Category Manager: Outsourced Capacity - Tate Inc.

Duration of role: Permanent

Position: Full-time

Reporting to: Director of Supply Chain

Location: Jessup (MD) or Red Lion (PA)

About Us

At Tate we are passionate about everything we do. As an independent brand operating within Kingspan Group, a global plc group of companies, Tate has been recognized worldwide as an industry leader in the development and manufacture of data center infrastructure solutions and commercial office raised access floors, for over 60 years. With revenues of over $420m and growing, Tate plays a pivotal role in offering expertise in cutting edge design engineering in order to craft solutions, by working collaboratively with clients as a trusted partner.

Tate continues to grow and expand, operating multiple manufacturing and commercial sites across the US, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Australia. We are excited about our fresh, dynamic, and inclusive team of experts working on new innovations and forward-thinking designs, as we remain a market leading player within our industry. We continue to invest heavily in the best available manufacturing tools and equipment needed to adhere to Tate’s world class standards and in keeping with our Planet Passionate sustainability strategy, our focus is on having minimal climate impact.

We are excited by potentially welcoming you as part of our team as we continue to grow on a worldwide scale.

About the Role

As the Category Manager (CM) of Outsourced Capacity, your primary responsibility is to source and maintain optimal external capacity through analysis and collaboration with Operations and Sales. The CM will analyze the company's outsourcing needs, source potential partners, negotiate contracts, and execute said strategies without sacrificing competitive pricing, flexibility, quality, and delivery performance. The CM must leverage various outsourcing methodologies as well as have a fundamental understanding manufacturing engineering to be

successful.

The CM benchmarks new processes, approaches, and technology that will continually drive improvements in performance and business results. The CM identifies and analyzes current and emerging procurement trends, develops a deep understanding of market conditions, and proposes supply chain solutions focusing on total cost of ownership. The CM negotiates major agreements which include pricing, terms and conditions, risk mitigations, and warranties in support of those agreements and is the primary supplier relationship owner. The CM builds and

leverages strong working relationships with internal customers and key suppliers to assure cost, quality, and delivery targets are met. Working closely with cross-departmentally team members, the CM will communicate and implement strategies, contracts, and pricing with an overall focus on maintaining good supplier relationships and the total costs of ownership to a minimum to achieve maximum advantage for the company and its customers.

What You’ll Do

• Address all areas of category management pertaining to outsourcing capacity including business plans, market and pricing analysis, and procurement execution.
• Contribute to the development of the company's strategic objectives and goals in alignment with Operations and Sales.
• Develop strategies with defined plans for capacity planning, cost savings, risk mitigation, and service level agreements.
• Lead in the development and execution of capacity strategies, including specific targets for pricing, service, quality, intellectual property, and inventory.
• Monitor current market conditions, technology roadmaps and identify supply/demand challenges and opportunities.
• Develop subject matter expertise through external research, benchmarking and analyzing cost drivers and life cycle costs. Provide market intelligence and category price trends.
• Develop a deep understanding of where our competition sources their components and materials, as well as determining the respective costs of same.
• Recognized as the Center of knowledge for their areas of responsibilities and shares this information with key stakeholders to enable more effective planning, forecasting, and execution.
• Develop and maintain should-cost models that are relevant to the global marketplace.

Sourcing Management

• Utilize strategic sourcing process to identify outsourcing partners for multiple domestic locations and build cases for significant change and develop consensus among key stakeholders.
• Provide rigorous analysis of spend data and market trends and dynamics to prioritize and launch sourcing initiatives.
• Analyze current spend and evaluate current suppliers. Consolidate spend across multiple manufacturing locations to create leverage, analyze purchasing trends, and develop sourcing alternatives. Identifies new high potential suppliers as required.
• Deliver year over year net cost reductions.
• Manage respective supplier relationships and performance, including but not limited to dispute resolution.

KPI’s Or Metrics

• Develop key performance measures for suppliers and negotiate on multiple variables to award strategic contracts that result in significant cost reduction and improved service levels.

Project Management

• Support new product introduction (NPI) programs as Program Manager by coordinating all sourcing and supplier qualification activities as well as the execution of said strategies.
• Manage multiple projects, coordinate activities of team and track progress/schedules.
• Monitor current category market conditions, technology roadmaps and identify supply/demand challenges and opportunities.
• Participate in special projects as the Supply Chain representative as needed.

Additional Expectation

• Remain compliant with the Code of Conduct and Policies which includes the Kingspan Group Compliance Policy.
• Ensure that all duties related to product compliance are adhered to in accordance with the Product Compliance Policy, Laws, Regulations, and market demands.
• Responsible for all tasks to achieve compliance goals and demands of the Compliance Management System.
• Must raise concerns related to the Compliance Management System to their supervisor, manager, or any member of the Leadership Team, or through the confidential whistle blower service. What You’ll Bring

What You’ll Bring

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain Management, Finance, or Engineering from an accredited college or university is preferred.
• Minimum of 5 years of relevant operational, strategic sourcing, category management, procurement, or manufacturing work experience required.
• Data Center Sector experience a plus.
• Demonstrated knowledge of strategic sourcing processes and tools and their application in restructuring purchases of a multi-plant manufacturing business.
• History of delivering significant cost reduction and service level improvements.
• Expertise in negotiation of contracts with safeguards against identified risks.
• Ability to identify key performance measures and evaluate alternatives.
• Demonstrated ability to build and lead teams attaining cross-functional consensus.
• Excellent communication skills at all levels clearly articulating positions with clarity.
• Ability to collaborate with key stakeholders in multiple locations and at various levels.
• Strong analytical problem-solving abilities using contemporary tools and methods.
• Bilingual a plus.
• Willing to travel up to 50%.

Employee Benefits

• Career Scope and Advancement: As we grow, new positions and career opportunities arise, offering accelerated paths for the right candidates, locally and globally.
• World of Wellness Philosophy: We empower you to take charge of your health and well-being. You’ll have access to a wide range of medical, dental, and vision benefits, along with personalized guidance from a “Health Advocate.” We also offer other supplemental options, including 401k, legal, disability, and theft insurance, to ensure your financial wellness.
• Corporate Social Responsibility: Through Planet Passionate we are determined to reduce our manufacturing carbon (CO2e) emissions to as close to zero as technically possible, together with halving carbon intensity in our primary supply chain. We are very involved in our community, and you will have ample opportunities to support us in creating a better world.
• Skills Development: Given the dynamic pace of our business and a strong collaborative environment, your new role will be diverse and multifaceted – allowing you to be more versatile and develop a broader skill set.
• Mentorship and development: At Tate, we don’t believe in hierarchy, we work together as one team for one common goal. You will have access and exposure to our senior leaders and experts for learning in your role, and additionally mentorship for the future.
• Culture: We have a great team culture, highly collaborative, supportive, and social. Together we innovate, collaborate, take ownership, and strive for excellence.

Tate is an equal-opportunity employer. We encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds and experiences.

Stay connected with us on LinkedIn for insights into life at Tate. Join us in our mission to make a difference through exceptional solutions.