Category Manager, Indirect Goods & Services

WHO YOU ARE

As a sourcing specialist in Sila’s supply chain team, you will lead the development, management, and optimization of Sila’s supply network across all of the company’s indirect spend categories.  This will include leading RFP (Request for Proposal) processes, negotiating contracts, conducting value analyses, and owning supplier performance.  You are detail oriented, technically astute, and committed to high standards of integrity and you possess the intrinsic motivation to build a growing and critical sourcing function to deliver competitive advantage to Sila.  You’ll be working in a dynamic and fast-paced environment across multiple organizations in the company where business acumen along with collaborative problem-solving abilities are prerequisites for success.

RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES 

• Assess potential suppliers and lead sourcing of the most appropriate based on agreed criteria in all indirect spend categories including information technology (SaaS software and hardware), logistics and fleet management, travel, consumables, waste management (hazardous and non-hazardous, and analytical testing, marketing, HR-related, and office services.  
• Conduct and lead all RFP/RFQ processes in collaboration with internal partners and identified suppliers.
• Prepare and present detailed cost evaluations for all sourcing projects, and provide award recommendations to cross-functional teams.
• Partner with Legal to compose contracts, contract extensions and amendments to contracts. Effectively reach agreements based on a deep understanding of shared business goals between Sila and the supplier.  Also, review contract renewals in advance of renewal dates and drive cross-functional decision making on subsequent courses of action.  
• Own the approved vendor list for indirect spend suppliers, including onboarding of new suppliers and, working hand-in-hand with Supplier Quality, execute routine supplier audits.  
• Handle all aspects of Sila’s relationship with our indirect spend supplier base, including communications (updates and periodic business reviews), performance management (metric setting and monitoring), compliance and risk monitoring (legal and safety), and dispute resolution, to help drive supply chain excellence in the space.
• Support Data Systems in executing a multi-year roadmap for Sila’s SaaS direction by researching and assessing the SaaS product landscape to build a strong supplier pool and by cultivating relationships with key suppliers.  
• Continually assess Sila’s indirect supply base for opportunities to consolidate suppliers and drive improved performance and cost savings. 
• Support the design and implementation of initiatives that improve overall supply chain efficiency and effectiveness.   
• Develop a culture of teamwork and trust across all corporate functions that intersect with the supply chain organization.
• Embrace and support Sila’s vision, mission and core values.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILL REQUIREMENTS

• 5-7 years experience in sourcing across multiple indirect spend categories with particular emphasis on enterprise SaaS contracts.
• Bachelor’s degree or higher in business, engineering or supply chain.  
• Proven track record in supplier negotiation covering commercial objectives and Terms & Conditions across multiple contract types.   
• Thorough understanding of ERP systems such as SAP, Oracle and Sage.  
• Excellent communication and organizational skills with the ability to synthesize and report out both verbally and in writing.
• Demonstrated ability to develop working relationships with internal partners.
• Flexibility to travel domestically at least one week per month.