Director, Category/Supplier Management

About this role

Most companies claim to have the best people. We say to them, "Keep dreaming." Our people are second to none. They set us apart with their entrepreneurial spirit and ambition. They come to us from the likes of Amazon, Microsoft, Nordstrom, Starbucks and the sports world, bringing energy, bold ideas and a willingness to dive into the unfamiliar. It's our people that make BDA the top global Merchandise Agency to work for.

Location:

• This role is based in Woodinville, WA and requires you to work onsite 4 days per week , with 1 day remote .

• To be considered, you must live within commuting distance , as regular in-person collaboration is a key part of the role.

We are seeking a strategic and dynamic Category/Supplier Director to enhance business success and drive continuous improvement. You’ll work closely with our sales, product development, merchandising, and sourcing leadership to bridge operations risk, and portfolio management, while developing and executing global procurement plans, with effective business analysis & oversight to maximize profitability. In this role, you will leverage industry expertise, market insights, and category/supplier retail knowledge to unlock high-impact trends, develop data-driven strategies, and strengthen supplier partnerships.

We’re looking for a results-driven strategic leader with a strong background navigating global business negotiations. The ideal candidate has experience leading future-state transformation strategies, scaling current business, analyzing category insights, supplier performance and fostering collaborative relationships across teams.

Core / Key Responsibilities

• Lead cross-functional efforts to communicate and execute category and supplier growth strategies partnering with executive leadership, legal, sales, and supply chain teams to ensure KPI’s goals align with broader business objectives

• Build, lead, and develop a high-performing team, fostering a culture of accountability, continuous learning, operational discipline, and critical thinking

• Identify and analyze emerging trends, market opportunities, and consumer data to curate optimal product assortments and drive profitability

• Develop and implement strategic initiatives that align with evolving consumer demand, commodity cost, and industry landscapes

• Build out a strategic approach to procurement focused on developing deep expertise, alignment with business goals, and the delivery of substantial value through smarter sourcing practices

• Expand and strengthen vendor/supplier global network, ensuring efficiency and alignment with business goals, while proactively assessing their capabilities

• Implement vendor/supplier performance metrics, that drive the right business outcomes resulting in risk reduction, cost savings, and operational resilience

• Responsible for planning and executing annual exclusive BDA/vendor tradeshow

• Responsible for ongoing contract control system to ensure value, compliance with all laws, internal policies & standards and risk mitigation throughout the vendor/supplier lifecycle

• Responsibility to negotiate and continuously improve Preferred Vendor contracts terms and conditions to improve BDA outcomes

• Overall accountability for purchasing and margin improvement including the oversight of purchase order management, sale interface on credits, rebates, and demand plan inventory

• Supervise and mentor the program buyers to ensure timely, complete, and accurate purchase orders maintaining program in stock rates of 100% for Key Drivers and 96% overall

Experience Requirements

• Minimum 15 years strategic sourcing, procurement, and category management

• A. Business Administration or equivalent

• Strong proficiency in complex contract negotiations, Consumer Products Costing & “should-cost modeling, and executive-level stakeholder communication

• Knowledge of purchasing fundamentals including strategic procurement, EOQ, and winning contract negotiations strategies and tactics

• Demonstrated success within a multi-tasking, matrix management, cross-functional team environment with changing priorities and dynamic response times

• Strong understanding of supplier compliance, product safety standards, regulatory requirements, and Code of Conduct

• Proven experience building, leading, and developing high-performing sourcing, procurement, or category management teams

• P&L ownership/experience

Traits & Skills

• Strategic, Analytical and Creative Thinker

• Strong aptitudes for observation, analysis, design, and implementation of materials management process and control

• Strong Leadership skills and ability to develop and communicate vision

• Superior ability to educate, delegate and motivate direct reports

• Independent problem-solving expertise, with tenacious enthusiasm to meet goals with a sense of urgency

• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively with coworkers, vendors and internal customers and present to external clients

• Ability to recognize and act upon trend information

• Self-Motivator and Detail Oriented

• Proven autonomy through high responsibility and result driven planning

Travel

• Yes

Why Join BDA

BDA is a global leader in merchandise, branding, and custom product solutions, partnering with some of the world’s most recognized brands to create meaningful moments and memorable experiences. This role offers the opportunity to directly influence the strength, scalability, innovation, and compliance of BDA.

Our Core Values:

• BDA is a Team and a Family

• Always Strive to Be The Best

• Entrepreneurial Spirit

• Tigger Attitude

• Work Hard, Play Hard

• Make It Happen the Best Way

• Total Client Affinity & Advocacy

Want to learn more? So much to explore

• BDA Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bda_inc/

• Harper + Scott (a BDA company): https://www.harperandscott.com/ & https://www.instagram.com/harperandscott/

• swagup (a BDA company) end-to-end Merch Ecommerce site: https://www.swagup.com/

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