What’s the Job?
This Category Manager owns and manages the North American purchasing category for LTL and Full Truckload (Dry Van and Flatbed) within the logistics purchasing function. This position will handle all Less than Truckload (LTL) and Full truckload (FTL) category negotiations for the assigned categories across Saint-Gobain businesses. Less than Truckload (LTL) being the primary category, however, this position will support TL as it pertains to the HPS TL business and will support CertainTeed regional activities as required. This position is responsible for achieving cost savings goals and process improvements to meet the needs of the business. Position is responsible for developing the overall LTL category strategy and manage network compliance to the strategy. As the leader for all purchasing functions, contracts, pricing, and benchmarking for these categories, this position ensures that all related transportation purchases are made in compliance with corporate policies.
This individual will establish controls and procedures to minimize transportation costs while being flexible to meet the needs of the internal and external customers. This individual will have responsibility for continuous improvement projects to ensure process agility, support sustainability initiatives and lead IT integration and technological advancement. Job position requires to be subject matter expert in LTL transportation and logistics including management and negotiation of commercial agreements. This individual must be a proactive leader to identify opportunities, make recommendations, and rapid decisions to achieve the transportation purchasing strategy across the business.
The individual must have extensive experience in managing LTL freight, from partner selection to a broad understanding of brokerage related topics so as to communicate effectively with numerous supply chain and purchasing teams across the organization and coordinate activities with the Corporate Compliance teams to ensure adherence to government regulations.
What will you do?
- Engage cross functional teams to develop, advocate, and implement best-in-class category strategies to achieve short and long-term objectives, working closely with related internal departments (e.g. Supply Chain, Purchasing, Operations, Compliance) to ensure the delivery of the business needs.
- Collaborates with Logistics procurement and major logistics stakeholders on executing transportation bids and tenders; LTL and FTL.
- Lead carrier negotiations and selection to ensure best overall cost position for the organization for assigned categories. Negotiate, develop and approve contracts, agreements, provide carrier direction and business awards.
- Negotiate all carrier agreements in coordination with legal and business unit transportation management to ensure compliance to all applicable laws, regulations, and insurance requirements.
- Strong understanding and negotiation experience with LTL pricing amendments including the negotiation and understanding of Czarlite SMC3 tariffs, Freight of all kinds (FAK) pricing structures and zone-based pricing and standard accessorials.
- Develop and lead the strategy to mitigate carrier and industrial risks within assigned categories driving acceptance and use of a consolidated strategic supply base.
- Collaborates with Legal Teams & Compliance to develop standard contract terms and conditions.
- Develop and lead the strategy to mitigate carrier and industrial risks within assigned categories driving acceptance and use of a consolidated strategic supply base.
- Directs market analysis for all historical and potential future category purchases. Assesses the ability of the category strategy to satisfy the business’ volume, quality, performance and total cost of ownership requirements.
- Develops and implements strategies and processes to ensure service effectiveness of transportation providers across all assigned categories.
- Ensures provider and carrier cost compliance with contracts remain in alignment with market pricing. Regularly review market intelligence and benchmark business unit performance to identify potential areas for opportunity as it relates to cost and/or service.
- Maintain a deep understanding of industry best practices and technology trends and educate team members and business partners as needed. Work with relevant internal departments on strategies related to changing global regulatory compliance requirements and environmental best practices.
- Develop and lead the strategy to mitigate carrier and industrial risks within assigned categories driving acceptance and use of a consolidated strategic supply base.
- Collaborates with Legal Teams &; Compliance to develop standard contract terms and conditions.
- Work collaboratively throughout the supply chain to drive cost, quality and capacity improvements through carrier management, segmentation, and negotiations for assigned categories.
- Responsible for the overall strategic supplier relationship to insure a collaborative working relationship throughout the Supply Chain.
- Utilize the tools, and processes to optimize sourcing, supplier activities, and efficiencies.
- Lead the budget process for assigned categories.
- Assist with monitoring and leading process improvement on the payable side including monitoring carrier invoicing through freight audit and pay company.
- Develop and implement category objectives using key performance indicators. Manage category objectives to insure the KPI's are met.
- Understand applicable company policy and insure personal and team compliance including the procurement policy and procedures, SOX controls and DOA.
- Prepare and publish progress and periodic reports to management.
- Any other responsibilities as assigned.
What do you bring?
- Bachelor’s degree or relevant experience in the required field
- 7-10 years of relevant experience in Transportation and Logistics. Manufacturing company/environment experience preferred.
- Experience in transportation industry with a focus on OTR LTL and FTL freight is required. This includes strong understanding of the standard for freight identification and classification (NMFC), documentation, standard shipping zones, and payment processes.
- Business management skills including the ability to develop and execute strategy. Solid understanding of business disciplines and financial information.
- Strong stakeholder engagement skills and ability to align leaders from various functions around a common goal/objective using a data-based business case.
- Excellent negotiation, communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence all levels of employees and management, both inside the company and externally with suppliers.
- Strong analytical skills in managing raw data to identify logistics network opportunity and process improvements.
- Ability to make data-driven decisions or recommendations and align decisions with strategies. Considers the impacts of decisions on other parts of the organization.
- Strong Microsoft Power Point, Excel, and Access skills. Strong systems aptitude and analytical skills required. Manhattan Assoc. TMS and SAP ERP experience is highly desirable.
- Tableau experience is highly desirable.
- Strong written & verbal communication skills, as well as effective presentation skills.
- Willingness to travel up to 10% of time in support of global projects and supplier relationship management/issue resolution.
- Experience with working in a matrix organization would be beneficial.
What are our perks?
We provide unique options to fit your unique lives! Our Total Rewards Program is customizable to accommodate your needs.
Our menu of flexible options includes, but is not limited to:
- Excellent healthcare options: Medical, vision, prescription & dental
- Family Focus & Balance: Parental leave, paid time-off and Employee Assistance Program
- Financial Security: Competitive 401(k), Company-funded Retirement Accumulation Plan and Employee Stock Purchase Program (PEG)
- Tuition Reimbursement: Continuing education for every season of your career
- Pet Insurance options: Insurance plan & prescription discount program for your furry friends
- Employee Recognition Programs
- PerkSpot: Our exclusive one-stop online discount marketplace
- LiveWell: Rewarding you for living a healthy lifestyle
At Saint-Gobain, our employees have pride in belonging to an organization whose culture is made up of these core values: Trust, Empowerment, & Collaboration. Our company encourages diversity and inclusion in all its forms while making the world a more beautiful and sustainable home.
Saint-Gobain provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, amnesty, or status as a covered veteran in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws. Saint-Gobain is an equal opportunity employer of individuals with disabilities and supports the hiring of veterans.
