Senior Manager, Category Management

Employment Type: Full time Location Type: Salary:

Who We Are

With its A.I.-powered robotic technology platform, Symbotic is changing the way consumer goods move through the supply chain. Intelligent software orchestrates advanced robots in a high-density, end-to-end system – reinventing warehouse automation for increased efficiency, speed and flexibility.

Position Overview

Symbotic is seeking a Senior Manager, Category Management to own the strategy, performance, and scalability of our Tier 2 and Tier 3 robotics component & sub-assembly and repair suppliers. This individual will lead sourcing initiatives for critical component categories, drive supplier optimization, and partner cross-functionally to enable innovation and operational excellence.

What We Do

Our global sourcing, procurement, and third-party supplier team develop innovative category management strategies in collaboration with the business. The team focuses on strategic third-party partner agreements and helps support supplier relationship management, commercial and financial pricing models for overall supplier performance.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute end-to-end category strategies for Tier 2 and Tier 3 suppliers across mechanical, electrical, and OEM components.
• Develop and manage strategy for repair spend.
• Lead dual-sourcing and risk mitigation strategies to ensure supply resilience, cost competitiveness, and scalability.
• Drive total cost of ownership (TCO) improvements through supplier consolidation, commercial negotiations, and value engineering.
• Collaborate with Engineering, Supplier Quality, and External Manufacturing to align sourcing decisions with product roadmaps and NPI timelines.
• Lead RFx activities, supplier selection, and contract negotiations, ensuring compliance with company standards and industry best practices.
• Monitor supplier performance using KPIs, SLAs, and continuous improvement metrics; proactively manage quality and delivery risks.
• Influence resource planning and internal investment cases by articulating sourcing trade-offs, risks, and ROI.
• Serve as a strategic advisor and subject matter expert for internal stakeholders on supplier market trends, cost drivers, and sourcing strategies.
• Develop business cases to secure project approval, ensure effective resource allocation, and drive organizational change through proactive change management.

Requirements

• Education: Bachelor's degree required; Engineering (Mechanical, Industrial, Manufacturing) or Business preferred. MBA is a plus.
• Experience: Minimum 10 years in strategic sourcing, category management, or supply chain leadership roles, with deep experience in Tier 2/Tier 3 supplier strategy.
• Skills:
  • Proven success sourcing complex engineered components within robotics, automation, or industrial tech environments.
  • Strong commercial acumen, negotiation experience, and data-driven decision-making skills.
  • Program management skills to execute projects from end to end.
  • Advanced Excel and PowerPoint skills; Power BI, Tableau, or similar visualization tools a strong plus.
  • Strong relationship-building skills with cross-functional partners including Engineering, Quality, and Finance.

Our Environment

• Up to 25% of travel may be required. Employees must have a valid driver’s license and the ability to drive and/or fly to client and other customer locations.
• The employee is responsible for owning a credit card and managing expenses personally to be reimbursed on a bi-weekly basis.

About Symbotic

Symbotic is an automation technology leader reimagining the supply chain with its end-to-end, AI-powered robotic and software platform. Symbotic reinvents the warehouse as a strategic asset for the world’s largest retail, wholesale, and food & beverage companies. Applying next-gen technology, high-density storage and machine learning to solve today's complex distribution challenges, Symbotic enables companies to move goods with unmatched speed, agility, accuracy and efficiency. As the backbone of...

#LI-RA1 #LI-Remote