Category Manager - Direct Materials

Job Location: Chicago-Office Contract Type: Permanent Remote/Hybrid/Onsite: Hybrid

Role Summary

The Category Manager Direct Materials helps drive the transformation of Trivium’s FSNA procurement and supply chain. The role partners closely with global category leadership and regional commercial, operations, supply chain, and finance teams. Key responsibilities include developing category strategies, improving supplier performance, ensuring supply continuity, and delivering sustainable value. This position reports to the VP of Procurement & Supply Chain, Americas with a dotted line to Global Category Tinplate director.

Key Responsibilities:

• Strategy & Implementation
  • Support development of procurement strategy and convert it into executable plans.
  • Build and implement sourcing strategies for tinplate and associated parts/services based on business needs.
  • Support other direct material needs including by not limited to lacquers, compounds, etc.
  • Monitor market conditions to refine category and sourcing approaches.
  • Lead supplier performance management, improvement plans, and business reviews.
  • Oversee tinplate purchase orders and ensure supply continuity aligned with plant production and inventory targets.
  • Participate in regular S&OP cycles and address required actions.
  • Identify improvement opportunities and manage tariff-related matters, including exemption and antidumping documentation.
  • Identify and qualify new suppliers with R&D and plant teams, as required
  • Negotiate volume and pricing with third‑party providers, inclusive of components, cutting and lacquering suppliers.
  • Manage contracts throughout their lifecycle.
• Negotiation
  • Strengthen supplier relationships and maximize value.
  • Provide analytical support and recommendations during negotiations.
• Relationship Management
  • Maintain strong relationships with suppliers and manage the supplier base.
  • Provide annual purchasing forecasts as needed.
• Financial Planning
  • Develop budgets and targets aligned with strategic goals.
  • Ensure cost‑effective allocation of financial resources.
  • Deliver periodic reports and forecasts, including monthly supplier‑level tinplate purchasing forecasts.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s preferred.
• 7+ years of procurement/category leadership experience, ideally in manufacturing or metal packaging.
• Strong analytical abilities; proficient in Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook.
• MRP experience; SAP preferred.
• Expertise in procurement processes and contract negotiation.

Work Environment

• Primarily remote or office‑based with occasional travel to plants or offices.

Growth Opportunity

The role offers potential advancement to Global Category Director/Lead for direct or indirect materials.

BRINGING YOUR TRUE SELF TO WORK
At Trivium, we believe that people perform at their best when they can bring their true selves to work. That’s why we hire diverse talent at every level and are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We welcome colleagues of every background, identity and perspective, because our people like our customers come from all over the world. Creating an environment where everyone feels respected, supported and able to thrive isn’t just the right thing to do; it’s business critical. When our people belong, they deliver their best work, and together we achieve more.