Category Manager (Indirect Procurement)

Automotive glass technology is helping transform how we experience the road. At Belron Canada, the home office of Speedy Glass, Lebeau vitres d’auto and Vanfax we take this seriously, which is why we invest tirelessly on developing our people can realize their full potential.

We welcome applications from everyone, and are firmly committed to diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace, and take pride in ensuring every member of our team feels empowered.

The Category Manager – Indirect at Belron Canada is responsible for overseeing all procurement activities related to indirect goods and services, excluding direct materials and logistics, with a managed spend of approximately CA$100M. This role involves managing a diverse portfolio that includes packaging, chemicals, HR services, marketing agencies, IT, facilities, and other non-product-related categories, focusing on strategic sourcing, supplier management, and cost optimization.

The Category Manager will develop and implement sourcing strategies to align with business objectives, negotiate and manage supplier contracts to secure favorable terms, monitor market trends to identify opportunities for innovation and cost savings, ensure compliance with procurement policies, and collaborate with internal stakeholders to understand and address their requirements. Additionally, the Category Manager will identify and mitigate procurement risks, lead initiatives to improve supplier performance, and work closely with the finance team to forecast and manage category budgets effectively.

This role plays a critical part in driving efficiency, sustainability, and value creation across the organization’s indirect procurement categories.

Responsibility: Sourcing and Contract Management

• Lead complex RFPs and negotiations to secure favorable terms for pricing, material aand quality, ensuring compliance with company requirements.
• Develop and manage supplier contracts, ensuring all terms are met and risks are mitigated.
• Do spend analysis, participate and manage projects pertaining to potential savings, single source and standardization of material.
• Supervise the Indirect Buyer who manages day-to-day relationships with certain technical indirect suppliers.
• Identify, analyze and realize cost reduction opportunities

Responsibility: Strategic Supplier Management

• Develop and execute a comprehensive category strategy that aligns with the overall business objectives of Belron Canada.
• Cultivate and maintain strong, strategic partnerships with key suppliers to ensure long-term, mutually beneficial relationships.
• Monitor supplier performance and implement improvement plans using formal business reviews and formal scorecards to ensure optimal service levels and continuous improvement.
• Responsible to maintain excellent relation with suppliers, communicated clearly and with respect.
• Take appropriate action in case of suppliers or sub-contractor non-conformities and follow up on corrective actions. Follow up on quality issues with suppliers
• Establish and track key performance indicators (KPIs) for supplier performance and category management.

Responsibility: Category/Market Analysis and Risk Management

• Conduct thorough market analysis to stay abreast of industry trends, pricing dynamics, and potential risks.
• Identify opportunities for cost savings, process improvements, and innovation within the supply chain.
• Identify and mitigate risks within the supply chain, including supply disruptions, quality issues, and financial risks.
• Develop contingency plans to address potential supply chain disruptions.
• Prepare and present regular reports to senior management on category performance, market trends, and strategic initiatives.

Responsibility: Cross Functional Collaboration

• Collaborate with internal stakeholders, including Retail, HR, Finance, IT and Marking, to ensure alignment and support for category strategies.
• Work with Belron Global to leverage global initiatives, adopt best practices, and implement the rolling procurement policy to drive consistency and efficiency across categories
• Act as a liaison between suppliers and internal teams to resolve issues and ensure smooth operations.

Responsibility: Budgeting and Financial

• Work with department heads to budget indirect costs for all categories.
• Perform audits on regular basis to ensure suppliers are billing according to the terms of their contracts.

We believe that genuine care can make a real difference in the customer experience, and it begins with making a difference in the careers of our team members.

Belron Canada is an integral part of the Belron International family, a global leader in auto glass repair and replacement, and forward-facing digital camera calibration. Belron Canada alone operates 325+ service centres, 2 distribution centres and 26 warehouses across 10 provinces, and is home to over 1,200 employees.

Our pursuit of excellence commits us to providing sustainable world-class care for our communities and the climate.

If you value your career as we value our employees and our customers, there’s no better time to join Belron Canada and #BringOutYourBest with us!