[Hiring] Senior Category Manager @Fairfield Residential

Role Description

As Senior Category Manager, you’ll join Fairfield’s growing Procurement function with meaningful ownership over how category management takes shape. You’ll be one of the company’s lead negotiators across construction materials, finishes, renovation and recurring property services, nationally and regionally, owning categories from market analysis and sourcing strategy through contracting, supplier performance and renewal.

This role is for someone who wants the challenge: a competitive, resilient negotiator who is energized by hard problems, is not afraid of hard work, and knows how to turn a negotiation into a result. If you want your work to be visible and measured, this is the seat.

What You’ll Do

• Lead Category Strategy
  • Build category strategies from spend, specifications and market evidence.
  • Assess value through savings and cost avoidance, leverage, efficiency, risk, spend visibility and capability.
  • Partner with operating teams on new products, value engineering, priorities and sourcing sequence.
  • Manage contract terms and renewal calendars.
• Own Negotiations & Sourcing
  • Negotiate directly with manufacturers, distributors, installers and service providers.
  • Select the right commercial model for each scope, including negotiated price, direct buy or rebate.
  • Build rebate and value-back programs, cleared by Legal and Compliance.
  • Lead strategic, tactical, operational and global sourcing based on the value at stake.
  • Keep national and regional negotiations moving continuously.
• Build Strong Supplier Strategies
  • Maintain qualified, insured and credentialed supplier bases and bid lists.
  • Drive supplier capability, performance and continuous improvement.
  • Manage supply risk through dual sourcing, long-lead planning and continuity.
  • Lead supplier mobilization, transition, performance monitoring and exit.
• Apply Technology & Build Capability
  • Use AI and agents for research, should-cost analysis, negotiation preparation and contract review.
  • Improve how your categories are bought, with the operating teams, putting technology on the repetitive work.
  • Build templates, standards and playbooks others can follow.
  • Mentor colleagues and potentially lead a small team while remaining actively involved in negotiations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Procurement, Business Administration, Finance, Construction Management, Economics, or a related field, or equivalent combination of relevant education and progressively responsible procurement experience.
• CPSM, CIPS or CSCP certification preferred.

Requirements

• 8 or more years in procurement, most of it hands-on sourcing.
• Experienced negotiator with proven results.
• Category management, strategic sourcing and procurement best practices.
• Strategic, tactical, operational and global sourcing.
• Supplier development: capability and performance, not only price.
• Tech-savvy, with hands-on analytical skills and experience using AI and agents to work faster and better.
• Holistic view of value: savings, leverage, speed, risk, visibility and capability, not price alone.
• Knowledge of and experience with national and regional agreements, including rebates.
• Contract literacy and contract management experience.
• Multifamily, homebuilding, construction or property management experience preferred.
• Experience leading or mentoring a small team preferred.

Skills & Competencies

• Strategic Category Management
• Advanced Negotiation
• Strategic Sourcing
• Commercial & Financial Acumen
• Supplier Management & Development
• Supply Risk Management
• Contract Management
• Data, Technology & AI Acumen
• Stakeholder Partnership & Influence
• Leadership & Continuous Improvement

Benefits

• Paid time off, paid holidays and sick days.
• Paid time off for volunteering activities (optional).
• Matched 401(k).
• Medical, dental & vision insurance.
• Flexible spending account.
• Life insurance.

Key Success / Performance Indicators

• Delivers measurable procurement value across assigned categories through competitive sourcing, negotiation, value engineering, demand management, rebates and other commercial strategies.
• Increases the percentage of addressable category spend governed by an approved sourcing strategy.
• Maintains effective commercial coverage for assigned categories.
• Maintains a qualified and capable supplier base and actively manages supplier performance.
• Executes national and regional sourcing and negotiation initiatives according to agreed category priorities.
• Maintains current, evidence-based strategies for assigned categories.

Join Our Team!

Ready to make an impact? Apply today!