Encore · 5 hours ago
Senior Category Manager
Schiller Park, IL
Full-time
Onsite
Senior Level
$123K/yr - $160K/yr
7+ years expEncore is seeking a Senior Category Manager to manage a spend portfolio and develop category strategies in alignment with business objectives. The role involves leading procurement projects, fostering supplier relationships, and providing insights to stakeholders while optimizing cost and quality of services.
Event ManagementEvent PromotionEvents
Responsibilities
Responsible for conducting and overseeing the build out of RFPs, negotiations, contracting and ongoing supplier value management for continuous improvement
Lead workstreams to understand and leverage current and future business requirements, market intelligence, and historical spend to develop innovative category strategies that drive cost reduction, enterprise consistency, and business value
Responsible for establishing category metrics and savings targets, monitor performance, and communicate these to stakeholders
Create a category specific initiative pipeline that will forecast and direct procurement projects and sourcing activities for direct reports
Implement the category strategy by directing sourcing activities and demand initiatives
Develop and lead cross functional teams to execute on strategy
Maintain expertise in the spend category through relationships with direct reports, sourcing teams, business units, suppliers, market experts, and global/regional liaisons
Know and apply value chain and value stream concepts
Deliver financial targets in line with business expectations
Drive the category opportunity agenda and self-sufficiently identifies, agrees and executes these projects
Identify business enablement opportunities and provide category related insights and recommendations
Provide commodity knowledge to internal clients on industry trends, benchmarking, and best practices
Build and maintain collaborative relationships with Sourcing Teams, Line of Business Leaders, key stakeholders and suppliers
Act as prime negotiator with suppliers relative to pricing, terms, quality, and service
Share ownership and accountability for driving and delivering results through agreed upon strategies
Ensure strategies remain in alignment with business goals over time
Accountable for driving communication and reporting to keep internal clients informed of progress and benefits
Work with internal risk and compliance groups to ensure category strategies account for relevant laws, regulations, and risk policies
Lead and develop direct reports identify opportunities and execute against agreed upon strategies
Support the Senior Director of Procurement, SVP and Operations in achieving positive EBITDA impact, expanding scope of coverage, utilizing e-sourcing tools, and promoting supplier development
Act as change agent and advocate for Procurement as a value added function
In conjunction with direct reports and internal customers, identify priorities and negotiate supplier agreements within applicable product/service categories
Evaluate and identify potential sources of supply including global markets
Establish a supplier strategy - develop supplier partnerships with new suppliers and improve existing supplier relationships
Coordinate supplier involvement in new/alternate product design
Coordinate and implement supplier managed inventory/consignment programs
Develop and implement process improvements and cost savings ideas with suppliers
Establish and utilize vendor performance management tools and reports to improve consistency and reliability of suppliers
Supervise the day to day operations of the department staff
Monitor and evaluate performance of staff, mentoring and developing the individuals and documenting corrective action as needed
Continually recommend and/or initiate business process improvement opportunities around the purchasing processes, facilitating changes across the team as required
Identify, implement and monitor required tools, processes and procedures to create an effective and efficient organization
Model and reinforce a positive working environment centered on company values
Qualification
Required
Bachelor's Degree
7+ years of Category Management experience - designing and implementing successful Category/Sub-Category Strategies
Proven ability to connect ideas, events, and circumstances to find category management solutions to business problems or goals
Applies flexible approaches to achieving category management results in dynamic situations
Skilled in change adoption, change management, and resource assessment
Ability to work independently, energetic and self-motivated
Experience influencing others to voluntarily adopt Category Management practices
Strong analytical and financial skills
Strong oral and written communication
Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Power Point, Project, Excel and or Access
Preferred
MBA or advanced degree in related discipline
CPM or CPSM
Company
Encore
Encore Creative is a production and event management company.
10001+ employees
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageTotal Funding
unknown2025-03-06Acquired
Leadership Team
Jessie Essman
VP, Enterprise Project Management
Evan Swidler
Chief Human Resources Officer
Recent News
2026-01-05
2025-12-02
2025-11-07
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