Lead Category Manager (Finished Goods)

LEAD CATEGORY MANAGER ( FINISHED GOODS)

Job Description

The Global Supply Manager – Lead Category Manager (LCM) role within GSM is focused on the effective and efficient procurement of finished goods products, with a primary focus on Hand Tools (sub-categories with Hardlines and Screwdrivers), in support of Stanley Black & Decker's vision. This role is responsible for defining, leading, and monitoring holistic supplier and category strategies, driving sourcing productivity, and delivering year-over-year productivity and working capital goals. The role manages direct material spend of up to approximately $50M and interacts with suppliers and colleagues across geographies and work cultures.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Strategic Supplier Management

· Establish, maintain, and develop strong relationships with key global suppliers to ensure quality, cost, delivery, and productivity targets are met.

· Serve as an escalation point to resolve supplier performance issues.

· Establish regular communication cadence with strategic suppliers.

· Initiate and implement Supplier Days (supplier workshops / Kaizen events).

· Support, organize, and participate in supplier conferences and summits.

· Implement strategic supplier management, supplier risk management, supplier diversity, and CSR programs (leveraging GSM's Center of Excellence).

· Develop and foster global supplier relationships that deliver cost reduction, supply assurance, quality improvement, and innovation.

2. Category & Material Field Strategy

· Define, lead, and monitor global supplier and category strategies, with a focus on categories within Hardlines and Screwdrivers.

· Independently develop future-oriented strategies and purchasing concepts aligned with the company's global orientation, with the aim of cross-plant application.

· Consider unique/specific SBU needs during category strategy implementation; provide SBU expertise to category and regional leadership.

· Understand and link category/sourcing strategy with GSM priorities and SBU goals.

· Implement category strategies in support of the business vision and margin resiliency initiatives.

· Maintain and control correct supplier classification in product groups and subgroups (SIEVO).

· Drive reduction in the number of suppliers and bundling of purchasing volumes.

· Institutionalize best-practice processes, policies, and knowledge sharing between GSM and SBU to ensure continuous improvement.

3. Negotiations & Contract Management

· Negotiate, implement, and manage supplier contracts and service level agreements.

· Ensure contract compliance (internal approval process), signature regulations, and registration in the group-wide database.

· Monitor markets and trends to proactively renegotiate prices with suppliers.

· Analyze and negotiate price adjustments by suppliers.

4. Tenders, Benchmarks & Sourcing Execution

· Lead the supplier selection process through management of formal RFP, RFQ, and RFI processes.

· Carry out price comparisons to optimize the procurement situation; initiate price and value analyses, substitution of parts/materials as needed.

· Accompany new part projects in cooperation with development from the product development phase to achieve cost reductions.

· Utilize modern purchasing tools (eRFQ, eAuctions, Should Costing).

· Create TCO value through a combination of productivity, working capital, synergies, reduced risk, and improved supplier lead times.

5. Program & Project Management

· Lead and drive program management for core initiatives in Productivity, Working Capital, and Supplier Performance.

· Plan and implement programs/projects including complex large-scale initiatives; define content, goals, and individual milestones.

· Coordinate and monitor milestones, interfaces, dates, and services (internal and external); initiate corrective measures as needed.

· Ensure New Ways of Sourcing are utilized and state-of-the-art reports are developed and implemented (e.g., Power BI, Smartsheet).

· Lead individuals and teams to deliver results; reporting relationships may be solid, dotted, or team-based.

6. Other Responsibilities

· Ensure a high degree of service delivery and SBU satisfaction; partner with SBUs to ensure they recognize the business value from the GSM team.

· Ensure suitable control measures and KPIs are in place to measure progress and derive corrective action plans.

· Support operations (planning, tactical purchasing) in the context of supplier escalations (delivery bottlenecks, quality problems, etc.).

· Conduct Make vs. Buy evaluations of key product lines in support of business strategies.

· Assist in the identification and execution of negotiated inventory programs.

· Support acquisition integration projects including due diligence, opportunity assessments, sub-team participation, delivery of synergy targets, and overall project management of sourcing initiatives.

· Guarantee compliance with GSM/GSS policies, procedures, and DoA/DOA requirements.

KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS

· Strong listening, coaching, and influencing skills; ability to influence without direct authority.

· Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate effectively at all levels, particularly at the management level; executive presence and effective presentation skills.

· Excellent negotiation skills and knowledge of procurement and sourcing techniques, supplier integration, and continuous improvement initiatives.

· Strong financial and analytical skills; experience in strategic planning, budgeting, and financial reporting.

· Ability to conceive strategic program initiatives, plan, sell ideas, and execute.

· Proven track record of developing and executing successful YOY productivity projects and complex sourcing/procurement strategies.

· Proficiency in MS Office, Power BI, and Smartsheet.

· Strong project and program management and problem-solving skills.

· Ability to work in a matrixed environment, managing multiple and often conflicting priorities.

· Highly self-motivated with the ability to drive change in a global organization with minimum supervision.

· Multi-lingual capability is a plus.

CERTIFICATIONS (Preferred)

· CPIM or CSCMP certification

· PMP certification

· Six Sigma or Lean/Kaizen certification

EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

· 5-10 years of experience in Global Procurement / Strategic Sourcing organizations, including supplier selection, supplier management, and contract negotiations.

· Minimum 5 years of category strategy or material field strategy experience.

· Balance of both strategic and operational capacities including regional sourcing, supplier management, and commodity risk management.

· Successful track record of designing and implementing complex sourcing and procurement strategies that achieved desired results within the category.

· Global mindset with experience working in an international/multi-cultural matrix environment.

EDUCATION

· Bachelor's degree required.

· MBA or Master's degree in Supply Chain preferred.

TRAVEL

Must be willing to travel domestically and internationally 10–20% of the time.