Category Manager

LastPass is looking for a Category Manager:

The Category Manager is responsible for developing and executing the purchasing strategy for assigned categories within the Global Procurement team's scope, supporting central business functions. This role oversees all aspects of category management for strategic, indirect, and complex spend categories across multiple business units. The Category Manager collaborates with senior stakeholders to drive purchasing initiatives that align with organizational goals, ensuring value creation and cost optimization. These spend categories encompass a wide range of sub-categories with diverse requirements, presenting significant opportunities for cost savings and process efficiencies across the business.

If you are passionate about complex problem solving and motivated by scale, then this is the role for you!

Who will you work with?

The Category Manager leads all sourcing activities, including bid management, price negotiations, and contract oversight for assigned categories such as IT, Marketing, and Human Resources. This role involves market research, supplier analysis, development of sourcing strategies, and benchmarking, as well as close collaboration with business unit and functional stakeholders. The Category Manager is responsible for driving cost savings and process improvements to meet organizational objectives.

As the primary leader for purchasing within the assigned categories, the Category Manager ensures compliance with corporate policies for all related purchases, manages vendor relationships, and leads value-added and value-engineered initiatives. This individual will also establish controls and procedures to minimize costs while maintaining flexibility to meet the needs of both internal and external customers. Additionally, the Category Manager will oversee continuous improvement projects to enhance process efficiency and sustainability.

A proactive leader, the Category Manager must be adept at identifying opportunities, making data-driven recommendations, and executing rapid decisions to drive business success.

 What are some of the exciting challenges you will be working on?

• Lead cross-functional teams to develop and implement best-in-class purchasing strategies, collaborating with IT, Marketing, HR, and other departments to achieve objectives.
• Oversee global facility vendors, ensuring day-to-day operations meet internal and contractual obligations.
• Drive sourcing activities to meet category objectives: identify spend, develop strategies, and lead negotiations and supplier selection to maximize value and drive savings in indirect spend categories.
• Manage the end-to-end contracting process, ensuring smooth transitions from sourcing to contract execution while maintaining proper documentation.
• Track and report on KPIs for each category; collect data from suppliers, benchmarks, and internal sources. Conduct regular supplier meetings to monitor performance and identify opportunities for improvement and cost savings.
• Educate team and business partners on industry best practices, sustainability, and technology trends in indirect purchasing.
• Ensure compliance with company policies, including purchasing procedures, for both yourself and your team.

What does it take to work at LastPass?

• Strong curiosity and drive to challenge the status quo, foster innovation, and build cross-functional collaboration networks.
• Exceptional stakeholder engagement and ability to align leaders around common goals.
• Excellent negotiation, communication, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence all levels internally and externally with suppliers.
• Strong business management skills with the ability to develop and execute strategies, backed by a solid understanding of financials and business disciplines.
• Data-driven decision maker, aligning choices with strategic goals and considering organizational impacts.

It's great, but not required:

• Advanced Excel skills
• Experienced in developing and implementing procurement policies
• Proficient with procurement systems (Opstream, NetSuite, Zip, Coupa)
• Proven experience leading cross-functional teams
• Strong project management experience

Our compensation reflects the cost of labor across several US geographic markets. The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $67,500 in the lowest geographic market and up to $81,000 per year in our highest geographic market. Pay is based on several factors including market location and may vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills, and experience.