Category Manager

Chicago Public Schools (CPS) is the third largest school district in the United States, serving over 360,000

students in more than 600 schools and employing nearly 36,000 people, most of them teachers. CPS has

set ambitious goals to ensure that every student, in every school and every neighborhood, has access to a

world-class learning experience that prepares each for success in college, career and civic life. In order to

fulfill this mission, we make three commitments to our students, their families and all Chicagoans:

academic progress, financial stability and integrity. Six core values are embedded within these

commitments - student centered, whole child, equity, academic excellence, community partnership and

continuous learning.

Key Responsibilities

The Category Manager for Operations leads the category management and strategic sourcing to develop a continuous fact-based buying approach (market analysis, business needs assessment) to perform analytics (Bid/ RFx events, supplier negotiation and contract analysis) related to assigned departments. The Category Manager will oversee and support supplier performance management, relationship management and spend management of operations projects. The Operations Category includes Capital Projects, Facility and Food Services, Transportation Services and Waste Management. This position also owns end-to-end sourcing of sub categories as per discretion of the Director of Procurement. The role requires constant engagement with suppliers to drive performance management, resolve quality issues and generate market intelligence.

• Proactively manage sourcing plans to achieve deliverables against milestones.
  
  
• Proactively manage categories, develop short and long-term sourcing strategies.
  
  
• Identify suppliers, solicit and review contracts, analyze prices.
  
  
• Lead negotiations with suppliers to ensure the best quality, service and cost is met to achieve business objectives.
  
  
• Partner with user groups in development and launch of procurement strategy timelines, cost and quality goals, and service level to customers.
  
  
• Ensure a competitive sourcing environment leading to continuous improvement.
  
  
• Maintain knowledge of market trends including analysis of market drivers, cost structures and technical improvements.
  
  
• Perform spend, contract and market analysis for assigned categories.
  
  
• Generate materials in support of presentations, workshops and negotiations.
  
  
• Communicate sourcing decisions to stakeholders and necessary system updates.
  
  
• Provide necessary inputs to support contract management and monitor compliance.
  
  
• Establish and manage relationships with key suppliers.
  
  
• Manage supplier performance.
  
  
• Drive aggressive productivity goals and create pipeline of projects.
  
  

KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS/EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor's degree required (Technical, Business and Supply Chain) / Master Degree preferred

• 2 to 5 successful years of Procurement / Supply chain experience in leading private or public organization

• Analytical, Organizational skills and attention to detail

• Negotiation and influencing skills

• Ability to interface with wide variety of business situations and all levels of management, trade groups,

conventions, etc.

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills

• Problem solving and decision making skills

• Skills in MS Office, ERP Systems (SAP, Oracle, etc.)

• Oracle experienced preferred

Residency Requirement: As a condition of employment with Chicago Public Schools (CPS), employees

are required to live within the geographic boundaries of the City of Chicago within six months of their

CPS hire date and maintain residency throughout their employment with the district