Senior Category Manager

Zurn Elkay Water Solutions Corporation is a thriving, values-driven company focused on doing the right things. We’re a fast growing, publicly traded company (NYSE: ZWS), with an enduring reputation for integrity, giving back, and providing an engaging, inclusive environment where careers flourish and grow.

Named by Newsweek as One of America’s Most Responsible Companies and an Energage USA Top Workplace, at Zurn Elkay Water Solutions Corporation, we never forget that our people are at the center of what makes us successful. They are the driving force behind our superior quality, product ingenuity, and exceptional customer experience. Our commitment to our people and their professional development is a recipe for success that has fueled our growth for over 100 years, as one of today’s leading international suppliers of plumbing and water delivery solutions.

Headquartered in Milwaukee, WI, Zurn Elkay Water Solutions Corporation employs over 2800 employees worldwide, working from 24 locations across the U.S., China, Canada, Dubai, and Mexico, with sales offices available around the globe.  We hope you’ll visit our website and learn more about Zurn Elkay at zurnelkay.com.

If you’re ready to join a company where what you do makes a difference and you have pride in the work you are doing, talk to us about joining the Zurn Elkay Water Solutions Corporation family!

Job Description

This positon reports to the Category Manager and provides global strategic leadership to find and qualify suppliers for direct material related to New Product Development and other sourcing projects. Lead the cross-functional teams for activities related to sourcing while collaborating with Engineering, Finance, Quality, Procurement, Manufacturing, China Sourcing Team and Customer Service to execute all tasks within the project timeline. Responsible for ideation, planning and implementing multiple sourcing and re-sourcing projects, for both domestic and international suppliers. This position will also manage supplier relationships, spend and performance analytics and drive cost savings initiatives.

Key Accountabilities

• Maintains the highest-level code of conduct and ethics.

• Lead the sourcing channels and internal cross-functional teams to execute timeline and action adherence.

• Identify and provide justification utilizing total cost of ownership principles for sourcing and re-sourcing projects.

• Source assigned commodities, as well as develop global implementation plans to source new items and re-source existing items to optimize total cost suppliers.

• Lead sourcing initiatives to ensure on-time delivery of project components, assemblies and/or finished goods by trouble-shooting outstanding issues.

• Influence and collaborate on new product development projects guaranteeing on-time product availability.

• Collaborates with global business units on the preparation of Request for Proposals (RFPs), Request for Quotations (RFQ’s) and leads the screening and supplier selection process.

• Evaluate bids, analyze alternatives, develop negotiation strategy and make recommendations for contract awards

• Negotiate and drafts supply agreements for domestic and international suppliers, including payment terms, deliveries, price, freight terms, currency exchange, raw material commodity fluctuation, inventory levels.

• Manage relationships between internal and external parties to evaluate and execute recommendations of changes in supply base.

• Publish monthly commodity metrics and provide recommended action plans to the Global Supply Chain that promote continuous process improvement.

Qualifications/Requirements

• BA/BS degree in business, supply chain, operations management, engineering or finance; Master’s Degree & CPSM preferred

• 5+ years of experience in a sourcing role with low cost country sourcing experience

• Experience building Requests for Proposals (RFPs) and creating tools to analyze responses

• Proven success in a change management and “stretch” environment

• Proficient in the use of Microsoft Office Suite software, including Excel, Word, PowerPoint

• Must have strong problem solving, strategic thinking, oral, written, interpersonal communication and presentation skills

• Ability to understand the goals of the company, focus resources to meet or exceed these goals; lead change and drive projects to completion

• Expert negotiator, including the ability to lead in contract negotiations and build strong supplier relationships

• Willingness to travel up to 25%, both domestically and internationally required.

Capabilities and Success Factors

• Decision Quality – Making good and timely decisions that keep the organization moving forward.

• Manages Complexity – Making sense of complex, high quantity and sometimes contradictory information to effectively solve problems.

• Drives Results – Consistently achieving results, even under tough circumstances.

• Manages Conflict – Handling conflict situations effectively, with a minimum of noise.

• Plans & Aligns – Planning and prioritizing work to meet commitments aligned with organizational goals.

• Competitive Salary
• Medical, Dental, Vision, STD, LTD, AD&D, and Life Insurance
• Matching 401(k) Contribution
• Health Savings Account
• Up to 3 weeks starting Vacation (may increase with tenure)
• 12 Paid Holidays
• Annual Bonus Eligibility
• Educational Reimbursement
• Matching Gift Program
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan – purchase company stock at a discount!

**THIRD PARTY AGENCY: Any unsolicited submissions received from recruitment agencies will be considered property of Zurn Elkay, and we will not be liable for any fees or obligations related to those submissions.**

Equal Opportunity Employer – Minority/Female/Disability/Veteran