Senior Category Manager – Indirect Materials – Stamford, CT
Be a part of a revolutionary change!
At Philip Morris International (PMI), we’ve chosen to do something incredible. We’re totally transforming our business and building our future on one clear purpose – to deliver a smoke-free future.
With huge change, comes huge opportunity. So, if you join us, you’ll enjoy the freedom to dream up and deliver better, brighter solutions and the space to move your career forward in endlessly different directions. Our success depends on people who are committed to our purpose and have an appetite for progress.
We are hiring a Senior Category Manager – Indirect Materials in Stamford, CT!
The Senior Category Manager, Indirect Materials is a strategic leadership role responsible for defining and executing sourcing and procurement strategies across a broad portfolio of indirect spend categories supporting U.S. Operations and Corporate Business Functions.
This role leads end-to-end category ownership with accountability for driving measurable value through cost optimization, risk mitigation, supplier performance, and governance. As a senior leader within U.S. Procurement, this position partners closely with senior stakeholders across the enterprise and provides direct people leadership for a team of Procurement Managers.
The role manages an annual total spend of approximately $0.8–$1.0B, across 1,200+ suppliers (approximately 90% U.S.-based / 10% international), and is accountable for delivering aggressive, stretch savings targets (~10%) while ensuring supply continuity, compliance, and operational agility.
Day to Day –
Category Strategy & Ownership
- Own and lead the end-to-end category strategy for Indirect Materials, aligning sourcing plans with U.S. business priorities and enterprise procurement objectives.
- Develop and execute multi-year category roadmaps informed by demand forecasts, market intelligence, risk assessments, and best-in-class procurement practices.
- Translate long-term business needs into actionable sourcing strategies, balancing cost, service, risk, and scalability.
- Continuously identify opportunities to optimize category structures, supplier mix, and demand management models.
- Strategic Sourcing, Commercial Excellence & Value Delivery
- Lead complex sourcing initiatives including RFIs, RFPs, and RFQs across multiple indirect categories.
- Own high-impact negotiations and contracting activities, including MSAs, SLAs, renewals, and commercial frameworks.
- Drive total cost of ownership (TCO) analysis, value levers beyond price, and disciplined year-over-year savings delivery against stretch targets (~10%).
- Identify and implement opportunities for supplier consolidation, process efficiencies, and commercial innovation.
Supplier Performance, Risk & Governance
- Build and maintain strategic partnerships with key suppliers across a diverse and complex supplier base.
- Establish and manage robust supplier governance models, performance scorecards, and KPI frameworks covering cost, quality, service, innovation, risk, and compliance.
- Lead supplier risk identification, mitigation, and contingency planning, including financial, operational, geopolitical, and supply continuity risks.
- Ensure supplier compliance with company policies, legal and regulatory requirements, and ethical and responsible sourcing standards.
Stakeholder Partnership & Business Engagement
- Act as a trusted procurement advisor to senior leaders across Operations and Corporate Functions.
- Partner closely with stakeholders to understand evolving needs and deliver tailored sourcing solutions that enable business outcomes.
- Influence and align stakeholders across a complex, matrixed organization, driving adoption of category strategies and procurement governance.
- Translate procurement strategy into clear, business-relevant decision-making frameworks.
People Leadership & Team Development
- Lead, coach, and develop a team of 4–6 direct reports (Procurement Managers), fostering a high-performing, collaborative, and accountable culture.
- Set clear objectives, provide ongoing feedback, and support capability development across sourcing, negotiation, analytics, and stakeholder engagement.
- Build bench strength and succession plans while promoting continuous improvement and professional growth.
Governance, Compliance & Sustainability
- Ensure adherence to procurement policies, financial controls, and internal governance processes across all categories.
- Design and strengthen category-level governance and supplier risk evaluation frameworks.
- Champion responsible, ethical, and sustainable sourcing practices across the indirect supplier base.
- Stay current on market trends, supply risks, and emerging procurement capabilities to continuously elevate category strategies.
Scope & Complexity
- Total Spend Managed: ~$0.8–$1.0B annually
- Supplier Base: 1,200+ suppliers
- Geographic Mix: ~90% U.S.-based / ~10% international
- Savings Expectations: ~10% stretch, value-focused targets
- Direct Reports: 4–6 Procurement Managers
What we are looking for:
- Bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain, Finance, or a related field (MBA or equivalent preferred).
- 8+ years of progressive experience in procurement or strategic sourcing, ideally across multiple indirect spend categories.
- Demonstrated success leading complex sourcing initiatives, high-impact negotiations, and enterprise-level supplier relationships.
- Proven people leadership experience with the ability to coach, develop, and lead high-performing teams.
- Strong commercial and financial acumen, including TCO modeling, savings validation, and value tracking.
- Exceptional stakeholder management and communication skills, with confidence engaging senior leaders.
- Experience operating in fast-paced, matrixed and/or large-scale organizations.
- Familiarity with procurement platforms such as SAP Ariba, Coupa, or Oracle preferred.
Base Salary - $176,000 - $220,000
What we offer
- We offer a competitive base salary, annual bonus (applicable based on level of position), great medical, dental and vision coverage, 401k with a generous company match, incredible wellness benefits, commuter benefits, pet insurance, generous PTO, and much more!
- We have implemented Smart Work, a hybrid model of working that promotes flexibility in the workplace.
- Seize the freedom to define your future and ours. We’ll empower you to take risks, experiment and explore.
- Be part of an inclusive, diverse culture where everyone’s contribution is respected; Collaborate with some of the world’s best people and feel like you belong.
- Pursue your ambitions and develop your skills with a global business – our staggering size and scale provides endless opportunities to progress.
- Take pride in delivering our promise to society: To improve the lives of millions of smokers.
PMI is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
PMI is headquartered in Stamford, Conn., and its U.S. affiliates have more than 2,300 employees.
PMI has been an entirely separate company from Altria and Philip Morris USA since 2008. PMI’s affiliates first entered the U.S. market following the company’s acquisition of Swedish Match in late 2022. Philip Morris International and its U.S. affiliates are working to deliver a smoke-free future. Since 2008, PMI has invested $12.5 billion globally to develop, scientifically substantiate and commercialize innovative smoke-free products for adults who would otherwise continue to smoke with the goal of transitioning legal-age consumers who smoke to better alternatives. In 2022, PMI acquired Swedish Match – a leader in oral nicotine delivery – creating a global smoke-free champion led by the IQOS and ZYN brands. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has authorized versions of PMI’s IQOS electronically heated tobacco devices and Swedish Match’s General snus as Modified Risk Tobacco Products and renewal applications for these products are presently pending before the FDA. For more information, please visit www.pmi.com/us and www.pmiscience.com
Work Location: In person
