Zurn Elkay Water Solutions Corporation is a thriving, values-driven company focused on doing the right things. We’re a fast growing, publicly traded company (NYSE: ZWS), with an enduring reputation for integrity, giving back, and providing an engaging, inclusive environment where careers flourish and grow.
Named by Newsweek as One of America’s Most Responsible Companies and an Energage USA Top Workplace, at Zurn Elkay Water Solutions Corporation, we never forget that our people are at the center of what makes us successful. They are the driving force behind our superior quality, product ingenuity, and exceptional customer experience. Our commitment to our people and their professional development is a recipe for success that has fueled our growth for over 100 years, as one of today’s leading international suppliers of plumbing and water delivery solutions.
Headquartered in Milwaukee, WI, Zurn Elkay Water Solutions Corporation employs over 2800 employees worldwide, working from 24 locations across the U.S., China, Canada, Dubai, and Mexico, with sales offices available around the globe. We hope you’ll visit our website and learn more about Zurn Elkay at zurnelkay.com.
If you’re ready to join a company where what you do makes a difference and you have pride in the work you are doing, talk to us about joining the Zurn Elkay Water Solutions Corporation family!
Job Description
This Indirect Category Manager reports to the Director of Indirect Strategic Sourcing and is responsible for developing and executing the strategic sourcing and supplier management strategy of indirect materials and services such as MRO, Facility Services, Energy, Capital Equipment, and Corporate Services. This role serves as the strategic owner of the category portfolio, identifying and prioritizing value creation opportunities through data-driven insights, supplier innovation, and cross-functional collaboration.
The Category Manager partners with operations, engineering, and business leadership to align sourcing strategies with operational priorities and enterprise objectives. Working within the Indirect Procurement operating model, the Category Manager leads opportunity development and strategic supplier engagement while partnering with Deployment Managers, Sourcing Analysts, and Business Analysts to execute initiatives through the sourcing and deployment lifecycle. This position plays a critical role in delivering measurable value across the enterprise including cost improvement, supplier performance, risk mitigation, and operational efficiency.
This position is located in our Milwaukee, WI or Downers Grove, IL office.
Key Accountabilities
Develop and maintain category strategies for assigned indirect spend.
Use spend analytics and market insights to identify value opportunities.
Build and manage the category opportunity pipeline.
Translate data into actionable insights and business cases.
Align category initiatives with business unit priorities.
Lead cross-functional collaboration with operations, engineering, and finance.
Develop and manage strategic supplier relationships.
Define commercial strategies and negotiation approaches.
Partner with sourcing and deployment teams to execute initiatives.
Monitor category performance, savings delivery, and supplier performance.
Communicate strategies, progress, and results to leadership.
Drive continuous improvement across suppliers and category practices.
Qualifications/Requirements
BA/BS degree required, MBA preferred
7+10 years experience in Indirect Category Management
Experience with sourcing of Manufacturing Spend categories; sense of urgency, strong critical thinking, and analytical skills.
Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional initiatives in a manufacturing or operational environment.
Strong analytical capability with ability to interpret complex spend and operational data.
Strong negotiation and commercial strategy development skills.
Ability to multitask in a fast-paced environment while meeting multiple deadlines for leadership.
Continuous improvement mindset, including the ability to innovate and simplify legacy processes.
Capabilities and Success Factors
Decision Quality – Making good and timely decisions that keep the organization moving forward.
Manages Complexity – Making sense of complex, high quantity and sometimes contradictory information to effectively solve problems.
Drives Results – Consistently achieving results, even under tough circumstances.
Manages Conflict – Handling conflict situations effectively, with a minimum of noise.
Plans & Aligns – Planning and prioritizing work to meet commitments aligned with organizational goals.
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Equal Opportunity Employer – Minority/Female/Disability/Veteran