Director, Category Management
Company Description
Zayo provides mission-critical bandwidth to the world’s most impactful companies, fueling the innovations that are transforming our society. Zayo’s 133,000-mile network in North America and Europe includes extensive metro connectivity to thousands of buildings and data centers. Zayo’s communications infrastructure solutions include dark fiber, private data networks, wavelengths, Ethernet, and dedicated Internet access. Zayo serves wireless and wireline carriers, media, tech, content, finance, healthcare and other large enterprises.
Position Description
The Director of Category Management will be responsible for developing and driving Category strategy in-line with Procurement Organization objectives. The role will be a critical strategic partner to functional teams and Operations in managing total spend while procuring quality products and services to meet Zayo requirements. This role will oversee a team of procurement specialist managing and supporting construction and network operations categories.
Responsibilities
Manage a small team of Procurement professionals who supports all categories related to Network Operations and Construction such as major / national construction projects, local network expansion, infrastructure rights, network maintenance & restoration, network materials & equipment
Identify and realize significant cost savings from assigned categories
Oversee development of strategic plans for management of all vendors in assigned categories
Approve recommended targets for cost savings, service levels and vendor management approach (including vendor segmentation)
Approve recommended resource allocations across procurement projects and initiatives based on strategic plan priorities
Develop category strategies for approval by Procurement Lead and relevant Operations Leaders. These plans will serve as a primary input into Procurement annual budget planning and KPIs
Communicate Procurement performance to key Zayo internal customers
Actively manage all stages of strategic sourcing related to assigned categories:
Conducts spend analysis
Understand business requirements
Analyze supply markets and evaluate supplier risk
Assess and mitigate supply chain disruptions
Develop and execute competitive bidding schedule
Manage end-to-end RFP/vendor selection process and make recommendations for business award
Conduct periodic business review and drive continuous improvement in supply base
Manage supplier performance management (service level, quality, cost, delivery)
Identify and report gaps to Procurement Lead and relevant Functional Team Leads in current process, standards, systems, tools and best practices that Procurement Support functions can support
Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in Business, Engineering, Supply Chain Management, Finance or related field
Minimum eight (8) years relevant industry experience in strategic sourcing, supply chain management and vendor relationship management
Experience from Telco or related Industry, preferred
Category experience with assigned spend categories, preferred
Line experience and training with a major firm with a significant sourcing practice, preferred
Certifications in disciplines such as Procurement, contract review and management or Operational Planning, preferred
Strategic sourcing experience and capabilities:
Services spend management
RFP development and selection process
Vendor negotiations
Vendor management
Results-driven mindset and capabilities, adept at resource prioritization, target setting, budgeting and business case development
Excellent project management skills to manage strategy development and execution across multiple service providers and site locations
Motivated, high-energy and self-starter business mindset; proven change agent with excellent facilitation and problem-solving skills
Cross-functional teams experience and capabilities:
Experience working in and driving results in cross-functional teams, as they will regularly interface with site-level purchasing teams and internal customers to drive national category strategy execution
Interpersonal skills:
Strong interpersonal and vendor management skills, as Manager could serve as a main point of contact for key national vendors
Negotiation skills:
Track record of successfully shaping the procurement decision-making process in situations where there are competing objectives. Must have extensive negotiation experience and be comfortable representing the Zayo’s interests in interactions with vendors and other counterparties
Strong problem solving and analytical skills required to develop Category strategy, considering:
National demand forecasts
Contract development
Service level requirements
Vendor and industry dynamics
Proficient in synthesizing apparently unrelated ideas to identify the optimal solution or to develop a coherent plan or vision
Required Competencies
Advanced skills in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and other MS Office applications
Tools and processes will be in place to provide support; early support required from Category Manager role to complete selection of tools
Additional Notes
Travel as needed
Base salary range: $137,300-170,000/annually
Nothing in this job description restricts management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time
Benefits, Rewards & Wellness
Annual Incentive Plan (AIP) - Full-time Zayo employees are also eligible for discretionary AIP which is based on the performance of the Company, an employee’s business segment, and the individual employee
Sales Incentive Plan - Full-time Zayo sales employees are also eligible for discretionary incentive cash compensation through our Sales Incentive Plan
Excellent Health, Dental & Vision Insurance
Retirement 401(k) Savings Plan
Fitness membership discounts
Generous paid time off policy including paid parental leave
Please note, in accordance with Zayo's commitment to providing and maintaining a workplace free of recognized hazards, all U.S. and Canadian employees and any employee, vendor, customer, or visitor who enters a Zayo office or facility in the U.S. and Canada must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and provide proof of such vaccination. If you are hired by Zayo, you will be required to provide proof of vaccination or have a valid religious or medical reason not to be vaccinated.