Category Manager

About the Job

Title: Category Manager
Job code: 8224PR
Employee Group: Civil Service
Full/Part Time (FTE): Full Time 1.0 FTE
Regular/Temporary: Regular

Please note, this position is not eligible for H-1B or Green Card sponsorship. This position does not offer a STEM OPT training program.

Are you seeking to be part of a sourcing team that supports a world-class public institution committed to its mission, provides a collaborative work environment, and Driven to Discover in what it sets out to accomplish?
The Purchasing Services department at the University of Minnesota seeks a Category Manager motivated to learn and share their talents and experiences with fellow team members. This position will handle the various indirect buying activities of technology and professional services for University departments, following public procurement rules.

This position will offer experiences that tap into the following:
● Your ability to generate ideas and be part of the solution.
● Your advancement of learning and sharing of knowledge in a collaborative way.
● Your desire to be a leader!

Working at that University, we offer:
● An environment where you are empowered to continually learn. The University encourages professional development in this capacity for every level of employment.
● Great benefits to our employees! The University is dedicated to keeping you and your family healthy—physically, emotionally, financially, socially, and professionally. Experience a complete package of rewards that includes not just wages but a full scope of benefits to make sure our faculty and staff remain happy, healthy, and engaged in their work.
● Hybrid work, in the office three days a week.

Location and Work environment: This hybrid position is based on the Twin Cities campus. For those located in the metro area, a minimum of three days per week in the office is expected. Internal and external applicants located near other UMN system campuses and across the State of Minnesota may also be considered, and we encourage all interested candidates to apply. Occasional travel to the Twin Cities campus may be required for events and all-staff meetings. Out of state candidates must be willing to relocate to Minnesota at their own expense.

Primary Responsibilities:

This position oversees the University’s purchases in assigned categories by developing strategies and processes for acquisition by both business units and on an overall University-wide basis.

Strategic Sourcing & Analysis - 20%

● Research, initiate, negotiate, and administer University-Wide agreements in assigned categories.
● Use spend analysis to understand category, supplier, and business unit spending in areas of responsibility.
● Manage specific Purchasing Services programs or projects.

Sourcing Execution - 50%

● Oversee competitive bidding (RFx) process for purchases in the assigned categories (technology and professional services).
● Write Requests for Bid (RFB) or Requests for Proposals (RFP).
● Research/locate suppliers.
● Negotiate contracts, and communicate with suppliers.

Contract Management & Compliance - 15%

● Enter University-Wide and department contracts (based on predetermined criteria) into a contract management tool.
● Manage contract deliverables such as contract extensions and key performance indicators (KPIs).
● Manage supplier performance by conducting regular reviews and soliciting internal customer feedback.
● Handle supplier performance issues.

Internal Consulting and Relationship Management - 15%

● Educate and coach internal customers on requirements, drafting the RFP, and facilitating the evaluation process and supplier selection.
● Provide services to University departments; Interpret and apply policy.
● Provide guidance related to negotiations and contracts not reaching Purchasing thresholds.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

● A bachelor’s degree in a related field and five years of professional-level purchasing experience that includes three years of managing complex Request for Proposal projects; reviewing and editing contracts and negotiating contracts with suppliers, or a combination of related education and work experience to total nine (9) years.
● Organized and able to handle many duties simultaneously.
● Proficient in the use of Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access), Google Suite, and Adobe Acrobat.

Preferred Qualifications:

● Ability to work with a high volume of information or data.
● Excellent customer service skills in a diverse, decentralized environment.