Senior Level Global Category Manager Jobs
Senior level global category manager jobs place experienced professionals at the helm of strategic sourcing decisions, supplier relationships, and the cross-functional teams that drive procurement outcomes across the enterprise. Openings are concentrated across Electronics & Hardware, Waste Management & Environmental Services, and Medical Devices, with a mix of on-site, hybrid, and remote roles, and employers like Ecolab, Amazon, and GTI Fabrication hiring at this level now.
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INTRODUCTION
Ecolab is seeking a Global Category Manager, Marketing Agency Procurement to join our Global Indirect Procurement organization in St. Paul, Minnesota. Reporting to the Senior Manager, Global Marketing, Travel & Fleet Procurement, you will own category management for global media, creative, public relations, digital and experiential agency services. As a trusted commercial advisor to global and regional Marketing leaders, you will translate marketing priorities, campaign requirements and business objectives into sourcing strategies and agency models that balance brand impact, speed, innovation, quality, risk and total value.
This individual-contributor role leads through influence across Marketing, Finance, Legal, Communications, Digital, Sales and regional teams. As business needs evolve, you may assume responsibility for additional marketing services categories or broader enterprise priorities.
What You Will Do:
- Own global category strategies for media, creative, public relations, digital and experiential agency services, including sourcing plans, market intelligence, supplier segmentation, value delivery, risk and compliance.
- Establish global frameworks while partnering with regional Procurement and Marketing teams on local requirements, sourcing execution, implementation and adoption.
- Maintain a global view of agency spend, demand, contracts, capabilities, geographic coverage and performance; align category strategies with brand, growth, demand-generation, customer-engagement and communications priorities.
- Evaluate agency operating models, including agency-of-record, roster, holding-company, specialist and project-based approaches, and recommend the right model based on business needs.
- Lead complex agency reviews, requests for proposal, supplier evaluations, negotiations, contracting, implementation and benefits realization.
- Develop business requirements, scopes of work, evaluation criteria and commercial models; assess fees, rate cards, staffing plans, production markups, incentives, pass-through costs, media buying economics, data access, measurement, audit rights and transparency provisions.
- Negotiate pricing, service levels, intellectual property and usage rights, data and measurement provisions, cancellation terms, audit rights and other commercial protections in partnership with Legal, Finance, Privacy, Information Security and control functions.
- Build trusted relationships with Marketing leaders, provide agency-market insights and executive-ready recommendations, and constructively challenge briefs, scopes and agency recommendations to improve competition, transparency, accountability and outcomes.
- Own supplier strategy and governance for key agencies through performance reviews, scorecards, issue resolution and improvement plans; monitor service, staffing quality, cost, innovation, compliance and stakeholder satisfaction.
- Use spend, rate, scope, utilization and performance data to identify opportunities, validate savings and cost avoidance with Finance, improve visibility into working and non-working investment, and support informed reinvestment decisions.
- Lead cross-functional implementation and change management following agency selections, operating-model changes and contract transitions while improving sourcing effectiveness, cycle time, quality and the agency experience.
- Drive adoption of procurement policies, systems and contracting standards, and escalate material risks, resource constraints and decisions with clear facts, options and recommendations.
Position Details:
- Hybrid Role (3 days onsite at St. Paul, MN)
- Open to Relocation to St. Paul, MN
- Work schedule: Role requires flexibility to collaborate across multiple time zones.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain, Procurement, Marketing, Communications, Finance or a related discipline.
- 7 years of experience in procurement, strategic sourcing, category management, marketing operations or agency commercial management, with progressive responsibility in a global or matrixed organization.
- Experience owning category strategies and leading end-to-end sourcing initiatives, including market analysis, competitive bidding, negotiation, contracting, implementation and supplier performance management.
- Experience sourcing and managing commercial arrangements for marketing agency services across at least two of the following areas: media, creative, public relations, digital or experiential agencies.
- Experience building relationships with senior Marketing stakeholders and influencing decisions across business, creative and control functions.
- Strong analytical, financial, project-management and communication skills.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience supporting business-to-business or account-based marketing, including targeted-account strategies, integrated campaigns, sales alignment, agency delivery models and performance measurement.
- Experience sourcing experiential marketing, events, activations, trade shows or production services.
- Experience with global media agency relationships, media buying economics, measurement, transparency and governance.
- Experience with creative, digital and public relations agency reviews and commercial models.
- Knowledge of agency scopes, rate cards, staffing plans, production markups, intellectual property and usage rights.
- Experience establishing agency rosters, governance routines, performance scorecards and supplier development plans.
- Experience working across global brands, business units and regions in a business-to-business environment.
- Experience implementing agency selections, including transition planning, onboarding, knowledge transfer, governance and change management.
- Professional certification in procurement, supply chain, project management or marketing.
Annual or Hourly Compensation Range
The base salary range for this position is $107,600.00 - $161,500.00. This position is eligible for annual bonus pay based on performance, per plan terms. Many factors are taken into consideration when determining compensation, such as experience, education, training, geography, etc. We comply with all minimum wage and overtime laws.
Benefits
Ecolab strives to provide comprehensive and market-competitive benefits to meet the needs of our associates and their families.
If you are viewing this posting on a site other than our Ecolab Career website, view our benefits at jobs.ecolab.com/working-here.
Potential Customer Requirements Notice
To meet customer requirements and comply with local or state regulations, applicants for certain customer-facing roles may need to:
- Undergo additional background screens and/or drug/alcohol testing for customer credentialing.
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
Ecolab will provide reasonable accommodation (such as a qualified sign language interpreter or other personal assistance) with our application process upon request as required to comply with applicable laws. If you have a disability and require accommodation assistance in this application process, please visit the Recruiting Support link in the footer of each page of our career website.
Our Commitment to a Culture of Inclusion & Belonging
At Ecolab, we believe the best teams are inclusive. We are on a journey to create a workplace where every associate can grow and achieve their best. We are committed to fair and equal treatment of associates and applicants and recruit, hire, promote, transfer and provide opportunities for advancement based on individual qualifications and job performance. In all matters affecting employment, compensation, benefits, working conditions, and opportunities for advancement, we will not discriminate against any associate or applicant for employment because of race, religion, color, creed, national origin, citizenship status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expressions, genetic information, marital status, age, disability, or status as a covered veteran.
In addition, we are committed to furthering the principles of Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) through Affirmative Action (AA).
We will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws, including the City of Los Angeles’ Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, and the New York City Fair Chance Act.
INTRODUCTION
Ecolab is seeking a Global Category Manager, Marketing Agency Procurement to join our Global Indirect Procurement organization in St. Paul, Minnesota. Reporting to the Senior Manager, Global Marketing, Travel & Fleet Procurement, you will own category management for global media, creative, public relations, digital and experiential agency services. As a trusted commercial advisor to global and regional Marketing leaders, you will translate marketing priorities, campaign requirements and business objectives into sourcing strategies and agency models that balance brand impact, speed, innovation, quality, risk and total value.
This individual-contributor role leads through influence across Marketing, Finance, Legal, Communications, Digital, Sales and regional teams. As business needs evolve, you may assume responsibility for additional marketing services categories or broader enterprise priorities.
What You Will Do:
- Own global category strategies for media, creative, public relations, digital and experiential agency services, including sourcing plans, market intelligence, supplier segmentation, value delivery, risk and compliance.
- Establish global frameworks while partnering with regional Procurement and Marketing teams on local requirements, sourcing execution, implementation and adoption.
- Maintain a global view of agency spend, demand, contracts, capabilities, geographic coverage and performance; align category strategies with brand, growth, demand-generation, customer-engagement and communications priorities.
- Evaluate agency operating models, including agency-of-record, roster, holding-company, specialist and project-based approaches, and recommend the right model based on business needs.
- Lead complex agency reviews, requests for proposal, supplier evaluations, negotiations, contracting, implementation and benefits realization.
- Develop business requirements, scopes of work, evaluation criteria and commercial models; assess fees, rate cards, staffing plans, production markups, incentives, pass-through costs, media buying economics, data access, measurement, audit rights and transparency provisions.
- Negotiate pricing, service levels, intellectual property and usage rights, data and measurement provisions, cancellation terms, audit rights and other commercial protections in partnership with Legal, Finance, Privacy, Information Security and control functions.
- Build trusted relationships with Marketing leaders, provide agency-market insights and executive-ready recommendations, and constructively challenge briefs, scopes and agency recommendations to improve competition, transparency, accountability and outcomes.
- Own supplier strategy and governance for key agencies through performance reviews, scorecards, issue resolution and improvement plans; monitor service, staffing quality, cost, innovation, compliance and stakeholder satisfaction.
- Use spend, rate, scope, utilization and performance data to identify opportunities, validate savings and cost avoidance with Finance, improve visibility into working and non-working investment, and support informed reinvestment decisions.
- Lead cross-functional implementation and change management following agency selections, operating-model changes and contract transitions while improving sourcing effectiveness, cycle time, quality and the agency experience.
- Drive adoption of procurement policies, systems and contracting standards, and escalate material risks, resource constraints and decisions with clear facts, options and recommendations.
Position Details:
- Hybrid Role (3 days onsite at St. Paul, MN)
- Open to Relocation to St. Paul, MN
- Work schedule: Role requires flexibility to collaborate across multiple time zones.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain, Procurement, Marketing, Communications, Finance or a related discipline.
- 7 years of experience in procurement, strategic sourcing, category management, marketing operations or agency commercial management, with progressive responsibility in a global or matrixed organization.
- Experience owning category strategies and leading end-to-end sourcing initiatives, including market analysis, competitive bidding, negotiation, contracting, implementation and supplier performance management.
- Experience sourcing and managing commercial arrangements for marketing agency services across at least two of the following areas: media, creative, public relations, digital or experiential agencies.
- Experience building relationships with senior Marketing stakeholders and influencing decisions across business, creative and control functions.
- Strong analytical, financial, project-management and communication skills.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience supporting business-to-business or account-based marketing, including targeted-account strategies, integrated campaigns, sales alignment, agency delivery models and performance measurement.
- Experience sourcing experiential marketing, events, activations, trade shows or production services.
- Experience with global media agency relationships, media buying economics, measurement, transparency and governance.
- Experience with creative, digital and public relations agency reviews and commercial models.
- Knowledge of agency scopes, rate cards, staffing plans, production markups, intellectual property and usage rights.
- Experience establishing agency rosters, governance routines, performance scorecards and supplier development plans.
- Experience working across global brands, business units and regions in a business-to-business environment.
- Experience implementing agency selections, including transition planning, onboarding, knowledge transfer, governance and change management.
- Professional certification in procurement, supply chain, project management or marketing.
Annual or Hourly Compensation Range
The base salary range for this position is $107,600.00 - $161,500.00. This position is eligible for annual bonus pay based on performance, per plan terms. Many factors are taken into consideration when determining compensation, such as experience, education, training, geography, etc. We comply with all minimum wage and overtime laws.
Benefits
Ecolab strives to provide comprehensive and market-competitive benefits to meet the needs of our associates and their families.
If you are viewing this posting on a site other than our Ecolab Career website, view our benefits at jobs.ecolab.com/working-here.
Potential Customer Requirements Notice
To meet customer requirements and comply with local or state regulations, applicants for certain customer-facing roles may need to:
- Undergo additional background screens and/or drug/alcohol testing for customer credentialing.
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
Ecolab will provide reasonable accommodation (such as a qualified sign language interpreter or other personal assistance) with our application process upon request as required to comply with applicable laws. If you have a disability and require accommodation assistance in this application process, please visit the Recruiting Support link in the footer of each page of our career website.
Our Commitment to a Culture of Inclusion & Belonging
At Ecolab, we believe the best teams are inclusive. We are on a journey to create a workplace where every associate can grow and achieve their best. We are committed to fair and equal treatment of associates and applicants and recruit, hire, promote, transfer and provide opportunities for advancement based on individual qualifications and job performance. In all matters affecting employment, compensation, benefits, working conditions, and opportunities for advancement, we will not discriminate against any associate or applicant for employment because of race, religion, color, creed, national origin, citizenship status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expressions, genetic information, marital status, age, disability, or status as a covered veteran.
In addition, we are committed to furthering the principles of Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) through Affirmative Action (AA).
We will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws, including the City of Los Angeles’ Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, and the New York City Fair Chance Act.
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Top Industries Hiring
- Electronics & Hardware
- Waste Management & Environmental Services
- Medical Devices
Senior Level Global Category Manager Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a senior level global category manager job?
Employers at this level look for demonstrated ownership of sourcing strategy, not just execution. Candidates who have led end-to-end category plans, negotiated complex supplier contracts, and influenced stakeholders across regions stand out. A strong command of spend analytics, supplier risk management, and total cost of ownership modeling signals readiness for the scope these roles carry.
Which companies hire senior level global category managers?
Companies hiring senior level global category managers right now include Ecolab, Amazon, and GTI Fabrication, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Hiring at this level tends to concentrate in large enterprises and multinationals with complex supply chains that require dedicated category leadership.
Are there remote senior level global category manager jobs?
Yes, though availability varies by industry and employer. About 50% of senior level global category manager openings are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting the increasingly global nature of the role. Fully on-site positions do exist, particularly at manufacturers and companies with significant physical supply chain operations.
What makes a global category manager role senior level?
Senior level roles are defined by strategic ownership and organizational scope. Where mid-level category managers execute sourcing projects, senior professionals set category strategy, own supplier relationships at an executive level, manage or mentor junior team members, and are accountable for measurable business outcomes like cost reduction targets and supply continuity across global markets.
Which industries hire the most senior level global category managers?
Senior Level global category manager roles concentrate in Electronics & Hardware, Waste Management & Environmental Services, and Medical Devices, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. These sectors tend to drive demand because their procurement complexity, supplier networks, and cost pressures require experienced professionals who can own category performance at a strategic level.