Category Manager - Indirect

Cox Communications
$99,000.00 - $165,000.00 / yr
parental leave, paid time off, paid holidays, sick time, 401(k)

Jan 02, 2025
Job Summary The Category Manager - Indirect is a sourcing professional responsible for $100 - $115M spend across a single category and multiple Cox divisions. This individual will work autonomously to develop and execute category spend strategies to optimize third party spend, total cost effectiveness, supplier service levels, coordination, delivery, pricing, lead-times, payments, risk mitigation and compliance at an Enterprise level. Stays abreast of market conditions, forces and other dynamics impacting supplier products and services. At an Enterprise level, engages with functional business unit stakeholders, and partners with Sourcing & Procurement Operations as well as boundary partners (Legal, Information Security, Business Operations) to ensure Category Strategies align with and appropriately support business goals and objectives. This role will drive synergies and leverage scale across multiple divisions within Cox. This leader will report to the Director of Category Management supporting executive-level Cox stakeholders and interface with executive-level contacts within the supply base. Primary Responsibilities Oversight and management of $110M - $115M in spend. Develops, implements, and maintains enterprise-level category strategies and plans within various direct and indirect categories in collaboration with internal stakeholders to identify improvement opportunities through industry leading practices, external benchmarks, and best practices. Executes category sourcing strategies including development and implementation of RFIs and RFPs, preferred supplier programs, evaluation and selection criteria, negotiations, and ongoing supplier / program management. Negotiates favorable pricing, terms and conditions, risk reduction, volume discounts and long-term supplier agreements. Provides input to sourcing executives on decisions for the indirect area of capital and operational expenditures. Lead the contract review process in collaboration with Legal team. Develop total cost of ownership (and "should cost") model to identify waste and process improvement opportunities that generate cost savings. Identify opportunities to extract value for Cox stakeholders through leverage and scale Leads or serves as a key team member on projects with strategic, financial, and global impact. Interacts with end users, Accounting, senior management, suppliers, and other stakeholders to deliver advice and training as required to ensure understanding of applicable Supply Chain Management practices. Perform other duties as required. Qualifications And Experience BA/BS degree in related discipline (e.g., Business, Supply Chain) with 6+ years of experience required in a related field, MS degree and 4+ years of experience, or 10 years of equivalent experience in lieu of a degree. Demonstrated experience negotiating contracts with vendors across multiple categories. Requires strong knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Excellent interpersonal, leadership, presentation, and collaborative skills to work effectively with teams throughout organization. Ability to identify opportunities and take necessary actions to continuously improve the value proposition for our customers. Career history of success and advancing to increased responsibility and scope. Proven experience in category strategy development and Supplier Relationship Management. Strong knowledge of category management processes and best practices. Experienced/knowledgeable in negotiating business terms and conditions. Strong ability to interpret legal terms and conditions and their impact. Strong analytics, reporting, and financial acumen skills. Ability to solve problems that require research, investigation, and engagement of cross-functional leaders to define and solve. Ability to communicate and collaborate with other Cox functions, divisions, and departments and in alignment with Cox's values and culture. Ability to influence others with shared interests to adopt policies, practices, and procedures. Excellent oral and written communication skills to formulate (and articulate) strategies in a complex business environment. Strong propensity to lead and influence. Exceptional negotiation, planning, and organizational skills. Strong aptitude for customer service and stakeholder engagement. PREFERRED: MS degree + 4 years of experience preferred in a related discipline (i.e., Business, Supply Chain, etc.). Experience in Telecom or Automotive industries with emphasis on Sourcing, Procurement or Supply Chain. Knowledge of Procurement and Supply Chain Systems (i.e., ERP, CLM, spend analytics, e-sourcing, etc.) Certification in Supply Chain Management (ISM), CPM, or related. Six Sigma Green Belt certification. USD 99,000.00 - 165,000.00 per year Compensation: Compensation includes a base salary of $99,000.00 - $165,000.00. The base salary may vary within the anticipated base pay range based on factors such as the ultimate location of the position and the selected candidate's knowledge, skills, and abilities. Position may be eligible for additional compensation that may include an incentive program. Benefits: The Company offers eligible employees the flexibility to take as much vacation with pay as they deem consistent with their duties, the company's needs, and its obligations; seven paid holidays throughout the calendar year; and up to 160 hours of paid wellness annually for their own wellness or that of family members. Employees are also eligible for additional paid time off in the form of bereavement leave, time off to vote, jury duty leave, volunteer time off, military leave, and parental leave. Applicants must currently be authorized to work in the United States for any employer without current or future sponsorship. About Cox Communications Cox Communications is the largest private telecom company in America, serving six million homes and businesses. That's a lot, but we also proudly serve our employees. Our benefits and our award-winning culture are just two of the things that make Cox a coveted place to work. If you're interested in bringing people closer through broadband, smart home tech and more, join Cox Communications today! About Cox Cox empowers employees to build a better future and has been doing so for over 120 years. With exciting investments and innovations across transportation, communications, cleantech and healthcare, our family of businesses - which includes Cox Automotive and Cox Communications - is forging a better future for us all. Ready to make your mark? Join us today! Benefits of working at Cox may include health care insurance (medical, dental, vision), retirement planning (401(k)), and paid days off (sick leave, parental leave, flexible vacation/wellness days, and/or PTO). For more details on what benefits you may be offered, visit our benefits page . Cox is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer - All qualified applicants/employees will receive consideration for employment without regard to that individual's age, race, color, religion or creed, national origin or ancestry, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, physical or mental disability, veteran status, genetic information, ethnicity, citizenship, or any other characteristic protected by law. Statement to ALL Third-Party Agencies and Similar Organizations: Cox accepts resumes only from agencies with which we formally engage their services. Please do not forward resumes to our applicant tracking system, Cox employees, Cox hiring manager, or send to any Cox facility. Cox is not responsible for any fees or charges associated with unsolicited resumes.