Northwestern Mutual · 4 hours ago
Sr. Category Manager
Milwaukee, WI Corporate
Full-time
Hybrid
Mid, Senior Level
$78K/yr - $145K/yr
3+ years expNorthwestern Mutual is a leading financial services company, and they are seeking a Sr. Category Manager to develop and implement category strategies. The role involves managing complex categories to drive company growth, supporting procurement and supplier management activities, and making strategic recommendations to enhance business processes.
AdviceConsultingEmployee BenefitsFinanceFinancial ServicesInsuranceLife InsuranceWealth Management
Responsibilities
Support category management strategy planning for vendor rationalization, demand management, and other proactive opportunity activities
Participate in the analysis of internal and external market data to develop risk assessments, competitive intelligence, best practices, etc. related to categories
Identify and recommend sourcing (including outsourcing) opportunities to NM leaders
Develop relationships with key suppliers to improve category offerings and negotiate favorable terms
Evaluate customer feedback and implement changes to enhance overall business experience
Independently lead and accurately complete Pricing/Financial Analysis, Market Assessments, RFQ, RFI, RFP's, TCO/Make vs. Buy in accordance with established sourcing processes for the acquisition of goods and services and recommend specific sourcing strategies to Procurement management
Utilized prepared analyses to develop sourcing, negotiation, contracting and vendor management strategies and processes
Conduct analyses of disparate internal and external data
Related to sourcing events and draw conclusions to make recommendations to management to develop risk assessments, competitive intelligence, best practices, etc
Developed, with management input, financial/analytical models to support the sourcing function
Gather 3rd party secondary research to formulate fact based inquires senior business leaders for requirements, historical spend and anticipated future spend Participate in the documentation of workflows associated with total cost ownership analysis in support of sourcing projects (?)
Prepare and use reports, perform spend analysis and benchmark category spend to develop proposed action plans
Interview and document
Serve as a team member and safeguard all contracts as a part of the contract administration function
Develop, negotiate terms, process, incorporate mandated terms and track business requirement changes to contracts as recommended by Law, Audit, Vendor Risk Management, customers, and other key stakeholders to ensure changes are incorporated into final execution copies per established contracting processes/policies
Understand triggers and secure Agreements based on business and contracting requirements
Ensure compliance with NM policies and procedures
Independently lead and accurately complete NDA, PDSA, BAA, SOW, SOW, and all master agreements
Qualification
Required
Bachelors Degree in Supply Chain, Business, Finance and/or Engineering AND 3 years business experience in financial/supply chain operations/contract management OR 7 years of financial/supply chain operations/contract management experience
Required experience: 1) Contract management and administration, 2) Procurement, 3) Financial Analysis
Skills required: 1) Research and analytical skills, including conducting stakeholder interviews, 2) Conflict resolution, 3) Listening and clear and concise interpersonal, verbal and written communication, 4) Presentation development and delivery, 5) Technology proficiency (e.g. Zip, Peoplesoft, eProcurement, etc)
PC Proficiency to include MS Office
Drive business results, within established parameters, with minimal management direction and assistance
Function in ambiguous and/or time sensitive situations
Ensure compliance with NM policies and procedures
Independently lead and accurately complete NDA, PDSA, BAA, SOW, SOW, and all master agreements
Preferred
Preferred Experience: 1) Category Management, 2) Procurement, 3) Project Management, 4) Negotiation
Knowledge of Northwestern Mutual organization
Skills Preferred: 1) Presentation development and delivery, 2) Technology proficiency (e.g. Zip, SpendHQ, etc)
Company
Northwestern Mutual
Northwestern Mutual delivers financial security to millions with life, disability income and long-term care insurance, and investments.
5001-10000 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageLeadership Team
Timothy Gerend
Chairman, President and CEO
Phil Odella
COO/CFO
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