Procurement Category Manager
Location: Hyderabad or Noida, India (Hybrid)
Function: Procurement & Supply Chain / Category Management
About the Opportunity
A leading global organization is seeking an experienced Procurement Category Manager to join its high-performing procurement team. This is a strategic role with significant impact, responsible for managing approximately $20M in annual spend across key categories. The ideal candidate will be a data-driven, commercially astute professional who thrives on building supplier partnerships and delivering measurable value to the business.
What You'll Do
- Develop and execute comprehensive category strategies aligned with business objectives, including market analysis and 3-year sourcing roadmaps
- Manage $20M+ in annual category spend, delivering consistent year-over-year savings of 510% while maintaining quality and service levels
- Lead end-to-end strategic sourcing events RFx processes, supplier evaluations, negotiations, contract awards, and implementation
- Negotiate favorable pricing, terms, SLAs, and contract provisions for complex, high-value agreements
- Build and maintain strategic supplier partnerships, including QBRs, performance scorecards, and continuous improvement programs
- Partner with internal stakeholders across Finance, Operations, Legal, and Quality to deliver procurement solutions that balance cost, risk, and innovation
- Monitor market trends, pricing dynamics, and supply base changes to provide actionable intelligence to the business
- Identify and mitigate supply chain risks; ensure supplier compliance with regulatory requirements
- Drive process improvement initiatives and adoption of procurement best practices
What We're Looking For
Essential:
- 710 years of progressive procurement or category management experience in a corporate environment
- Proven track record managing $15M+ annual spend and delivering consistent cost savings
- Deep knowledge of strategic sourcing methodologies, should-cost modeling, TCO analysis, and supplier evaluation frameworks
- Strong negotiation skills with demonstrated success in complex, high-stakes commercial situations
- Advanced analytical and financial acumen spend analysis, cost modeling, business case development
- Strong stakeholder management skills with the ability to influence senior leaders and cross-functional teams
- Proficiency with procurement platforms (SAP Ariba, Coupa, Oracle, or similar), spend analytics tools, and advanced Excel
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills with executive presence
Desirable:
- Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, or a related field
- Professional certification: CPM, CPSM, CSCP, or equivalent
- Experience with complex contract terms and conditions / contract law knowledge
- Project management certification or demonstrated project leadership
Why Join Us
This role offers the opportunity to work in a high-visibility position with real strategic influence, a collaborative team culture, and a clear path to make a measurable impact on organizational performance.
This is a confidential search. The hiring company will be disclosed to shortlisted candidates.
To apply, please submit your CV and a brief summary of your relevant category management experience.
