Category Manager, Procurement

Position Overview

The role of Category Manager, Procurement at Mercury Marine develops, plans, and executes the procurement and supply chain strategy for the Maintenance, Repair & Operations (MRO) category. This role partners closely with Operations, Maintenance, Engineering, Facilities, and Finance to ensure continuity of supply, standardization, and value creation across MRO categories. The Category Manager leads strategic sourcing initiatives, supplier negotiations, and continuous improvement efforts to support operational uptime and business objectives.

This high-visibility, hands-on role leads an internal team, cross-functional collaboration, and drives supplier execution for new product development and current production to optimize costs, quality, and delivery within a complex and fast-paced supply chain. The Category Manager develops and manages relationships with global supply partners, driving innovation and competitive advantage for Mercury Marine and our global locations.

Essential Functions

• Category Leadership – Lead the category team, define and communicate the vision, develop team members to be proactive change agents, and drive procurement excellence. Define category strategies for MRO, align with business objectives, and standardize parts and services across sites to reduce complexity and cost. Monitor market trends and emerging technologies to identify opportunities for innovation and efficiency.
• Supplier Management – Develop and execute sourcing and supplier management strategies with global partners. Proactively identify and mitigate risks, drive performance improvements, foster collaboration, and manage supplier relationships, including performance reviews, contract compliance, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Cost and Contract Management – Own the commercial relationship with suppliers, develop and manage contracts, lead negotiations, and optimize pricing for components and tooling. Develop multi-year category strategies for MRO spend (tools, consumables, spare parts, safety supplies, VMI, services) and drive total cost of ownership (TCO) analysis, demand management, and spend visibility. Track and report category performance, savings, KPIs, and supplier metrics.
• Project Management – Manage projects for new product development, cost reduction, or strategic change. Lead strategic sourcing events (RFPs, RFQs, negotiations) to deliver cost savings and service improvements. Identify and mitigate supply risks and ensure business continuity. Drive compliance with safety, quality, and sustainability standards in the supply base.
• Cross-functional Collaboration – Facilitate communication with engineering, manufacturing, quality, finance, and service teams, partnering to drive overall business value. Collaborate with maintenance, operations, and engineering to understand demand, standardize specifications, and improve inventory management.

Required Qualifications

• Minimum 5+ years of experience in sourcing, supply chain management, or engineering.
• BS/BA in Supply Chain Management, Engineering, Operations Management or related field.
• Experience in a global organization with a matrix structure.
• Experience in manufacturing, industrial, facilities management, or multi-site operations.
• Knowledge of inventory management, reliability, or maintenance practices.
• Prior experience leading and managing a team of sourcing professionals.

Preferred Qualifications

• Professional certification (CPSM, CPIM, Lean Six Sigma Green Belt highly desired).
• MBA is preferred.
• Six Sigma Green Belt desirable.
• Familiarity with Office suite products, especially Excel;
  Power BI desired.
• Experience with an ERP system;
  Oracle preferred.

Working Conditions

• Hybrid work environment (minimum 3 days in office per week).
• Travel up to 10% for supplier visits and site support.

Key Competencies

• Strategic thinking and execution
• Influencing without authority
• Data-driven decision making
• Supplier relationship management
• Continuous improvement mindset

The hiring range for this position is $86,500 to $126,800 annually. The actual base pay offered will vary based on factors including job-related knowledge/skills, relevant experience, business needs,…