Skip to main content

This job has expired

Category Manager

Employer
Learning Care Group
Location
Novi, Michigan, United States
Salary
Competitive

View more

Be a difference maker, with Learning Care Group. We are a community of collaborative, bold, fun, dedicated individuals, whose passion is the many children we guide, teach, and protect every day. As early education leaders, we're making a strong, lasting, positive impact on children. Here, you'll find a dynamic environment and culture that is open, friendly, welcoming, and collaborative. Are you ready to be an inspiring, innovative force that prepares children for elementary school-and beyond? Their future begins now. And so does yours.
The Category Manager leads the category management process for selected group of complex expense categories within the organization. Collects input throughout the year to define category performance and behavior. Identifies buying trends and behaviors. Develops and implements the annual budget and future period outlook spend based on an analytic review of relevant category trends. Partners with the appropriate internal business leaders the review spend activity and provide opportunities to decrease spend or create additional value for the budgeted expenses. Conducts periodic business reviews with suppliers and relevant internal stakeholders within the assigned categories. Based on learnings, conducts periodic checkpoint with senior leadership as appropriate.

Job Duties, Tasks and Responsibilities :
  • Lead a team of Assistant Category Managers through mentorship and training and by providing guidance for the assigned categories of the Assistant Category Manager. Develop processes within the team that can be leveraged for productivity improvements. Identify metrics for improved performance and partner with the Assistant Category Managers to develop action plans designed for employee career development.
  • Develop and present comprehensive category review, including annual financial budgets for assigned categories. In concert with internal business partners develop a detailed financial budget through an analysis of previous years spend while anticipating new influences that will affect assigned category.
  • Provide weekly forecasts, and full future period outlook for the supported categories. Identify current trends and behaviors that are causing material changes to category forecasts. Communicate and develop action plans with the appropriate internal/external business partners to bring the category back in line with the forecast. Develop data collection and reporting on A/P and G/L activity for assigned categories
  • Full P&L responsibility for the assigned categories. Reviewed for appropriate authorized spend, aligned with validating the expected timing of expenses versus budget.
  • Review invoices and validate that costs for labor and materials are aligned with contract pricing and note any deviations from contract pricing.
  • Collaborate with team members in developing leading practices in Procurement and Operational efficiencies through the identification of winning strategies and tactics for optimal value to the organization.
  • Identify buying sources for all expenses within the categories and determine the optimal buying strategy to eliminate non-strategic vendors and p-card usage.
  • Supplier Management - Develop KPI's and complete periodic business reviews to analyze current trends and develop opportunities for cost reduction and value add opportunities.
  • Where applicable ensure that inventory levels are appropriate for business requirements.
  • Category review of any inventory assortment validating the optimal method of purchase i.e. punch-out, hosted catalogs or other buying methods as deemed appropriate.

Minimum Job Qualifications :
  • College degree in business, finance, accounting or related category experience
  • CPSM certification (preferred)
  • Five - Seven years of financial and data analytics
  • Three years of experience in supervising financial analysts

Other Skills and Abilities Qualifications :
  • Excellent customer service skills with both internal and external customers. Able to tailor communication based on the audience for the message.
  • Command presence in order to articulate budgets, forecasts, and business execution assumptions/results to C-Level audience.
  • Highly skilled in Microsoft Excel (advanced functions and data management skills required)
  • Exhibits composure will working with frequent interruptions and changing priorities.
  • Must lead by example and effective with building teams and business processes.
  • Superior communication skills, written, verbal and interpersonal.
  • Proficient time management, organizational skills and ability to meet established deadlines
We at Learning Care Group know our best asset is our people! So we've made a commitment to ensure all employees feel valued, with a robust, comprehensive offering that is competitive and exceeds your expectations. That means market-relevant compensation, a targeted range of health and wellness benefits (including life insurance, dental, vision, as well as medical available for full-time positions), and retirement planning, with our new 401k match. For us, it's simple: Provide great rewards, keep employees engaged, and create difference makers. We encourage your talent, recognize your potential, and support your growth through ongoing training and development so you can give children a great start. We also offer tuition reimbursement, assistance with gaining a CDA (worth college credit toward an Early Childhood degree), and our exclusive Master Teacher program to enhance your skills-and increase your pay. Don't wait. Start strong today.

Get job alerts

Create a job alert and receive personalized job recommendations straight to your inbox.

Create alert