Strategic Category Manager Cover Letter

Please consider me for the strategic category manager opportunity. I am including my resume that lists my qualifications and experience.

Previously, I was responsible for insight and advice to senior stakeholders on the relevant market place and current trends that might impact the supply of Talent.

Please consider my experience and qualifications for this position:

• Presentation Skills – Can present complex concepts or information with use of well thought out PowerPoint slide presentations
• Excellent engagement with VP’s and C level audiences
• Experience working with virtual teams (Min 1 YR)
• Project Management (Min 1 YR)
• Experience working with sourcing tools such as Ariba/SAP or similar (Min 1 YR)
• This is NOT someone who works in purchasing and is simply executing the direction of others
• Experience with evaluation criteria and response review and analysis
• Experienced in preferred partnership or tiered services supplier programs

I am excited to be applying for the position of strategic category manager. Please accept this letter and the attached resume as my interest in this position.

In my previous role, I was responsible for educational and learning opportunities to internal colleagues and external clients on industry trends, supplier landscape changes, and market intel within categories of expertise.

Please consider my experience and qualifications for this position:

• ERP, purchase order systems
• Experience in RFP development and conducting supplier proposal analysis
• Lead complex Indirect categories by working with business partners to develop strategies around contracting, negotiation, communication and supplier selection
• Serve as expert for assigned categories
• Develop negotiation strategies on complex (multi-million dollar) contracts
• Perform market analysis and financial analysis to determine business risk associated with suppliers and contracts
• Identify new sources of supply and develop optimal pricing methodology
• Develop supplier scorecards, service level agreements and key performance indicators

In response to your job posting for strategic category manager, I am including this letter and my resume for your review.

Previously, I was responsible for leadership, direction, and influence for internal and external stakeholders; proven ability to collaborate and manage cross-functional teams.

My experience is an excellent fit for the list of requirements in this job:

• Supply Management - identifies key performance indicators
• Analytical skills managing and discerning data
• Comfortable building succinct decks and presenting them to senior level stakeholders
• Keen analytical mindset used to think critically with either big and/or ambiguous data sets to assist with the effective decision making process and be able to translate said thought process to multiple C-Level executives
• Mid-level leadership and commodity management experience
• Demonstrated supplier management skills and negotiation experience
• Develops and balances both short and long term strategies and initiatives
• Passion for negotiation

I submit this application to express my sincere interest in the strategic category manager position.

Previously, I was responsible for subject matter advice in regard to the external supply market to compliment to internal current and future business needs.

My experience is an excellent fit for the list of requirements in this job:

• Able to apply sound judgment and experience to create contract language that achieves the best commercial and legal outcome for HPE
• Able to balance a challenging supplier landscape, where many suppliers are significant customers of HPE
• Solid understanding of software compliance, and how to best manage it proactively and reactively
• ISM/APICS certifications
• Supply market research
• Interpretation of policies, analyses, and trends
• Knowledge of applicable laws, policies, and principles
• Departmental and team member evaluation and coaching

I am excited to be applying for the position of strategic category manager. Please accept this letter and the attached resume as my interest in this position.

In the previous role, I was responsible for leadership, directions, and influence for internal and external stakeholders inclusive of the value of center-led procurement leveraging strategies of Purchase Demand Management, Supply Base Management, and Total Cost Management.

I reviewed the requirements of the job opening and I believe my candidacy is an excellent fit for this position. Some of the key requirements that I have extensive experience with include:

• Category strategy development support, execution of competitive RFx and other cost improvement initiatives, and leading fact-based negotiations and supplier selection processes
• Expertise in executing strategic sourcing initiatives following a traditional 7-Step sourcing methodology, analyzing / summarizing RFx results and preparing recommendations for senior management
• Contracting and negotiating with suppliers across a range of transportation and logistics sub-categories, including road cargo transport, postal, small parcel and courier services
• Strategic sourcing experience with technology related spend, both for logistics and other enterprise systems and technology infrastructure
• Working collaboratively with stakeholders to create value across business units and geographies
• Leveraging carriers, service providers and technology suppliers and understanding market trends and various technologies, to add value for stakeholders and drive cost savings and efficiencies
• Strong understanding of media planning and buying (traditional and digital), marketing research, marketing print services, creative services, social, digital advertising, marketing technology, data/analytics promotional items, publicity and events
• Customer and Stakeholder Relationships