Category Manager - Direct Materials

Responsibilities

ELANTAS North America, Inc. is seeking a Category Manager – Direct Materials in St. Louis, MO. The Category Manager is responsible for leading strategic sourcing and category management initiatives across all direct material spend categories. This role will be responsible for driving measurable cost savings through the development, execution, and documentation of sourcing strategies.

Specific Responsibilities:

• Develop and execute long-term category strategies for direct materials aligned with business goals.
• Identify cost‑reduction, value‑creation, and supply‑risk‑mitigation opportunities across assigned categories.
• Conduct detailed market analysis, supplier benchmarking, and industry trend monitoring to inform strategy.
• Lead initiatives that generate documented, sustainable cost savings, including should‑cost analysis, TCO modeling, contract negotiations, and supply-base optimization.
• Develop strong supplier relationships to drive performance, innovation, and continuous improvement.
• Lead contract negotiations, including pricing, terms, SLAs, risk mitigation, and long-term agreements.
• Lead cross-functional teams for major sourcing events, supplier transitions, and productivity programs.

Requirements

Education & Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Business, Engineering, or related field.
• Minimum 10 years of progressive strategic sourcing or category management experience in Direct Materials.
• Demonstrated success in developing, implementing, and documenting strategic material savings programs.
• Strong negotiation skills, with a history of leading complex commercial agreements.
• Proficiency with ERP/MRP systems and advanced Excel or data-analysis tools.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Professional certifications (e.g., CPSM, CSCP, PMP).
• Experience in chemicals, manufacturing, automotive, industrial, or related direct‑material environments.
• Familiarity with should‑cost modeling and cost‑engineering methodologies.

Contact Person

 Brett Keller
HR Team
Phone: