Category Manager (Premium Windows)

PURPOSE

The Category Manager is responsible for developing and executing category strategies for premium window categories with lower spend or high-growth potential. The Category Manager collaborates cross-functionally with Business, Finance, and supply chain teams to achieve business priorities and assigned targets for the premium window category. This role operates with a certain level of autonomy while keeping the Commodity / Non-Commodity (S)VP engaged, leveraging market expertise and proactive business engagement to drive cost savings, innovation, supplier development, and revenue growth. The Category Manager collaborates with S&P Leadership and key business stakeholders to align category strategies with business priorities, ensuring supply security and competitive positioning. Category Managers are also responsible for creating value through supplier relationship management activities and engagement with the field.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Category Strategy & Business Alignment

• Manages and drives the performance of one or several lower spend categories or high growth potential categories.
• Develops category strategies based on business objectives and field priorities set by Commodity/Non-Commodity (S)VP.
• Acts as a thought leader, proactively engaging with senior business and procurement leadership to translate market insights into financial impact.
• Develops long-term, mid-term, and short-term category strategies based on market intelligence, business needs, and supplier capabilities.
• Develop advanced strategies to better leverage market dynamics and BFS size like preferred supplier program, market share, supplier development...

Market & Supplier Expertise for Opportunity Generation

• Develops and maintains deep knowledge of market trends, supplier landscapes, and disruptive innovations to identify cost reduction, productivity, and value creation opportunities.
• Manages/works with a team of Category analysts to support insights generation and analytics for the category(ies).
• Translates insights into actionable strategies that drive financial benefits, including productivity gains, cost savings, working capital optimization, and cash flow improvement.
• Engages proactively with business leaders (alone or with the Commodity / Non-Commodity (S)VP) to secure buy-in for innovative category strategies and project opportunities.

Execution & Performance Optimization

• Develops and maintains a book of work for sourcing initiatives, aligned with category objectives and business priorities, that enhance category performance.
• Manage/works with, one or several sourcing managers responsible of the opportunities execution and secures project are completed within the expected timeline and generate value (Productivity, savings, cash flow...) according to the category strategy.
• Participates in critical supplier negotiations and decision-making processes in support of the sourcing manager, including supplier selection, contract structuring, and market share allocation.
• Secures sourcing manager, prepares plans for proper contract implementation and ensure coordination between their team and Buyers / Replenishers to maximize compliance with preferred suppliers, negotiated prices or market shares to optimize category performance.
• Oversees supplier qualification and strategic alignment to ensure BFS maintains a high-quality, reliable, and competitive supply base.
• Coordinate with Integrated Business Planning (IBP) team, field and buyers on forecast review and defining the right level of replenishment for the category(ies).
• Develops and manages an annual operating plan with clear KPIs, covering key topics like Growth, Value, Cash flow generation (including KPIs like inventory turns, productivity, beat the market, sourcing efficiency, and sales impact).

Business Engagement & Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Coordinate senior business leadership engagement with the Commodity / Non-Commodity (S)VP ensure S&P leadership participation whenever relevant.
• Works closely with business stakeholders, sales teams, and supply planning to align category product assortments with market demands and cost efficiency goals.
• Supports supply planning reviews, advising buyers on category strategies and market-driven opportunities.
• Ensures clear and timely communication with internal and external stakeholders regarding category activities and initiatives.
• Participates in periodic business reviews with regional and market leadership to discuss category impact, sourcing performance, and procurement contributions.

Supplier & Risk Management

• Develops and manages supplier relationships within a structured engagement framework, ensuring alignment with category strategies and performance expectations.
• Oversees a preferred supplier program with qualification requirements, tiering, and performance monitoring to optimize cost savings and supply reliability.
• Provides regular updates on rebate forecasts, savings targets, and gross margin return on investment (GMROI).
• Mitigates category risks by proactively assessing vulnerabilities and implementing risk management strategies to ensures long-term supply security and price stability.

Leadership & Team Development

• Reports team needs, challenges, and development opportunities to Commodity/Non-Commodity leadership for resolution and support.
• Monitors and drives category performance metrics, ensuring sourcing team execution aligns with business priorities.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

This job has no supervisory responsibilities.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

• Bachelor's degree in supply chain management or related field

• 10-15 years related experience or equivalent combination of education and experience
• Related experience preferably as either a window specialist in the LBM industry, or as a window manufacturing sales representative.
• Preferred advanced degree or CIPS certification.

COMPETENCIES

Competencies listed are non-exhaustive but meant to be illustrative of the fundamental skillsets required to perform the duties and responsibilities listed above. Skills are indicated with a corresponding level of expertise ranging from Aware, Knowledgeable, Practicing, Mature, & Expert

Key Functional Skills

• Expert Negotiation skills (Int. & Ext.)
• Mature Product & Market Trend skills
• Mature Category Management

Key Behavioral Skills

• Expert Supplier Relationship Management
• Expert Verbal & Written Communication
• Mature Stakeholder Engagement
• Mature Strategic Thinking & Problem Solving

Key Leadership Skills

• Practicing Cost Management
• Practicing Team Management & Delegation
• Practicing Innovation
• Practicing Leadership Skills
• Practicing Business Strategy & Development

SUCCESS MEASURES / KPIS

Main KPIs:

• Growth:

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  • # Cat. Plans in Place for Growth Categories (by Major & Minor)
  • Price Index vs. Market for Growth Categories (by Major & Minor)
  • Product Availability % by Minor
  • Stock Outage Revenue Lost by Minor
  • Supplier Lead Time Compliance by Minor
  
  
  
  

• Value:

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  • Category Opportunity Pipeline ($) by Major and Minor
  • Productivity & Savings Realized ($ and %) for Category Major & Minor
  • Spend Under Contract as % of Total Spend
  • Supplier Compliance with Negotiated T&Cs
  • % Spend with Preferred Suppliers
  • Beat the Market (Productivity Perf vs Inflation in $ and %)
  
  
  
  

• Cash Optimization:

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  • DPO (Days Payable Outstanding)
  • Inventory Days On Hand
  • Inventory Turnover Rate
  
  
  
  

Additional/Optional KPIs:

• Supplier Performance
• Quality of Supply
• Supplier Risk Ratings
• Category Budget and Forecasting Accuracy (with IBP)

WORK ENVIRONMENT / PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

• The ideal candidate would be based out of our Field Support Center in Dallas or Denver
• Combination of indoor and outdoor environments and physical activity requirements.

• Work is in an office setting and generally sedentary with physical effort associated with using a computer but may involve walking or standing for brief periods of time.

• Occasional oversight activities may take place out of doors, subject to temperature and weather variations.

• Willingness and ability to travel to facility locations up to 40% of the time.
• Business engagement up to 30-40% of the time.