Category Manager (Project Management)
About Cooper Machinery Services:
Cooper Machinery Services provides natural gas compression equipment and services to customers globally in the Oil & Gas, Power, Transportation, and Marine sectors. With a proud heritage dating back to 1833, Cooper Machinery Services is the OEM for legendary product lines including Cooper-Bessemer™, Ajax™, Superior™, Gemini, TSI, CSI, Enterprise, and Joy. Headquartered in Houston, TX, but with commercial and services hubs around the world, Cooper Machinery Services provides world-class services to more than 22,000 units in its installed base.
Our strength is our people. Each employee plays an integral role in our success and growth. With a commitment to our vision that strong relationships drive strong results and better business, our people make Cooper Machinery Services legendary.
Job Overview:
The Category Manager will be responsible for strategic management of $50MM of direct annual spend. The successful candidate will work closely with engineering, quality, buyers, sales / operations managers, and project managers. Evaluate the existing supplier base and develop new suppliers to support aggressive growth initiatives. Requires a blend of technical and business expertise as well as solid interpersonal and negotiation skills to lead both internally and externally.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
The Category Manager will be responsible for the following:
- Responsible for developing a sourcing strategy, including Make vs Buy decisions, & supplier management for the categories of castings, machined parts, raw materials, and outside processing
- Develop, builds and maintains strong relationships with suppliers and vendors, negotiating favorable terms while fostering long-term partnerships. Ensures supplier performance aligns with delivery schedules and quality standards.
- Collaborative problem solving; partners with engineering, quality, and production teams to resolve challenges in sourcing or manufacturing, ensuring alignment across departments and effective communication of technical priorities.
- Coordinate & lead supplier business reviews and scorecards; including managing overall supplier relationships, performance, capability, to drive cost and quality improvements.
- Maintain capability matrix for all key suppliers, making sure an effective supply base is available to meet organizational needs
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Manage Direct spend categories:
- Raw Materials (e.g., metals, castings)
- Semi-finished, Turn-key Machined Components
- Subcontracted Services (outsourced manufacturing, coating, etc)
- Understand, negotiate & align terms for blanket purchase orders and parts/service contracts.
- Continuously analyze spend, identify cost-saving opportunities, and implement strategies to reduce cost.
- In conjunction with supplier quality, manage and resolve supplier non-conformances
- Serve as a subject matter expert to coach/advise other functional areas within the business
- Maintains a safe and healthy work environment by implementing, maintaining and aligning company policies that adhere to local, state and federal environmental, health and safety regulations
Required Qualifications:
- Technical expertise; possesses a strong understanding of manufacturing processes such as machining, casting, and welding. Skilled in reading and interpreting engineering drawings and collaborating with engineers to ensure components meet technical and production requirements.
- Experience leading and managing a global supply base
- Bachelor's degree in Business, Supply Chain Management or related field from an accredited University or institution preferred
- Minimum 5 years of experience in category management or strategic sourcing role with experience in Oil & Gas or manufacturing preferred
- Proficient project management, communication, negotiation and presentation skills
- SAP experience preferred
- Experience developing, leading, and executing global commodity strategies focused on supplier cost, risk, and lead time reduction strategies.
- Technical, analytical, and management skills to lead RFQs, supplier selection, supplier capacity planning, and supplier risk identification/mitigation
- Ability to be a self-starter and work independently to achieve overall goals
- Domestic and international travel may be required.
Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
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