Procurement Category Enablement Manager

Purpose of the Position

Serves as the face of Procurement to Marketing, Sales, R&D, Operations, and other commercially focused cross-functional partners. Improves communication and speed-to-market by leveraging category knowledge to drive decisions with speed, accuracy, and alignment with category strategies. Enables Category Managers, Commodity Specialists, and Buyers to stay focused on Sourcing, Cost Savings, Supplier Management, Category Strategies, Innovation, and other high-value activities. Secures on-time, in-scope, and on-budget delivery while reducing risk and improving stakeholder satisfaction, driving competitive advantage for both the company and its customers in accordance with Simmons Core Values.

Essential Position Responsibilities - This is a salary exempt position 

Leads Procurement-Related Projects from Initiation Through Closure. Owns delivery across the full project lifecycle — including product launches, product updates, supplier transitions, system implementations, cost-reduction programs, customer support, and compliance initiatives. Develops and manages detailed project plans, timelines, and budgets. Builds and maintains schedules, Gantt charts, success criteria, and project charters; manages scope, dependencies, and critical milestones; and maintains the portfolio system of record.

Facilitates Cross-Functional Collaboration and Stakeholder Alignment. Coordinates work across Procurement, Manufacturing, Marketing, Sales, R&D, Quality, Finance, Legal, Supply Chain, Transportation, and external suppliers. Facilitates project meetings, drives decisions, manages information flow, and keeps stakeholders aligned on objectives, status, and changes.

Identifies and Mitigates Risk Proactively. Anticipates project risks and issues, maintains risk and issue logs, and drives timely mitigation and resolution. Acts quickly to establish root cause, implement solutions, and escalate appropriately before schedule, cost, or quality is impacted. Tracks and reports on project performance across schedule, scope, budget, and savings realization, providing clear, timely, decision-ready status updates to Procurement leadership and stakeholders.

Drives Adoption Through Change Management. Ensures organizational change management is built into project plans so new processes, systems, and equipment are adopted across the team. Oversees planning and execution of user acceptance testing and training where applicable, and ensures business requirements and processes are clearly documented.

Accelerates Savings Realization and Builds Standard Work. Partners with Category Managers and Commodity Specialists to convert sourcing and supplier decisions into executed results, accelerating cost-savings realization and reducing project-related escalations, delays, and rework. Leverages AI, PLM, Oracle ERP, and other technology to develop, improve, and maintain project templates, intake and triage processes, checklists, and standard work that improve project visibility and balance Category Manager workload across the Procurement team.

Participates as a member of the Team. Participates in the ongoing development, communication and implementation of team concepts, programs, and policies; coordinates work to ensure best practices with all team members. Attends appropriate team meetings. As a member of the Team, fosters strong cohesiveness regarding all major issues, e.g., direction, annual plan, budget, policy changes, etc. Accepts responsibility to quickly identify any areas that lack cohesiveness, bringing them to the attention of the team leader and working with the team in a supportive manner to resolve issues and actively look for ways, and reinforce actions needed, to achieve synergy possible within the larger organization.

Simmons Operating systems principles and objectives. Is familiar with Simmons’ established operating systems (e.g. quality, security, office environment, company policies, LEAN); understands the responsibility to maintain familiarity with the systems and this position’s role in support of these systems – including a consideration of the impact of individual actions on the systems and the responsibility to communicate concerns and improvement ideas.

Performs other duties as necessary in support of business objectives. This position description is intended to guide the activities of the person in this position and is not intended to limit the thinking and creativity of the person as to the work of this function nor is it intended that this describe all the work that may be required of the person in this position.

Physical Activities: Enters and locates information on a computer. Visually verifies information, often in small print. Communicates with Customers, Vendors, or Employees via telephone, in person, and/or electronic mail. May present information to small or large groups. Must be able to work in various temperatures. Move about in a manufacturing environment, office environment, and surrounding property.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): As required by visiting facility.

Travel: Approximately 25% travel, including travel to Simmons facilities and suppliers, and one to two offsite classes or conferences per year.

Technical Experience: 4+ years of project management experience, preferably supporting Procurement, Supply Chain, or a Manufacturing/Engineering environment. Working knowledge of project management disciplines and methodologies necessary to run projects. Proficient in AI tools, Microsoft Project, Microsoft Office products, and a project/portfolio management tool. Will be expected to quickly learn business integration software suites including Oracle, EBS, and PLM. Excellent organizational, analytical, interpersonal, listening, and written and verbal communication skills, with strong accuracy and attention to detail. Capable of balancing multiple priorities simultaneously in a dynamic environment.

Industry Experience: Preference for experience in a food, poultry, or pet food processing organization. Procurement or Supply Chain project experience strongly preferred.

Minimum Education: Bachelor's Degree in Business, Supply Chain, Engineering, or related field; or 4 years related work experience.

Preferred Education: Project Management Professional (PMP) or equivalent; Designated Supply Chain Management Professional (SCMP) or related Master's degree. 

We value military experience and welcome veterans to join our team.