Senior Category Manager

Senior Category Manager Procurement (Direct Materials) Basic Function

The Senior Category Manager is a key leadership role within Tarkett North Americas Corporate Sourcing organization. This position develops and executes competitive category management and sourcing strategies across Tarketts North American operations.

The role owns Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) performance for critical direct material categories including Resins Chemicals Backing Layers Glass Veil Recycled PVB Distribution (with potential to expand based on business needs and candidate capabilities). The position is expected to deliver high-impact initiatives that improve operational performance drive structural cost savings and support Tarketts strategic objectives.

The Senior Category Manager partners with internal stakeholders and suppliers to improve value delivery through data-driven strategies innovation and risk mitigation. This individual leads each category through the end-to-end sourcing lifecyclefrom strategy and sourcing through contracting implementation and supplier performance management.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute category strategies that optimize total cost quality supply assurance and sustainability across assigned direct material categories.

• Lead the end-to-end category lifecycle using Tarketts strategic sourcing methodology (e.g. opportunity assessment strategy RFP/RFQ negotiation award contracting and implementation).

• Drive TCO improvements through market intelligence should-cost/cost modeling and competitive benchmarking.

• Lead cross-functional stakeholder teams to align category strategies with business priorities and secure timely decisions and buy-in.

• Negotiate complex supply agreements (pricing service levels risk terms) that deliver long-term value and reduce supply risk.

• Define track and communicate category KPIs (cost quality service innovation sustainability) and maintain supplier scorecards.

• Lead supplier business reviews and corrective action plans to ensure performance to contract and drive continuous improvement.

• Identify and implement sourcing and technical collaboration opportunities that enable value analysis/value engineering (VA/VE) sustainability improvements and risk reduction.

• Monitor market conditions cost drivers and supplier capacity to anticipate raw material changes; develop and execute mitigation plans as needed.

• Build savings pipelines and benefits tracking (baseline forecast and realized) including lead time delivery and productivity improvements.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelors degree in Business Supply Chain Finance Engineering or a related field (MBA preferred).

• 5 years of experience in strategic sourcing/category management manufacturing R&D engineering or a related function; direct materials experience strongly preferred.

• Demonstrated knowledge of TCO cost modeling and strategic sourcing best practices.

• Ability to travel up to 25%.

Preferred Qualifications

• Proven success leading cross-functional teams within a multi-plant or enterprise environment.

• Expertise in category management from strategy development through implementation and ongoing performance management.

• Strong business acumen with the ability to build fact-based business cases and influence senior stakeholders.

• Demonstrated strength in market analysis cost modeling and supplier negotiations.

• Knowledge of supply markets cost drivers and technology trends affecting direct materials.

• Strong project management skills with the ability to manage multiple initiatives concurrently.

• Skilled in drafting negotiating and administering supplier contracts.

• Excellent communication and presentation skills with the ability to influence at all levels of the organization.

• Highly analytical results-oriented and able to translate insights into measurable outcomes.

• Strategic thinking with strong financial and analytical skills (should-cost cost drivers and business case development).

• Influence and stakeholder management across Manufacturing R&D Quality Finance and Commercial teams.

• Negotiation contracting and supplier performance management; comfort with complex multi-year agreements.

• Risk management mindset (continuity of supply dual sourcing and contingency planning).

• Continuous improvement orientation with a focus on standard work measurable results and clear communication.

What We Offer

• A commitment that Safety is #1

• Competitive benefits pay and retirement plan options!

• Career growth stability and flexible work arrangements.

Responsible Manufacturing Protecting Our Planet for the Future

• We utilize renewable energy and a closed loop recycled water process.

• We are committed to reducing greenhouse emissions and water consumption.

• We are the only flooring company recognized by the Asthma and Allergy foundation.

Who we are:

With a history of more than 140 years Tarkett is a worldwide leader in innovative and sustainable flooring and sport surface solutions generating turnover of 3.3 billion in 2025. The Group has close to 12000 employees 25 R&D centers 8 recycling centers and 33 production sites. Tarkett creates and manufactures solutions for hospitals schools housing hotels offices stores and sports fields serving customers in over 100 countries. To build The Way to Better Floors the Group is committed to circular economy and sustainability in line with its Tarkett HumanConscious Design approach.

Tarkett is an equal opportunity employer. We value diversity in backgrounds and in experiences and promote an inclusive workplace where all employees can perform at their best.