Senior Category Manager, NPM

About Us:

How many companies can say they’ve been in business for over 177 years?!

Here at ZEISS, we certainly can! As the pioneers of science, ZEISS handles the everchanging environments in a fast-paced world, meeting it with cutting edge of technologies and continuous advancements. ZEISS believes that innovation and technology are the key to a sustainable future and solutions for global change. We have a diverse range of portfolios throughout the ZEISS family in segments like, Industrial Quality & Research, Medical Technology, Consumer Markets and Semiconductor Manufacturing Technology. We are a global company with over 42,000 employees and have over 4,000 in the US and Canada alone! Make a difference, come join the team!

What’s the role?

As the Senior Category Manager, NPM at ZEISS, you will lead strategic procurement initiatives for North America, ensuring alignment with global and regional business objectives. Your role will focus on strategic sourcing, category management, and vendor relationships, optimizing supplier portfolios, negotiating contracts, and driving cost-effective procurement solutions. You will serve as a key partner to Business Units, Finance, and global Procurement teams, leveraging data-driven insights to enhance spend transparency, improve procurement processes, and implement best practices. Additionally, you will oversee governance, compliance, and continuous improvement efforts, contributing to ZEISS’s operational excellence and long-term procurement strategy.

Sound Interesting?

Here’s what you’ll do:

Strategic Sourcing & Procurement:

• Conduct market analysis and develop sourcing strategies aligned with ZEISS’s objectives.
• Lead cross-functional alignment for RFP execution in a multi-stakeholder environment.
• Prepare cost breakdowns and spend forecasts in collaboration with Business Units and Finance.
• Negotiate supplier contracts, ensuring quality, service, and cost objectives are met.

Category Management:

• Identify and execute national and global bundling opportunities.
• Monitor and mitigate cost exposure in Indirect Spend categories.
• Optimize supplier portfolios to drive efficiency and cost savings.
• Act as a subject matter expert for local procurement teams.

Vendor & Supplier Management:

• Oversee national Corporate Services programs and implement cost-reduction strategies.
• Establish and monitor supplier performance metrics.
• Serve as the escalation point for performance-related issues.
• Foster strategic vendor relationships to drive innovation and efficiency.

Reporting & Analytics:

• Lead procurement KPI reporting in collaboration with global Procurement teams.
• Develop vendor reporting frameworks to enhance transparency.
• Utilize procurement data analysis tools to improve spend visibility.

Continuous Improvement & Compliance:

• Work with Business Units and global Procurement teams to enhance procurement processes.
• Support the rollout of procurement tools and Procure-to-Pay initiatives.
• Ensure compliance with procurement policies and assist in corporate audits.

Do you qualify?

Education & Experience:

• Master’s degree in business, Supply Chain Management, or a related field with 7+ years of experience in Procurement, Category Management, Strategic Sourcing, or Finance.
• OR Bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain Management, or a related field with 12+ years of relevant experience.

Technical & Functional Expertise:

• Sourcing & Category Management: Proven experience managing indirect spend categories such as Corporate Travel, IT/Mobility Wireless, Logistics, Fleet Management, Marketing, and Corporate Services.
• Procurement Strategy: Strong knowledge of procurement methodologies, best practices, and innovative sourcing strategies.
• Project & Change Management: Ability to manage complex, multi-stakeholder procurement projects at a national and international level, driving cost savings and process improvements in a VUCA environment.
• Contract Negotiation: Deep understanding of contract law, stakeholder contracting processes, and cost modeling for effective negotiations.
• Financial & Data Analytics: Strong financial acumen and experience with procurement tools and analytics platforms like SAP, Jaggaer, and Power BI.

Interpersonal & Leadership Skills:

• Stakeholder Engagement: Ability to build an