Indirect Category Manager

Graco manufactures and markets premium equipment to move, measure, control, dispense and spray a wide variety of fluid and powder materials. What does that mean? Well, we pump peanut butter into your jar, and the oil in your car. We glue the soles of your shoes, the glass in your windows and the screen on your phone. We spray the finish on your vehicle, coatings on your pills, the paint on your house and texture on your walls. Graco is part of your daily life.

As an Indirect Category Manager at Graco, you will help shape the next evolution of Indirect Procurement, moving the function beyond reactive purchasing support toward a proactive, category-led, and data-driven business partnership model. You will own a portfolio of Corporate Services categories, including Logistics, Human Resources, Engineering Services, and Travel & Entertainment, partnering with stakeholders early to shape requirements, lead sourcing strategy, negotiate strong commercial agreements, and deliver measurable value across cost, risk, service, and stakeholder experience. You will be accountable for delivering annual savings and value targets for your category portfolio and will report to the Manager, Strategic Sourcing. 

What You Will Do at Graco 

• Own the strategy, performance, and value delivery for assigned Corporate Services categories, and develop multi-year category plans that align sourcing priorities with business objectives, risk exposure, supplier market dynamics, and total cost of ownership. 

• Own annual savings, cost avoidance, and value-creation targets, including maintaining a qualified opportunity pipeline, validating realized value with Finance, and reporting performance to leadership. 

• Use market intelligence, spend analytics, benchmarking, and supplier segmentation to identify savings, standardization, supplier consolidation, and demand-management opportunities. 

• Lead full-cycle sourcing events from intake through award, including requirement definition, supplier market assessment, RFx execution, commercial analysis, award recommendation, and supplier onboarding. 

• Lead fact-based commercial negotiations covering pricing, service levels, contract term, renewal mechanics, data protection, intellectual property, liability, indemnification, and audit rights. 

• Serve as the primary procurement business partner for assigned stakeholder groups, engaging early in planning cycles to shape requirements, supplier selection, contracting approach, and long-term category direction. 

• Facilitate cross-functional alignment with business leaders, Legal, Finance, IT, and Operations by clarifying decision rights, commercial tradeoffs, risks, ownership, timing, and expected outcomes. 

• Manage strategic supplier relationships through clear performance expectations, KPIs, business reviews, and improvement plans, and support contract renewals, renegotiations, amendments, and supplier transitions. 

• Advance procurement transformation by improving pipeline visibility, data integrity, reporting, workflow automation, and governance routines, using Microsoft 365, Oracle, and AI-enabled tools to scale best practices. 

• Perform other duties as assigned. 

What You Will Bring to Graco 

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Economics, Supply Chain, or a related field required; MBA preferred. 

• Minimum 5 years of experience in strategic sourcing, category management, or supplier management across indirect categories such as logistics, professional services, human resources, travel, engineering services, IT, or facilities. 

• Strong understanding of category strategy, total cost of ownership, supplier market analysis, RFx execution, commercial negotiation, contract structure, and supplier governance. 

• Demonstrated success negotiating complex contracts, managing supplier performance, and delivering measurable cost optimization. 

• Strong project management, analytical, communication, and influencing skills, with the ability to convert ambiguous business needs into structured sourcing plans and executable decisions, and to adapt to changing business priorities. 

If you’re passionate about driving innovation and making a real impact, we want to hear from you. Become part of Graco’s dynamic team and shape the future with us!

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Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States on a permanent and unrestricted basis. This position is not eligible for immigration sponsorship now or in the future (e.g., H-1B, TN, E-3, O-1, L-1, or employment-based permanent residence sponsorship). Candidates working under temporary employment authorization, including F-1 OPT, STEM OPT, CPT, or similar programs, are not eligible for this position. 

At Graco, you truly make a difference. Your unique talents contribute to our organizational growth and future. Not only do you make a difference, but Graco’s culture empowers employees to create their own career path. Whether you choose to advance within your current department or explore new opportunities in different divisions, you have the ability to build your future. Our managers are here to provide support and guidance as you continue to grow within your career.

Graco has excellent opportunities available to individuals who want to be part of a fast-moving, growing company that is committed to quality, innovation and solving fluid handling problems for our customers. Graco is proud to be named a Best Place to Work by Fortune Magazine in 2016, 2018, 2019, 2021 & 2022. Graco offers attractive compensation, benefits and career development opportunities. Graco’s comprehensive benefits include medical, dental, stock purchase plan, 401(k), tuition reimbursement and more.

Our company uses E-Verify to confirm the employment and eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit www.dhs.gov/E-Verify.

The base pay range for this position is listed below, exclusive of fringe benefits or other compensation.  If you are hired, your final base hourly rate will be determined based on factors such as geographic location, skills, competencies, education, and/or experience.  In addition to those factors, we will also consider internal equity of our current employees.  Please keep in mind that the range provided is the full base salary range for the role.  Hiring at or near the maximum of the range would not be typical to allow for future and continued salary growth.