If you’re passionate about innovation and love working in an environment where you can constantly improve and adopt new technologies to drive business results, then Nationwide’s Information Technology team could be the place for you! At Nationwide®, “on your side” goes beyond just words. Our customers are at the center of everything we do and we’re looking for associates who are passionate about delivering extraordinary care.

As a category manager leader, you'll be responsible for managing complex categories, leading the category/supplier segmentation and strategy development efforts, supporting the development of the procurement strategy to include business alignment and influence, and driving the category strategy through the procurement Technology team to ensure contracts execute in alignment to the strategy.

This role will lead Corporate Team and all associated categories, including HR, CRE, Strategy, Legal, etc. while maintaining lowest total cost and highest quality and service.

Primary Duties & Responsibilities:

• Formal leadership responsibilities for 10 - 14 associates

• Support the team’s development of category strategies which maximize customer value leveraging a continuous improvement structure.

• Contribute to the development and on-going maintenance of training and templates to support team development.

• Implement and promote transformation program with a strong communication plan to achieve a structured and resilient supply chain.

• Develop and implement cost-based reduction strategies capable of delivering annual target savings.

• Execute annual cost savings, cash improvement and action plans to deliver the corporate and business objectives for year over year improvement.

• Monitor the use of appropriate KPI’s to measure and improve the effectiveness of the key elements of the category strategies.

• Responsible for supporting supplier partnerships through activities such as, identifying alternative suppliers, risk mitigation, performance management and category innovation.

• Idea generation for new innovations (end to end) in their category to make sure it meets the timeline, includes critical terms and conditions, minimizes risks, leverages marketplace shifts and maximizes value.

• Benchmark historical performance and forecast future price movements, communicating necessary adjustments to plan.

• Identify and execute Procurement strategies such as payment term improvements, consolidation of supply base, buy channel optimization, etc.

• Create and present executive summaries executives and business leaders highlighting trends, issues and opportunities.

Compensation grade H4

Job Description Summary

Procuring goods and services necessary to successfully run and grow our business is critical. Whether working to enable the processes that support buying decisions or finding the best supplier, price or contract terms, we bring expertise, skill and talent to the task. If you are collaborative, a top-level communicator, highly ethical and have the ability to manage key relationships by providing outstanding service, we want to know more about you!

As a Director, you'll lead a team of sourcing professionals to deliver strategic sourcing projects that realize maximum long-term value to business units and functions for one or more of the designated categories of spend. We'll count on you to ensure critical relationships are developed and maintained with Executive Leadership, Business, Finance, Technology, Risk Management, Legal and suppliers to deliver optimal sourcing strategies and solutions.

Job Description

Key Responsibilities:

• Partners and collaborates with Executive Leadership, Business Partners, Finance, Technology and other Procurement team members to manage all aspects of the purchasing process for the assigned category including forecasting demand, aggregation and assignment of new sourcing requests, monitoring current contract pipelines and developing governance processes with the Business Unit.

• Works with reporting teams to develop Procurement wide and Category Specific analytics, and review Procurement policy and procedures to ensure a predictable, easy-to-follow and efficient procurement process.

• Leads all aspects of activities to maintain collaborative partnerships with business units, Finance, Technology, and Legal, to ensure alignment with Business Unit and sourcing strategy objectives. Ensures team understands business unit budget for coming year. Ensures alignment and partnership across all Procurement functions.

• Coordinates the development, planning and execution of all in scope category strategies. Monitors and evaluates category performance against business objectives, sourcing and risk mitigation strategies.

• Defines and leads the execution of optimal sourcing solution based on business unit requirements, funding, suppliers and industry knowledge.

• Consults with involved parties to create the best contractual outcome, including optimal negotiations, strong legal and business terms, and meaningful performance indicators and service level agreements. Reviews and approves contracts.

• Partners with Supplier Relationship Management to ensure alignment with the development of supplier relationships, driving effectiveness and value against planned strategies, facilitating supplier reviews, and generating continuous improvement ideas. Resolves contractual discrepancies as they occur.

• Monitors category metrics to ensure categories are performing. Oversees actions to address issues and mitigate risks. Ensures the team manages supplier compliance to contractual terms.

• Provides strategic oversight on the development and implementation of policies, procedures and objectives for the sourcing of goods and services for all business units and functions.

• Provides direction and guidance in the creation of the annual sourcing plans and develops annual savings targets.

• Leads all activities associated with the execution of the established sourcing process, including preparation and delivery for each project summary/business case in accordance to the purchasing approval policy.

• Oversees associate management, including performance management, salary planning and administration, training and development, workflow and organization planning, day-to-day management, hiring and placement and disciplinary actions for direct and possibly indirect reports.

May perform other responsibilities as assigned.

Reporting Relationships: Reports to AVP or VP of Procurement. Manages a team of 4 or more direct and indirect associates.

Typical Skills and Experiences:

Education: Undergraduate degree in supply management, procurement, business, finance, accounting, management information systems, economics or related fields strongly preferred.

License/Certification/Designation: Procurement, purchasing or project management designations, as applicable.

Experience: Typically, 10 or more years of experience in all aspects of supply chain management, including management and supplier relationships or equivalent professional experience in other closely related industries, including managerial experience.

Knowledge, Abilities and Skills: Proven knowledge of administrative/procurement policies and supply management strategy. Thorough understanding of procurement policies, programs, practices and procedures. Knowledge of current information technologies. Knowledge in project management concepts and techniques. Detailed understanding of financial controls, insurance business concepts, systems and data processing concepts, and financial planning/analysis. Strong analytical skills to evaluate and recommend complex supply management strategies and expense reduction methods. Strong negotiation skills as well as administrative, personnel and financial leadership skills. Ability to develop and maintain strong supplier relationships, interpret complex contracts and evaluate outsourcing strategy. Ability to lead and train others in all aspects of financial planning and analysis as well as supply management processes. Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

Other criteria, including leadership skills, competencies and experiences may take precedence.

Staffing exceptions to the above must be approved by the hiring manager’s leader and HR Business Partner.

Values: Regularly and consistently demonstrates Nationwide Values.

Job Conditions:

Overtime Eligibility: Not Eligible (Exempt)

Working Conditions: Normal office environment. Occasional non-standard hours based on business and information needs.

ADA: The above statements cover what are generally believed to be principal and essential functions of this job. Specific circumstances may allow or require some people assigned to the job to perform a somewhat different combination of duties.

Benefits

We have an array of benefits to fit your needs, including: medical/dental/vision, life insurance, short and long term disability coverage, paid time off with newly hired associates receiving a minimum of 18 days paid time off each full calendar year pro-rated quarterly based on hire date, nine paid holidays, 8 hours of Lifetime paid time off, 8 hours of Unity Day paid time off, 401(k) with company match, company-paid pension plan, business casual attire, and more. To learn more about the benefits we offer, click here.

Nationwide is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive culture where everyone feels challenged, appreciated, respected and engaged. Nationwide prohibits discrimination and harassment and affords equal employment opportunities to employees and applicants without regard to any characteristic (or classification) protected by applicable law.