Coherent Corp. develops lasers, optoelectronic components, and photonic systems for demanding scientific and industrial applications. Its portfolio includes laser systems for cutting and welding, optical transceivers, semiconductor manufacturing equipment, and illumination technologies used in 3D sensing. The company serves sectors such as aerospace, telecommunications, life sciences, and manufacturing, applying expertise in optics and photonics to areas including AI, healthcare, and environmental sustainability.
Senior Category Manager, Chemicals and Energy
Lead sourcing strategy and supplier governance across chemicals, gases, energy and utilities. Support savings, sustainability and procurement analytics at Coherent, a laser and materials manufacturer.
Description
- Create and deliver multi-year strategies for chemicals, gases, energy and utilities categories.
- Lead strategic sourcing, supplier negotiations, competitive bids, pricing initiatives and contract renewals.
- Build and maintain preferred supplier strategies and long-term agreements.
- Manage strategic supplier relationships, performance, governance and escalations.
- Identify, negotiate, validate and track savings, cost avoidance and working capital opportunities.
- Ensure negotiated savings appear in executed purchase order pricing and procurement and finance reports.
- Work with Finance and Data Analytics on savings methods, forecasts, dashboards and performance reports.
- Build annual savings opportunity pipelines and category forecasts.
- Support tax exemptions, tariff optimization, and utility and energy cost reduction initiatives.
- Support renewable energy and sustainability work, including supplier engagement, site coordination and emissions requirements.
- Coordinate with site managers, general managers, Operations, Finance, Sustainability and other stakeholders.
- Lead commercial discussions for strategic and higher-risk programs during supplier negotiations.
- Maintain contract visibility, renewal plans, compliance and lifecycle governance.
- Combine fragmented supplier relationships into long-term agreements, preferred supplier agreements and enterprise relationships.
- Track supplier and program KPIs and drive corrective actions.
- Standardize commercial terms and improve working capital.
- Provide category forecasts, total cost guidance, market intelligence and commercial recommendations.
- Support Power BI, ASL and procurement reporting, along with preferred supplier governance processes.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in business, engineering, finance, procurement or a related field.
- At least five years of procurement experience.
- Strong business judgment, structured problem-solving, analytical ability and data analysis skills.
- Solid understanding of strategic sourcing and contract management.
- Experience developing, communicating and delivering strategic roadmaps.
- Ability to influence, collaborate and coordinate across stakeholders.
- Ability to manage multiple tasks and resolve open issues.
- Substantial project management experience.
- Strong experience with procurement processes and system integration projects.
- Contract negotiation and management experience.
- Ability to collaborate, set priorities and meet deadlines under pressure.
- Excellent written and verbal communication and strong interpersonal skills.
- Ability to follow site EHS procedures and corporate EHS standards.
- Ability to support applicable ISO 9000, 9001, 14001 and other relevant standards.
Benefits
- Competitive compensation program.
- Career development platform.
- Stability, longevity and growth opportunities.
- Equal opportunity and affirmative action employer.
- Disability accommodations available upon request.