on technology trends, industry benchmarks, and innovations in procurement and categories assigned.
Perform other duties as assigned.
What You Will Bring to Graco
BA/BS degree in Business, Economics, Supply Chain, MIS, or equivalent. MBA preferred.
5+ years of strategic sourcing or category management experience, preferably in CapEx machinery/robotics/automation, Marketing, or Human Resources.
Strong knowledge of Professional Services contracts.
Demonstrated success in negotiating complex contracts, managing vendor performance, and delivering measurable cost optimization.
Adaptability to changing business conditions.
Great project management and influence skills
#LI-Hybrid
Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States. This role is not eligible for immigration sponsorship now or in the future (e.g., H-1B, TN, F-1 OPT).
At Graco, you truly make a difference. Your unique talents contribute to our organizational growth and future. Not only do you make a difference, but Graco’s culture empowers employees to create their own career path. Whether you choose to advance within your current department or explore new opportunities in different divisions, you have the ability to build your future. Our managers are here to provide support and guidance as you continue to grow within your career.
Graco has excellent opportunities available to individuals who want to be part of a fast-moving, growing company that is committed to quality, innovation and solving fluid handling problems for our customers. Graco is proud to be named a Best Place to Work by Fortune Magazine in 2016, 2018, 2019, 2021 & 2022. Graco offers attractive compensation, benefits and career development opportunities. Graco’s comprehensive benefits include medical, dental, stock purchase plan, 401(k), tuition reimbursement and more.
Our company uses E-Verify to confirm the employment and eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit www.dhs.gov/E-Verify.
The base pay range for this position is listed below, exclusive of fringe benefits or other compensation. If you are hired, your final base hourly rate will be determined based on factors such as geographic location, skills, competencies, education, and/or experience. In addition to those factors, we will also consider internal equity of our current employees. Please keep in mind that the range provided is the full base salary range for the role. Hiring at or near the maximum of the range would not be typical to allow for future and continued salary growth.
$74,100.00 - $129,600.00Top Skills
What We Do
Founded in 1926, Graco (NYSE:GGG) is a world leader in fluid handling systems and components. Graco Inc. supplies technology and expertise for the management of fluids in both industrial and commercial applications. It designs, manufactures and markets systems and equipment to move, measure, control, dispense and spray fluid materials.
Graco maintains an aggressive strategy to design and develop new products and systems and distributes through a worldwide network of distributors and other channels. Graco is focused on expanding into new markets through product development and acquisitions.
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