Category Manager

Job Summary:

Responsible for management of up to $50M in spend in either the Packaging Components, Raw Materials, or Contract Manufacturing portfolios. Develop end to end business relationships with internal and external stakeholders to ensure maximum coordination and strategic approach to the categories as a key enabler for the company’s growth aspiration. Accountable for the creation and implementation of best-in-class sourcing strategy and Supplier Relationship Management that deliver supply assurance, cost effectiveness, innovation speed, financial forecast accuracy, and sustainability target to create sustained competitive advantage for the business.

About the Role:

•              Plans, researches, and purchases up to $50 million in inventory in the most cost-effective manner while maintaining quality and supply flexibility. Expertly negotiates and/or implements initiatives that reduce Company costs.  Independently capable of highly complex negotiations including multi-year supply agreements, high dollar quality disputes, and legal disputes. Thoroughly understands and implements high level/high dollar contract agreements and fully grasps legal aspects of purchasing. Acts independently and makes decisions consistent with the overall policies and objectives of the Manufacturing Group and the Purchasing & Supply Development Division.  Communicates effectively throughout the organization and is comfortable challenging higher levels without hesitation to gain support and cooperation.

•              Utilizing an expert knowledge of the processes, cost pressure points, and supply evaluates supplier competence relative to others in the industry. Accountable for selecting suppliers who meet the cost, quality, and production requirements of Mary Kay Inc. Researches and selects reliable first, second, and third source suppliers to increase capacity, achieve competitive pricing, and ensure supply of quality components, ingredients, contract formulas, contract packaging or turnkey contract manufacturing and distribution. Responsible for interaction and problem resolution with suppliers such as resolving invoicing discrepancies, negotiating price, quality and delivery, obtaining quotes, and expediting delayed shipments. Responsible for supplier correspondence, purchase orders, change orders, and scheduling supplier evaluation trips. Ability to influence and drive results from suppliers by escalating throughout the organization as appropriate; will have working rapport with supplier executives; effectively engages supplier executives when needed. Leads and presses suppliers to apply new technology for improvements in Mary Kay Inc. purchases. Monitors and reacts to global supply and pricing trends.

•              Actively seeks out and presents new project innovation and demonstrates success in converting innovation to calendar projects. Drives initiatives to completion and regularly executes alone. Leads challenging and complex projects involving other functions to completion. Works vertically and horizontally across the organization to strengthen peer and management relationships. Works towards long-range goals and objectives. Regularly challenges status quo procedures, processes, and technology looking for opportunities to improve. Sees the bigger picture as it impacts the business. Develops solutions to unusually complex problems which require a high degree of ingenuity, creativity, and innovativeness. Challenges are frequently unique, and solutions may serve as precedent for future decisions.

•              Ability to lead complex projects through to completion that may contain ambiguous information.

•              Ability to display sound and comprehensive communication and diplomacy skills.

•              Ability to multitask, manage time and priorities effectively, and have proactive approach to the business.

•              Ability to deal with diverse and sometimes conflicting priorities.

•              Will plan, develop and launch RFP bids with suppliers.

•              Will be responsible for KPI targets, service to internal and external customers, and reviewing performance with vendors.

•              Own financial forecast inputs for the assigned category to ensure business has clear visibility of the impact of the category to the P&L and balance sheet.

•              Offer and execute Procurement strategies to ensure supply to the operations, business continuity, and vendor management.

•              Apply efforts to reduce total cost and volatility to the P&L while guaranteeing cost effectiveness.

•              Resolve supply constraints from a Procurement standpoint and find ways to de-risk supply.

•              Responsible for setting standard cost for the category through the annual budget cycle.

•              Create and implement sourcing strategies through category management approach.

•              Manage all Procurement aspects of the spend including cost, quality and service.

•              Act as subject matter expert in the business for the assigned categories. Responsible for providing market view of the materials in category and all cost elements impacting Mary Kay. Serve as Mary Kay ambassador and representative in external forums/meetings.

•              Develop a supplier base and the appropriate supplier relationships to make Mary Kay the customer of choice.

•              Drive base business and innovation pipeline by bringing supplier capabilities to R&D team.

•              Responds to purchasing requirements that are listed in the Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) report.

•              Interfaces with Brand, Marketing, Global Inventory Control, Supply Scheduling, Finance, Transportation, Quality, Corporate Engineering, Contract Manufacturing, and R&D to address purchasing requests, inquiries, problems, and status updates. Collaborates with Mary Kay Global Regions, as needed, to support their market needs.

•              Buyer is assigned as the Purchasing owner for new product development initiatives. Interfaces with all departments involved in new product development from the initial idea phase to final approval. Provides expertise in the development of custom, modified, stock packaging or finished goods (i.e. compacts), which must be functional, meet standards for quality and cost, have adequate shelf life and good appearance, and meet production and distribution requirements. Responds to frequent changes and opportunities due to new products, materials, and processes and must complete projects on schedule.

•              Interfaces with all levels of management to resolve problems and review progress on projects when necessary.  Remains abreast of current technology in packaging and packaging processes so that Mary Kay Inc. remains competitive in the marketplace.

•              Leverages sourcing and overall commodity strategies for international and may act as a liaison. Identifies tooling requirements for the annual budget process. Allocates tooling dollars as needed to execute both new product/package projects and upgrades to current packaging or increased capacity requirements. Submits Capital Expenditure Authorization requests with cost justifications calculated to cover tooling purchase orders required to buy all tooling.            

•              This job requires on-site work at a Mary Kay facility.