MetLife

Hybrid role: Cary, NC or St Louis, MO (2 headcount)

The Role: The Category Management Lead will participate in the development and implementation of the category management role.  Will partner with GTO facilitating a cross functional process that leverages category insights into a single category strategy to drive value and mitigate risk.  In addition, will collaborate with sourcing, procurement operations/systems, finance, vendor management organization to ensure successful implementation of the category strategies.  Will strive towards continuous supplier improvement and effectively manage relations with key category suppliers and business stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities:

§  Participate in the development and champion, and ensure implementation of Category Management model

§  In partnership with Vendor Management Organization (VMO) and LOB/Functional Partners, develop perspective & plans on near, mid, and long-term strategic category viewpoints including, but not limited to: 

o   Business objectives and requirements

o   Operational impacts

o   Market trends

o   Understanding of supplier market and economics

o   Category expertise

o   Supply base strategy

o   Supplier risk

o   Establish effective KRI’s to manage and mitigate risk 

o   Supplier Relationship Management

o   Financial models including pricing, Total Cost of Ownership (TCO), Should Cost, etc.

§  Serve as the main Point of Contact (POC) to the LOB/Functional Partners for procurement related issues

§  Collaborate with Strategic Sourcing to develop and implement sourcing strategies for key spend category(s).  Identify and prioritize sourcing projects within spend area scope for annual category strategy plan. 

§  Provides leadership, development and coaching for indirect staff

• Key Focus areas are:
  • Category Strategies:  Written Category Strategies for assigned categories
  • Improvement:  Drives YOY financial improvement and risk mitigation
  • Performance Reporting (e.g., cost savings process, reporting, scorecards, etc.)
  • Professional Development & Training Plan based on Role Competencies  
  • Process Improvement to assure mitigation of risk via simpler work processes
  • Best Practices & Benchmarking to improve unit performance based on facts
    • Benchmarking (e.g., across industry benchmarks, best practices, etc.)
    • Market Analysis (e.g., what are others doing in same categories, etc.)
    • Environmental Scanning.  Keeps abreast of market intelligence in categories assigned and incorporates into work plans as appropriate

Required Skills:

• BA/BS or equivalent work experience
• 5-8 years broad-based experience across supply chain, with particular focus in purchasing, strategic sourcing, contract negotiation, competitive price analysis, supplier relationship management and performance management
• Financial Services/Insurance Sector Procurement experience
• Demonstrated ability to effectively interact and influence in a cross-functional environment with all levels of executive management
• Effective written and oral communications
• High level of proficiency in Microsoft Office suite, including Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Business Intelligence tools, i.e., Microsoft PowerBI
• Proficiency with procurement data, analysis and identifying insights within data

·       Exceptional problem-solving capabilities and analytical skills – able to construct/execute multiple complex analyses (e.g., TCO, NPV; cost-price analyses) simultaneously

·       Drive best practices across MetLife for assigned sourcing categories 

·       Identify/define sourcing best-practices and work with key stakeholders to ensure that those best practices are widely adopted by business units

·       Quick study – able to gain a fact-based understanding of current supplier base, supplier economics and major trends in relevant markets

Preferred:

• Knowledge of Procure-to-Pay tool(s) (Ariba) a plus 
• Certified Professional Purchaser (CPP) designation / Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (CIPS) is a plus

Benefits We Offer

Our U.S. benefits address holistic well-being with programs for physical and mental health, financial wellness, and support for families. We offer a comprehensive health plan that includes medical/prescription drug and vision, dental insurance, and no-cost short- and long-term disability. We also provide company-paid life insurance and legal services, a retirement pension funded entirely by MetLife and 401(k) with employer matching, group discounts on voluntary insurance products including auto and home, pet, critical illness, hospital indemnity, and accident insurance, as well as Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and digital mental health programs, parental leave, volunteer time off, tuition assistance and much more!

About MetLife

Recognized on Fortune magazine's list of the 2023 "World's Most Admired Companies" as well as the 2023 Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For ®, MetLife, through its subsidiaries and affiliates, is one of the world’s leading financial services companies; providing insurance, annuities, employee benefits and asset management to individual and institutional customers. With operations in more than 40 markets, we hold leading positions in the United States, Latin America, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.

Our purpose is simple - to help our colleagues, customers, communities, and the world at large create a more confident future. United by purpose and guided by empathy, we’re inspired to transform the next century in financial services. At MetLife, it’s #AllTogetherPossible. Join us!