If this sounds like a fit, we?re looking to hire a Head of Category Management to join our team.

Why we need you.

On the MassMutual Procurement team, we have a goal to enable MassMutual?s mission and vision by providing the right supplier solution at the right time.? Our mission is to streamline the procurement process, align supplier partners to meet business needs and continuously increase the value provided to our policyholders.? We have embarked on an extensive journey to mature our procurement operating model with a focus on standardization, implementing industry best practices and reducing supplier spend.

As the Head of Category Management, we need your experience and leadership to partner closely with teams in the MassMutual Procurement Organization and cross-functional stakeholders to continue the progress we?ve made in defining, implementing and enhancing streamlined procurement processes while also building the team to execute and deliver.? The Head of Category Management? is responsible for managing the Category Management function within the Procurement Operating model.? You will be responsible for increasing our coverage of categories under management in procurement as well as proactively developing and maintaining programs that tie our engagement with internal customers as well as 3rd party spend to specific metrics (ie: category spend under management, # of strategic categories under management, etc.) to gauge how well Procurement is driving category value, compliance and innovation on behalf of the company and satisfying the needs of our internal customers.?

In this role, as well as all roles within MassMutual, you will demonstrate accountability, agility, a dedication to be inclusive, a strong business acumen, and will show courage, even in the most difficult situations. We also highly value strong communication skills, a passion for learning, leadership traits, resilience and self-awareness.

What success looks like.

• General:
  • Lead the Category Management function within the Procurement operating model, to ensure that the organization is proactively driving tangible results tied to enhanced insight, awareness and strategy around category-specific opportunities
  • Specifically own the management of key strategic categories, demonstrating to your team what good looks like and best practices around the capability of Category Management
  • Build and lead a team of experienced Category Managers that are seen by the broader enterprise as go-to experts for their categories of responsibility, as well as developing the key handoffs with related Procurement and business functions such as contract negotiators, sourcing specialists and procurement data analysts.
  • Creatively develop methods and ideas to make the Category Management process, and with it procurement process, more efficient and effective
  • Build a strategic sourcing capability and team to drive sourcing activities across the categories.
  • Analyze reports to measure results, minimize risks, and maximize opportunities for improvement in execution and project implementation
• Internal Stakeholder Management
  • Work with the organization?s executive management to ensure the company's goals are being met, including active collaboration with the Head of Procurement
  • Align and partner with various category management teams that ?dotted line? into Procurement, ensuring that tools, processes and playbooks are being implemented and utilized consistently across the enterprise ?
  • Operate as the escalation point for your team
• Procurement Leadership Team
  • Work closely with your teammates in procurement; these individuals have accountability for Procurement Operations (including Purchasing and Contract Management), stakeholder relationships, strategy and operational efficiency
  • Continued development of the organization - including taking on a leading role in the current transformation, people development, talent acquisition, driving transaction efficiency and improving service
  • Identify areas for continuous improvement across the Procurement Operating Model
• Other
  • Lead all process enablement activities, training, and delivery of continuous improvement practices as may be required to facilitate problem resolution
  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams to track and analyze financial data and operational data/metrics?
  • Plan, allocate and manage financial budget by anticipating expenditures, accurately forecasting resource needs/costs and properly accounting for expenses to meet requirements and achieve fiscal responsibility

The skills that make you a great fit.

Required Experience

• 10+ years of demonstrated supply chain, procurement, vendor management or category management experience or equivalent combination of Procurement and consulting experience
• Extensive experience increasing supplier spend governed by category management in a Procurement operating model
• Leading significant improvements or establishing Category Management as well as experience leading programs tied to Contract Management and Sourcing industry best practices across functional areas
• Direct experience tied to negotiation of large enterprise contracts to achieve a positive result, especially when leveraging deep category insights on behalf of an organization to extract specific value levers that reduce costs, risk and enhance performance
• Experience creating and implementing procurement industry best practices for Category Management; to include governance, processes, success measures and the team required to support

Preferred Experience

• Previous experience in mutual company or similar financial services / insurance industry
• Leadership and management of mixed staffing models with remote and third-party team members as key contributors to the team?s success
• Experience automating category management practices and creating a digital first view of category plans
• Leadership and execution of a strategic sourcing capability and team
• Proven ability to influence buying decisions to increase spend with diverse suppliers and hold all suppliers accountable for their own investment in diversity and inclusions practices

Education:

• Bachelor?s degree related field preferred (ex. Operations Management) ?
• MBA, JD or advanced degree in related field preferred
• APICS CPIM/CSCP Certification or certification in progress preferable

Required Attributes:

• Team player at executive levels who collaborates with business units and functional partners (i.e., IT, finance, HR, legal)
• Excellent communication skills and listening skills enabling the stakeholders to align with our procurement industry best practices
• In-depth knowledge of Category Management and Procurement principles and industry best practices
• Courage to influence across the organization for compliance with standards and escalate noncompliance when needed
• Ability to identify the need to change and create long term sustainable solutions
• Knowledgeable about procurement value stream industry best practices and proven track record implementing best practices across an enterprise

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