Category Manager-1

Location & CompensationStrategic Procurement | Supply Management | Financial Operations | VP Finance and OperationsCompensation: $9,048.67 - $14,114.17 CAD per monthPosting end date: November 11, 2025 Job Title Category Manager – Level D (Category Manager-1) Job Overview As a Category Manager, you will be responsible for developing category strategies and leading strategic procurement for your respective category. You will manage the strategic sourcing process, negotiate, draft, and manage contracts and supplier relationships, and work closely with internal stakeholders to meet procurement needs. You will also leverage market knowledge to deploy world‑class spend‑management practices while utilizing e‑procurement tools to deliver value and cost reductions for UBC. This position will identify and leverage technology solutions and business‑process improvement opportunities to lead and optimize UBC’s category management practice. Responsibilities Develop, implement and optimize the overall framework for strategic sourcing and category management to enable an ongoing cycle approach to identify opportunities for improvement and value creation for the UBC Community. Develop and execute category strategy, lead strategic sourcing for high‑risk and high‑value requirements from a category perspective, and manage the suppliers within the spend category. Lead and support the UBC Community with sensitive and complex relationships with strategic vendors. Provide advice and guidance to faculty/staff with complex needs relating to category management and strategic sourcing processes. Set strategic vision and goals and develop annual plans for the Category Management and Strategic Sourcing program (wave plan). Develop market knowledge through identifying market leaders, understanding value chains, supply and demand drivers, monitoring supply trends and shifts in technology to identify areas of opportunity and risk. Proactively identify supply‑base issues to minimize risk, protect continuity of supply, and leverage emerging opportunities. Lead process‑improvement projects identified in specific category plans and strategies, including the development of any documentation required to secure approvals or budget. Assess opportunities; develop category profiles and sourcing strategies for high‑value or complex suppliers; execute strategic sourcing and achieve cost‑saving/value‑add targets; lead supplier negotiations including commercial contract terms; manage categories on an ongoing basis through the category lifecycle. Facilitate cross‑functional strategic sourcing and supplier selection; work closely with external departments and faculties to align and ensure the selection meets the needs of the faculties/departments. Engage in strategic supplier reviews and manage the relationship; monitor & analyze supplier performance; deliver executive presentations with clear story including articulating findings, performance and recommendations for improvement. Manage teams working in all major categories and lead teams through the Category Management and Strategic Sourcing Framework to develop category profiles, execute sourcing, negotiate master agreements, manage supplier relationships, etc. Facilitate the design of requirements, vendor evaluation criteria, evaluation weightings, and terms and conditions that reflect business group priorities and KPIs specific to the needs of the client. Identify opportunities that focus on vendor consolidation, cost reductions, efficiencies and ongoing quality improvements and work with faculties & departments to achieve buy‑in. Develop a customer service and cost‑savings focus for their category; establish targets and KPIs to drive a culture of best practices and improvement in day‑to‑day operations. Perform root‑cause analysis and recommend countermeasures if metrics are not met. Lead the analysis of industry and category trends to proactively identify supply‑base issues to minimize risk, protect continuity of supply, and exploit emerging opportunities. Own the strategic sourcing methodology; identify metrics, tools, procedures, templates & processes to optimize strategic sourcing, supplier activities, and efficiencies. Ensure strategic sourcing category teams are established, and category plans have milestones and deliverables, and that the team is performing. Lead the full procurement process for high‑value projects, including the evaluation team in the implementation of the procurement approach best suited to meet client requirements. Manage the supplier relationship collaboratively with faculties/admin units within the categories. Provide regular dashboard reports on the value achieved within categories, benefit‑tracking reports to faculty/departments, and status updates for the leadership team. Develop a deep understanding of faculty/admin units and their end‑to‑end operations to provide strategic solutions to meet their objectives. Proactively build and maintain strong relationships with units and create trust and credibility individually and for the overall department. Act as the primary point of escalation for strategic sourcing projects. Monitor and analyze UBC’s spending trends to recommend areas for potential efficiencies and savings. Identify opportunities for continuous improvement and work with appropriate groups to design, develop, and implement them. Diagnose problems using formal problem‑solving tools and techniques from multiple angles and probe underlying issues to generate multiple potential solutions. Collaborate to identify, implement, and monitor the best solution for service delivery. Partner with leaders at UBC to identify opportunities for significant technology and/or process enhancements. Interact with governance, project teams and department committees to develop, implement and manage organizational policies, standards and service levels. Consult or liaise with University Counsel/legal as appropriate. Other duties/projects as assigned. Minimum Qualifications Undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline. Minimum of eight years of related experience, or the equivalent combination of education and experience. Willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one’s own. Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing one’s own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusion. Preferred Qualifications Minimum of eight years’ experience in procurement and strategic sourcing, coupled with experience in building category strategies and category management programs. Completion of a degree in business, commerce, supply chain management, or a related discipline – or a combination of education, training and experience deemed equivalent. Supply Chain Professional designation preferred. Project management designation and skills preferred, including work planning, monitoring and evaluation expertise, to manage large and complex projects with competing priorities and tight deadlines. Oral communication, presentation, and consultation skills to provide expertise/advice to colleagues and management. Superior written communication skills to provide internal and external reports, briefings, and memoranda. Strong persuasion skills with the ability to influence at senior levels with strong interpersonal and conflict resolution skills focusing on business priorities. Strong critical thinking and active listening skills to understand the full extent of issues, concentration to analyze issues, and resolve issues. Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills to analyze problems, detect root causes, and resolve issues. Proficiency in computer applications, including MS Office (e.g., Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint). Public sector procurement experience. EEO and Inclusion Statement UBC is an equal opportunity employer committed to creating an inclusive and diverse workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, ancestry, birth country, or national origin; sex; age; physical or mental disability; marital status; family or pregnancy status; sexual orientation; gender identity; or any other characteristic protected by applicable employment laws. #J-18808-Ljbffr