The Role
Leads global category strategies and sourcing activities, including supplier qualification, contract negotiation, spend analysis, cost control, supplier performance, risk management, and category metrics. Builds strategic supplier relationships, maintains market and technology expertise, and presents recommendations to senior leadership. Requires relevant category management experience, supply chain knowledge, and proficiency with ERP systems, Microsoft Office, and Power BI.
Summary Generated by Built In
Embark on a career journey with Franklin Electric, where your passion meets purpose, and every day is an opportunity to make a difference in our global communities in providing access to water, fuel and electricity.
The Global Category Manager is responsible for driving and implementing category strategies across the organization by leading the sourcing team with the goal of accomplishing organizational objectives. Develops and maintains a qualified supply base, while understanding technology trends and market influences. Maintains overall business ownership of the category to include managing, facilitating, and monitoring communications with suppliers and employees.
Franklin Electric is a diverse team of innovators making a positive global impact since 1944. We offer innovative water solutions, ensuring access, treatment, and efficient management of this vital resource. Our commitment to excellence is reflected in our innovative products, industry leading quality products, exceptional customer service, employee development, and passion for social responsibility.
The Global Category Manager is responsible for driving and implementing category strategies across the organization by leading the sourcing team with the goal of accomplishing organizational objectives. Develops and maintains a qualified supply base, while understanding technology trends and market influences. Maintains overall business ownership of the category to include managing, facilitating, and monitoring communications with suppliers and employees.
Franklin Electric is a diverse team of innovators making a positive global impact since 1944. We offer innovative water solutions, ensuring access, treatment, and efficient management of this vital resource. Our commitment to excellence is reflected in our innovative products, industry leading quality products, exceptional customer service, employee development, and passion for social responsibility.
Join us to create a better future while growing professionally in a supportive environment!
Key Responsibilities
- Serves as a resident expert on factors relevant to the category, including product knowledge, applications/usage, processing knowledge, cost structure, global market, supplier capabilities, supplier market share, supplier benchmarking, etc.
- Utilizes contract negotiation, process changes, and implementation of sustainable cost controls, including collaboration with finance, to validate the impact of proposed projects and drive stakeholder approval.
- Drafts, negotiates, and executes supplier contracts.
- Uses strategic sourcing tools to proactively conduct spend analysis, maintains cost models and metrics by supplier and category, and communicates overall supplier performance, trends in technologies, and market conditions with respect to assigned categories.
- Manages, develops, and maintains responsibility for the business relationships with suppliers.
- Manages, develops, and implements strategies and goals for assigned categories that support department objectives for quality, cost, and supplier development.
- Routinely presents proposals, recommendations, and results of category metrics to senior leadership.
- Develops strategic supplier partner relationships.
- Familiar with 7steps or other strategic sourcing methodologies.
Skills Knowledge and Expertise
Skills and Abilities
- Analyzes information and evaluates results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
- Identifies the underlying principles, reasons, facts, or information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
- Reads and understands documents such as policy manuals, safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals.
- Deals with problems involving several known variables in situations of routine nature.
- Strong experience of Contract Management including contract negotiations.
- Exceptional analytical data skills and risk management – prediction, identification & mitigation.
- Deep understanding of Metal, Bearing and Fabrication categories preferred
Education and Experience
- Required Years of Experience: 5 to 10 Years relevant category management experience.
- Bachelor’s degree in business, Engineering, Supply Chain or equivalent.
- Functional understanding of JDE or ERP, Supply Chain, logistics, warehousing, distribution, importing, exporting, shipping, etc.
Computer Skills
- Advanced knowledge in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Access) with PowerBI
Don’t feel like you check all the boxes in the job description? Here at Franklin Electric, we are dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive culture which includes embracing candidates from a variety of different backgrounds and industries. We highly encourage you to apply so we can connect on this and future opportunities.
Why Work at Franklin Electric?
Becoming a part of the Franklin Electric team not only provides outstanding benefits, it also opens doors to opportunities for future growth. Enjoy peace of mind with a world-class company. But more importantly, be satisfied in knowing you make a difference.
Take a look at this video to see our Global Headquarters here in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
Take a look at this video to see our Global Headquarters here in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
About
Franklin Electric is a global leader in water and energy systems, committed to continuous improvement and innovation to meet the diverse needs of our customers. Our founders in 1944 named the company after America’s pioneer electrical engineer, Benjamin Franklin, which lives on today in our culture to drive us to push boundaries and create meaningful change. We offer a comprehensive range of pumps, motors, drives, and controls for residential, commercial, agricultural, industrial, and municipal applications.More than just a workplace, Franklin Electric is a vibrant and inclusive community of forward-thinkers, united by our mission to drive positive impact worldwide. Our culture fosters career growth and personal development, with a focus on promoting from within and nurturing talent. Our recent awards in “America's Most Responsible Companies”, “Most Trusted Companies” by Newsweek, “America’s Climate Leaders” and “Indiana’s Best Places to Work” attest, we're dedicated to upholding the highest standards of corporate responsibility.At Franklin Electric, we believe that everyone deserves to be treated fairly and respectfully, and that our diversity of thought, culture and experience makes us a stronger company. Our commitment to social responsibility is evident in programs like the Franklin Women's Network and our philanthropic efforts through the Franklin Wells for the World Foundation. Through these endeavors, we've provided clean water to over 284,000 people in 12 countries, addressing the global water crisis head-on,Locally in our communities, the Franklin Electric Charitable and Educational Foundation (FECEF) supports causes close to our hearts, such as United Way, Boys & Girls Club, and Big Brothers Big Sisters. Our dedication to excellence extends beyond our products and services, shaping a brighter future for both our employees and the communities we serve. Join us in driving meaningful change and making a difference with Franklin Electric.
Skills Required
- 5 to 10 years of relevant category management experience
- Bachelor’s degree in business, engineering, supply chain, or equivalent
- Strong contract management and contract negotiation experience
- Functional understanding of JDE or ERP systems
- Functional understanding of supply chain, logistics, warehousing, distribution, importing, exporting, and shipping
- Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite, including Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Access
- Experience with Power BI
- Deep understanding of metal, bearing, and fabrication categories
- Experience with 7steps or other strategic sourcing methodologies
- Strong analytical data skills and risk management experience
- Bachelor’s degree in engineering or related technical discipline
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The Company
What We Do
Founded in 1944, Franklin Electric has grown from a small motor manufacturing company into a leading global provider of complete water systems and fueling systems. Franklin Electric's principal markets include clean water systems, water transfer and grey water systems, and fueling systems. Headquartered in Fort Wayne, Indiana, Franklin serves all corners of the world with facilities spanning the globe.
