Category Manager

Role: Category Manager

Location: Chennai

Experience: 8 to 10 years

Band: BPO 4/5

Salary: 11-12 LPA

Education:

Minimum 15 years of regular, full-time education (10 + 2 + 3) (B. Tech preferred)

Bachelor’s degree in supply chain management, Business, Finance, or related field.

Certification in procurement (e.g., CPSM, CIPS) is a plus.

Job Role

The Category Manager is responsible for creating a Category Management strategy and a complete plan with his deep domain expertise in the category.

Analyzing market trends, material indices, cost structures, TCO applicability for that category, procurement data, evaluating supplier performance, and supporting strategic sourcing initiatives. This role helps optimize purchasing decisions, reduce costs, and improve supply chain efficiency by leveraging data-driven insights and market intelligence. Understanding the Kraljic matrix and driving decisions in the right direction will add maximum business value.

Skills:

Strong Sourcing background with analytical skills and proficiency in Excel, Power BI, or similar tools.

Familiarity with ERP systems (e.g., Ariba, SAP, Oracle, Coupa).

Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.

Knowledge of procurement regulations and contract management.

Responsibilities:

Data Analysis & Reporting

Analyze procurement data to identify trends, cost-saving opportunities, and process improvements.

Develop dashboards and reports to monitor procurement KPIs and supplier performance.

Supplier Evaluation & Management

Assess supplier capabilities, pricing, and compliance with contractual terms.

Support vendor selection and onboarding processes.

Strategize on time delivery performance with all quality specs self-assured.

Strategic Sourcing and Project Planning

Create a sourcing project within the ERP

Conduct negotiations

Stakeholder management

Risk analysis

Market analysis

Spend analysis

Driving Saves – both Capex and Opex, will be the key performance index.

Bid evaluation

Saves reporting on Power BI

Contracts negotiation

Process Optimization

Identify inefficiencies in procurement workflows and recommend improvements.

Support automation and digitization initiatives in procurement operations.

Compliance & Risk Management

Ensure procurement activities comply with internal policies and regulatory requirements.

Monitor contract terms and flag potential risks or deviations.