Category Manager Jobs in Florida

Department

Procurement Services

Responsibilities

This position is responsible for developing and leading the execution strategy for assigned portfolio/research center spend categories and contracts with a focus on reviewing, analyzing, processing, and negotiating a wide range of requisitions and contracts for the procurement of goods and services, reviewing change order requests, discrepancies, and supporting procurement activities while ensuring money is spent in compliance with Federal, State and the University Board of Trustees laws and regulations.

• Category Management: Uses foundational knowledge to develop/execute category management that balances stakeholder management, transaction management, & supplier relationship management to unlock value for FSU. Creates & maintains an opportunity roadmap & action plan for the Category that identifies & quantifies key opportunities to drive value. Establishes category goals & utilizes spend tools for measuring progress against those goals & oversees spend under management in coordination with associated project including identifying relevant policies, mobilizing resources, & executing university-wide contracts. It may also include providing overviews of key strategies. Develops negotiation strategies, leads cross-functional negotiating teams & drives negotiations to achieve stated goals & objectives. Collaborates w/executive level management, key stakeholders, & Procurement Leadership to identify & align strategic objectives with Supply Chain Management resources. Demonstrates initiative in anticipating problems & developing plans to prevent or solve them with the least negative impact on the University. Holds strategic sourcing meetings frequently w/category specific stakeholders to discuss short & long term procurements, projects, large dollar amount purchases & strategic sourcing & consolidation efforts.

• Relationship Management: Works in a collaborative team environment to build consensus, promote an exchange of information among technical and business collaborators and lead stakeholder teams and multi-party negotiations. Develops and maintains constructive and cooperative working relationships with colleagues, management, and stakeholders. Maintains a diplomatic approach when working with key stakeholders and customers. Balance competing interests, display a win-win attitude without assuming an adversarial role. Uses foundational knowledge to act in a consultative role with departments by determining how Procurement Services can assist in achieving the department's goals by understanding their unique procurement needs and developing sourcing plans and strategies that best meet those needs. Interface with and partner with key stakeholders to understand and align business strategy, market dynamics, supplier capabilities, and spend analytics to develop category plans for a highly distributed, multi-faceted environment. Collaborate effectively across different organizational levels, functions, businesses, and geographies to realize procurement goals and objectives. Establish programs to facilitate data driven communication between strategic suppliers and FSU executive management.

• Sourcing: Uses foundational knowledge to lead team members in & actively administer sourcing activities. Review requisitions and select appropriate procurement method based on departmental needs, lead-time, market conditions and regulations. Work with customers to establish written detailed performance or product specifications and requirements for basic to intermediate procurements & competitive solicitations that includes supplier selection based on technical merit methodology. Review specifications for completeness by obtaining sufficient understanding of technical subject matter. Use formal solicitation procedures to solicit supplier responses and conduct Best and Final offers when appropriate. Analyze & evaluate informal quotations. Issue purchase orders after evaluation of solicitations, analyze cost, tabulate results, & negotiate terms most favorable to FSU, including early pay incentives. Establish contract terms and conditions. Resolve changes to standard terms, obtaining approval of language when appropriate from Procurement leadership and other contract related groups such as Office of General Council, Risk Management & Insurance Services when appropriate. Make award decisions & provide technical analysis of requests & offers to recommend solutions to reduce costs or improve efficiency.

• Professional Knowledge and Development: Maintain expertise and create goals for professional development. Keep abreast of issues and changes in the procurement field by attending professional meetings, participating in procurement and category related organizations. Remain current with market trends through relationships with suppliers and market experts; identify and communicate new technologies and solutions to key problems within the Category. Use foundational experience to maintain a working knowledge of applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations as well as any internal policies (e.g., code of ethics) or procedures to ensure behavior exhibited represents the highest level of integrity, honesty, and transparency. Actively participate in and provide expertise in FSU system-wide programs including category meetings and committees.

• Spend Analytics: Track forecasted vs. actual savings for the Category and is responsible for communicating performance against these measures and their potential budgetary impact. Analyze spend using data mining tools to conduct basic spend analysis strategies and reporting for measuring progress against those goals. Solicit and analyze price trends, market changes, and data from solicitation responses, benchmarks contract pricing to determine the best source of supply in accordance with prudent business practices and as required by law. Create and provide basic management reports as to contract cost savings, goals and metrics. Identify new sources of supply based on spend analysis and engage new suppliers focusing on customer needs. Work with campus departments to drive spend to contract suppliers using scorecard analysis.

• Supplier Relationship Management: Work collaboratively with suppliers to identify and execute continuous basic cost and performance improvement strategies, identifying and resolving basic key supplier performance issues to ensure customer satisfaction, engaging with new suppliers, conducting basic spend analysis, determining special factors, risk analysis and developing basic strategies. Leads quarterly business reviews with basic contract suppliers, and other key stakeholders based on acquired knowledge.

• Other Duties: Maintain paperless file documentation online and in contract management tools, organizing and maintaining documentation pertinent to audit reviews, contract renewals, terminations and performance, solicitation protests and disputes, and supplier due dates. Take a pro-active approach in handling job related activities to include teamwork, interaction with departments and suppliers, keeping up with commitments, predicting when circumstances may prevent commitment(s) from being met and takes action to reprioritize assignments or modification of commitment(s) so all can be timely met. Provide training to campus departments on basic procurement topics. Drive implementation of preferred supplier relationships by providing education and outreach to campus departments. Provide training on basic procurement-related processes as needed to internal procurement staff. Performs additional duties or reports as may be assigned.

Qualifications

Bachelor's degree and three years of experience; or a high school diploma or equivalent and seven years of experience. (Note: post high-school education and/or experience may substitute at a comparable rate.)

Candidates with an additional two years of related experience will be considered for levels II - IV. Each level requires an additional three years of related experience.

Other Information

This position will serve as the dedicated procurement liaison supporting the Maintenance, Repair, and Operations (MRO) category. As the primary resource to its stakeholders, including campus departments and facilities partners, it will support procurement needs across a wide range of MRO-related goods and services, while also providing backup and support across other spend categories as needed.

University Information

One of the nation's elite research universities, Florida State University preserves, expands, and disseminates knowledge in the sciences, technology, arts, humanities, and professions, while embracing a philosophy of learning strongly rooted in the traditions of the liberal arts and critical thinking. Founded in 1851, Florida State University is the oldest continuous site of higher education in Florida. FSU is a community steeped in tradition that fosters research and encourages creativity. At FSU, there’s the excitement of being part of a vibrant academic and professional community, surrounded by people whose ideas are shaping tomorrow’s news!

Learn more about Florida State University and our campuses.

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FSU offers a robust Total Rewards package. Visit our FSU Total Rewards website to learn more about our Compensation, Benefits, Wellness, Recognition, and Employee Development programs.

Use our FSU Total Compensation Calculator to calculate Total Compensation options based on potential salary, benefits and retirement contributions, earned leave, and other employment-related perks.

How To Apply

If qualified and interested in a specific job opening as advertised, apply through the FSU Careers site (jobs.fsu.edu). If you are a current FSU employee, apply through myFSU Self Service.

Applicants are required to complete the online application with all applicable information. Applications must include all work history up to ten years, and education details even if attaching a resume.

Considerations

This is an A&P position.

This position requires successful completion of a criminal history background check.

Equal Employment Opportunity

FSU is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.