Strategic Category & Sourcing Manager (New Joint Venture)

3M announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement with Bain Capital to form a new Joint Venture which will combine Scott Safety and Madison Fire and Rescue. 3M's deep expertise and track record in the safety industry combined with Bain Capital's capability to integrate businesses, accelerate growth and drive synergies make this an ideal partnership.

The transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2026, subject to customary closing conditions.

The successful candidate may be employed by 3M prior to closing and the position is expected to transition to the Joint Venture following completion of the transaction. Role scope and timing are subject to business needs and successful transaction close.

For more information, please refer to the press release: 3M to create a leading fire and safety business; acquires Madison Fire & Rescue and combines with Scott Safety - Mar 19, 2026

This position provides an opportunity to transition from other private, public, government or military experience to a 3M career.

The Impact You’ll Make in this Role
As the Strategic Category & Sourcing Manager - Direct Materials, you will lead the development and execution of category strategies for assigned direct material spend areas within a highly regulated industry environment. In this role, you will be responsible for driving cost competitiveness, supplier performance, supply continuity, quality, and risk management across a critical supply base supporting custom-designed direct materials. You will work closely with Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, Supply Chain, and other stakeholders to support operational needs, new product introductions, and long-term business objectives.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute strategic category plans for assigned direct material categories aligned with business priorities for cost, quality, growth, supply continuity, and risk mitigation.
• Lead sourcing initiatives including supplier identification, RFIs, RFQs, RFPs, negotiations, supplier selection, and implementation.
• Manage supplier relationships and serve as the primary sourcing lead for assigned suppliers and commodity areas.
• Negotiate pricing, commercial terms, and supply agreements to improve value, mitigate risk, and support business continuity.
• Conduct spend analysis, market intelligence, cost modeling, and supplier benchmarking to identify sourcing opportunities and strengthen category competitiveness.
• Partner with suppliers to improve quality, delivery, capacity, responsiveness, service, and cost performance.
• Assess supplier capabilities, manufacturing processes, technical competencies, capacity, and quality systems to support sourcing decisions and supplier development for custom-designed direct materials.
• Provide key support for new product introduction activities through early engagement on supplier selection, collaboration on design for manufacturability, development of a plan for every part (PFEP), and actions to ensure supply chain readiness in support of launch timelines.
• Collaborate with Engineering, Manufacturing, and Quality teams to support design for manufacturability, engineering changes, supplier readiness, qualification requirements, and new product launches.
• Identify and manage supply risks related to supplier performance, capacity constraints, sole or single sourcing, raw material availability, regulatory requirements, and business continuity.
• Lead supplier business reviews, corrective actions, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Ensure suppliers meet applicable regulatory, quality, and corporate requirements.

Your Skills and Expertise 

To set you up for success in this role from day one, 3M requires (at a minimum) the following qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or higher (completed and verified prior to start)
• Five (5) years of experience in sourcing, category management, procurement, supply chain, operations, engineering, manufacturing, finance, or a related field in a private, public, government, or military environment

Additional qualifications that could help you succeed even further in this role include:

• Experience managing indirect spend categories such as MRO, Fleet, IT, Capital Projects, R&D, Energy, Facilities, or site services
• Experience implementing, renewing, extending, and managing supplier agreements, service agreements, and commercial contracts
• Experience negotiating contracts, statements of work, and commercial terms
• Experience supporting manufacturing sites or plant operations through indirect sourcing
• Strong strategic sourcing, supplier management, and contract management skills
• Experience conducting spend analysis, supplier assessments, market analysis, and cost improvement initiatives
• Ability to manage a broad portfolio of suppliers and business stakeholders across multiple spend categories
• Experience working in a manufacturing or highly regulated environment
• Strong analytical, project management, and problem-solving skills
• Strong cross-functional collaboration skills with Operations, Engineering, Finance, IT, Facilities, and R&D teams
• Proficiency in Excel based data analysis
• Strong written and verbal communication skills

Work location:

• Work location: This role follows an on-site working model in Monroe, NC

Travel: May include up to 10%

Relocation: May be authorized

Must be legally authorized to work in country of employment without sponsorship for employment visa status (e.g., H1B status).