Corporate Category Manager

SeaWorld is a world-renowned leader in the themed-park and entertainment industry. Our success is built on a passion for caring for animals and a dedication to delivering positive, memorable experiences to people from around the world. Were also committed to helping ambitious people achieve their professional best. We're always seeking exceptionally skilled and knowledgeable individuals to join our team. What you get to do: Primary responsibility of the Category Manager is strategic sourcing to best support the needs of United Parks & Resort Food & Beverage.  You will be part of a team responsible for Sourcing & Procurement activities with a focus on stakeholder management, category management and technical solutions.  Develop strong working relationships with business units through active listening and problem solving to gain a position of influence as a trusted advisor Participate in cross functional teams responsible for developing and implementing strategic sourcing projects Evaluate total cost/supply analyses to identify opportunities to reduce Total Cost of Ownership Develop and manage new contracts, implementation/communication plans and strategies to maximize contract utilization and cost savings Participate in preparing and executing clear, structured negotiations following established Strategic Sourcing methodology Execute balanced supplier selection metrics that extend beyond purchase Ensure compliance with Sourcing and Procurement policies and best practices Promote compliance with Procurement policies for purchase requisitions, purchase orders, invoice processing, account reconciliation and issue resolution to ensure accurate and timely financial transactions Participate in Article Master Data team; responsible for creating and maintaining item master records and pricing information accurately across all systems Initiate sourcing projects through spend and market analysis Communicate and report to management the status of any critical purchases that could affect planning and decision-making Analyze market trends and conditions that affect suppliers, cost of goods, pricing and the resulting impact on clients Research and implement “best practices” for procurement, including supporting technologies related to sourcing commodities Participate in professional development activities to keep abreast of current industry best practices Demonstrate exemplary integrity and ethics in all instances What it takes to succeed: Bachelor’s degree in supply chain management, Business, Finance or other quantitative discipline preferred Professional supply chain certification preferred i.e. CPSM, CSM, C.P.M., SCSP, CPIM Must have at least 3 years’ experience strategically sourcing goods and services Must have experience with Sourcing & Procurement processes Demonstrated knowledge of variations in the financial terms of contracts, contract standards and other business practices Excellent verbal and written communication and presentation skills, including a demonstrated ability to articulate ideas and issues clearly, concisely and persuasively to a variety of audiences, including technical, administrative, vendor representatives and senior management Demonstrate critical thinking; consider all factors affecting a decision before making a recommendation Strong analytical skills Strong negotiation skills Must be able to interact with team members at all levels Must have internal customer focus Must have experience with SAP or other ERP system Experience with eSourcing systems (i.e. Zycus, Ariba) a plus The perks of the position: Paid Time Off Complimentary Park Tickets and Passes Park Discounts on Food and Merchandise Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance 401K Retirement plan Voluntary Insurance Life Insurance Disability Benefits Tuition Reimbursement Dependent and Health Care Flexible Spending Accounts Employee Assistance Program Legal Assistance Plan EEO Employer: SEAWORLD PARKS & ENTERTAINMENT IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER. ALL APPLICANTS WILL BE CONSIDERED WITHOUT REGARD TO AGE, RACE, COLOR, RELIGION, SEX, NATIONAL ORIGIN, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, PREGNANCY, GENDER IDENTITY OR EXPRESSION, DISABILITY OR COVERED VETERAN STATUS.