Category Specialist jobs in Manila

Primary Functions:

• Drive operational excellence and cost optimization as a Category Specialist for Assets, Equipment & Services
• In this critical role, you will bridge the gap between Warehouse Operations and Vendor Management & Partnerships to ensure uninterrupted operational support across all facilities
• You will lead vendor collaborations, manage technical contract evaluations, and direct long-term procurement planning, while actively partnering with Category Managers to implement smart, cost-saving strategies and high-priority business initiatives

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Strategic Planning: Help create contract plans that match the company's business goals, and meet regularly with internal teams to review, prioritize, and plan upcoming projects
• Sourcing Strategies: Create and execute procurement strategies that leverage strategic sourcing principles and best practices to drive sustainable cost savings.
• Category Analysis: Conduct detailed supply market and cost analysis for leases and services to identify trends and cost-reduction opportunities.
• Tendering & Evaluation: Lead the creation of Requests for Proposals (RFPs) participate in tender meetings and provide technical evaluations while collaborating closely with procurement teams.
• Negotiations: Lead negotiations or assist the lead negotiator in developing and applying appropriate negotiation strategies and tactics.
• Leased Equipment & Services Oversight: Lead the planning, allocation, and monitoring of Material Handling Equipment (MHE), leased assets, and key operational services across nationwide warehouses to guarantee uninterrupted daily operations and strict compliance with service-level standards
• Assets Request & Delivery Management: Track warehouse asset requests and perform cost evaluations to verify the purchase is really needed.Manage the process to make sure PRs turn into POs on time, and track the order all the way until it is delivered.
• Data Governance & Record Keeping: Help in maintaining up-to-date database records, asset inventory files of all category equipment and services within internal company systems.
• Supplier Governance: Build performance tracking tools to monitor vendor delivery timelines and ensure strict compliance with agreed Service Level Agreements (SLAs).
• Financial Control: Coordinate the validation of vendor invoices with Warehouse Persons-In-Charge (PIC) acting as the final approver and overseeing end-to-end payment status
• Cost Optimization: Analyze operational, financial, and procurement data to identify inefficiencies, eliminate unnecessary spend, and continuously improve overall cost performance
• Leadership, Innovation & Reporting Strategy: Identify, develop, and execute strategic procurement projects focused on cost reduction, automation, and operational excellence.
• Project Leadership: Lead or contribute to cross-functional initiatives aimed at enhancing procurement effectiveness, efficiency, and scalability
• Process Improvement: Design and roll out standard workflows to make warehouse operations run smoother, and lead team brainstorming sessions to build scalable solutions.
• Executive Reporting: Own the consolidation of project updates and progress tracking for the entire Vendor Management and Procurement team, preparing polished, executive-ready presentation decks and reports for leadership reviews, business updates, and strategic planning.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with key teams - including Operational Excellence, Operations Support, Expansions, Business Intelligence, Finance, and Warehouse Operations - to align procurement initiatives with organizational standards, risk controls, and strategic goals
• Ad-Hoc Support: Support the Category Manager in driving cost-management opportunities, special business projects and execute additional ad-hoc tasks as assigned

• Education & Professional Credentials Must hold a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Economics, Business Management, or an equivalent business or supply chain-related field.
• Certifications: None required; however, relevant professional certifications (e.g., in procurement, supply chain, or project management) are a distinct advantage.
• 3–5 years of active experience within procurement, vendor management, or supply chain (with local PH experience highly preferred)
• Demonstrated experience in fulfillment, warehouse distribution, or facilities and equipment operations
• Direct, hands-on experience in vendor evaluation, contract review, budget monitoring, and services coordination.
• Reporting: Google Sheets power-user capable of building executive-ready reports and clean presentation decks.
• Sourcing & Contracts: Proven experience in category planning, contract administration, and technical supplier evaluations.
• Vendor Management: Ability to design metrics and monitor ongoing supplier performance to ensure high-quality delivery.
• Collaboration: Strong cross-functional interpersonal skills to build alignment across operations and partner teams.
• Professional Presence: Proactive, confident, and authoritative ownership style; flexible to travel to operational sites and vendor locations as needed.