Sr. Category Manager

STRATTEC Security Corporation is one of the world's largest suppliers providing access and security systems to the automotive market. This drives us to be an innovative company with the latest technology. STRATTEC creates exciting opportunities to people who like to work in an environment that challenges them to be creative, deal with multiple customers and projects, and research the latest technology. You will help STRATTEC to be a pioneer by working closely with the largest automotive customers in the world along with the largest electronic partners.

As a Sr. CATEGORY MANAGER be prepared to build, deploy, and lead! This role reports into the Director of Procurement, Direct Materials.

We are transforming our procurement function, and we need a high-performing Sr. Category Manager to help lay the foundation. This isn't a role where you simply follow a manual-it's a role where you help write the manual.

Supporting a newly formed team, you will have a relatively blank canvas to design and deploy category strategies and procurement processes. This is an ideal move for an ambitious professional who wants to move beyond execution and into organizational design and strategic leadership.

Key Responsibilities:

End-to-End Category Leadership: Define and execute multi-year strategies for critical electronic automotive commodities to ensure security of supply and competitive advantage. You will define the "where, how, and who" of our sourcing future.
• Strategic Mentorship: Serve as a subject matter expert and mentor to Associate and Category Managers, helping to "write the manual" for our transforming procurement function.
• Advanced Strategic Negotiations: Lead high stakes, comprehensive negotiations for long-term agreements, focusing on complex pricing models, indexed formulas, and value-added services.
• Supplier Lifecycle Management: Identify and onboard world-class suppliers while aggressively managing and elevating the performance of the existing global supply base.
• Global Risk Mitigation: Proactively monitor and counteract global market trends and geopolitical factors to fully insulate the supply chain from high-level disruptions..
• Value Analysis/Value Engineering (VA/VE): Partner deeply with Engineering and Manufacturing teams to identify design-to-cost opportunities and technical savings.

Key Success Metrics:

• Strategic Roadmap Execution: Successful rollout of category-specific roadmaps within the first 6 months.
• Direct Material Productivity: Achievement of aggressive annual cost-reduction targets through expert negotiation and technical savings.
• Supplier Performance: Maintenance of high quality and on-time delivery (OTD) ratings across your assigned category.
• Process Optimization: Implementation of improved sourcing workflows that reduce time-to-market for new programs.

What We're Looking For:

• Experience: 8+ years of progressive experience in procurement or supply chain. A plus if it is within Automotive Tier 1 or OEM environments.
• Education: Bachelor's degree in Business, Supply Chain, or a technical field.
• Analytical Rigor: Proficiency in "Should-Cost" modeling, TCO analysis, and utilizing reports to drive data-based decisions.
• Professional Drive: A self-starter who is not satisfied with "business as usual" and thrives in a blank canvas environment.
• Industry Expertise: Extensive experience within Automotive Tier 1 or OEM environments is highly preferred.

Why This Role?

• Direct Influence: Work closely with the Director of Procurement to shape the department's roadmap, culture and future organizational design.
• Operational Scale: Manage a significant spend portfolio that directly affects our global market competitiveness.
• Global Reach: Engage with global manufacturing locations and complex international supplier relationships.
• Career Trajectory: As the department grows, the foundational work you do today positions you for future leadership roles.