Category Manager

Role Overview

Category Manager is responsible for managing Caliber’sdirectspendand supplier relationships across the network.This role will drive strategic sourcing,optimizecost structures, improve service reliability, and ensure alignment between Caliber’s operational needs and supplier performance. The Category Manager partners closely with field leadership, operations, and procurement teams to create a comprehensive category strategy that supports growth and improvesprofit.

Essential Job Duties

Category Strategy & Planning

• Develop andmaintaina 3–5 yearCategoryStrategyaligned with Caliber’s financial and operational goals.

• Assistin developingtaxonomy and sub-category breakdown

• Identifyopportunities togrow preferred suppliers, improve service-level consistency, and enhance customer/center experience.

• Publish market insights and competitor intelligence,industry trends, pricing, and capacity.

Supplier Management

• Build andmaintainstrong relationships withpreferredvendors, regional partners, and national networks.

• Conduct quarterly business reviews (QBRs) with top suppliers, including scorecards measuring cost, service, coverage, and responsiveness.

• Lead supplier performance reviews, escalate underperformance, and negotiate remedies or transitions as needed.

Sourcing & Negotiation

• Negotiate contracts with focus onprofit marginoptimization, service-level commitments (response time, coverage zones), and performance-based incentives.

• Ensure contracts support scalability for new centers and align with Caliber’s growth trajectory.

Collaboration & Execution

• Translate strategy into contracts, policies, and tactical execution.

• Work with field operations,Finance, andSpecialized Parts Orderingto ensure compliance with preferred partners and capture of negotiated spend.

Risk & Innovation

• Assess and mitigate risks related toproduct availability, regional coverage gaps, or service disruptions.

• Create andmaintainmonthly reporting and dashboardsthatmonitorspend, profit margins, andrebates. 

• Benchmark against industry leaders to continuously raise service levels and reducereturn rates. 

Skills/Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in supply chain,

• Proven ability to negotiate agreements, with knowledge ofdirect parts sourcinga strong plus.• Strong analytical skills to evaluate cost, service, andcoveragetrade-offs.• Experience engaging with senior leadership and operational teams.• Ability to influence cross-functional stakeholders and present category strategies with clarity.