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Director Category Manager Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Director - Category Management Job Location: Mooresville, NC Company Website: www.greenworkstools.com Company Summary: Be part of a more sustainable future with Greenworks Tools. We're looking for ...

Director - Category Management Job Location: Mooresville, NC Company Website: www.greenworkstools.com Company Summary: Be part of a more sustainable future with Greenworks Tools. We're looking for ...

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Director Category Manager information

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$72K

$114.4K

$192.5K

How much do director category manager jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 15, 2026, the average yearly pay for director category manager in the United States is $114,363.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $90,000.00 and $126,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Director Category Manager vs Category Manager?

AspectDirector Category ManagerCategory Manager
ResponsibilitiesOversees multiple categories, develops strategic plans, manages teamsManages specific product categories, executes category strategies
Required CredentialsBachelor's degree, often MBA, experience in leadership rolesBachelor's degree, experience in category management or related fields
Work EnvironmentSenior management, cross-departmental collaborationOperational, focused on category performance
Industry UsageCommon in retail, consumer goods, and manufacturingWidely used in retail, e-commerce, and supply chain sectors

The main difference between a Director Category Manager and a Category Manager lies in scope and seniority. The Director oversees multiple categories and strategic initiatives, while the Category Manager focuses on managing individual categories and executing strategies. Both roles require relevant experience and industry knowledge, but the Director position involves higher-level leadership and broader responsibilities.

What is a director category manager?

Director Category Managers are senior professionals responsible for overseeing the strategy, performance, and profitability of specific product or service categories within a company. They lead teams to analyze market trends, manage supplier relationships, and develop strategies to maximize sales and margins. Their role includes collaborating with marketing, sales, and supply chain departments to ensure category growth aligns with overall business goals. Typically, Director Category Managers have significant experience in procurement, merchandising, or product management.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a director category manager, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Director Category Manager, you need deep expertise in category management, strategic sourcing, and financial analysis, usually supported by a relevant bachelor’s or master’s degree. Familiarity with procurement software, data analytics tools, and ERP systems is typically required, along with certifications such as CPSM or CIPS. Strong leadership, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills help drive cross-functional initiatives and build supplier relationships. These competencies are vital to optimize category performance, achieve cost savings, and align procurement strategies with organizational goals.

How does a director category manager typically collaborate with cross-functional teams to drive category growth?

As a Director Category Manager, you will frequently work with cross-functional teams such as marketing, sales, supply chain, and product development to develop and execute category strategies. This collaboration is essential for aligning promotional activities, optimizing product assortments, and ensuring supply meets demand. Regular meetings, data-sharing, and joint planning sessions are common practices to ensure all teams are working toward shared objectives. Being able to communicate effectively and lead projects across departments is key to driving category performance and achieving business goals.

What cities are hiring for Director Category Manager jobs?

Cities with the most Director Category Manager job openings:

What are the most commonly searched types of Category Manager jobs?

The most popular types of Category Manager jobs are:

What states have the most Director Category Manager jobs?

States with the most job openings for Director Category Manager jobs include:

Infographic showing various Director Category Manager job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 88% Full Time, 11% Part Time, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 83% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 15% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $114,363 per year, or $55 per hour.

Director, Category Management - Mechanics

ASM

Phoenix, AZ • On-site

Full-time

Posted 4 days ago


Job description

Step into a career with ASM, where cutting edge technology meets collaborative culture.
For over 55 years ASM has been ahead of what's next, at the forefront of innovation and what's technologically possible. With more than 4,500 ASMers representing 70 nationalities, our people and our advanced semiconductor devices are playing a crucial role in trends such as 5G, cloud computing, AI, and autonomous driving. But we're more than just a tech company. We value diversity, inclusion and sustainability as we strive to make a positive impact on the world. Our development programs help support your growth, shaping your future and pushing the boundaries of innovation to unleash potential.
Director, Category Management - Mechanics
Position Summary
The Director, Category Management - Mechanics is a strategic leader accountable for owning and executing a comprehensive, forward-looking sourcing and supplier strategy to build a resilient global supplier network and drive innovation and value creation across the Mechanics category. The leader will shape ASM's long-term sourcing roadmap, create leverage, negotiate contracts and ensure cost, quality, and supplier excellence.
As part of the ASM's Global Sourcing leadership team, the Category leader will collaborate closely with Engineering, Operations, Quality, and Business Units to translate business needs into strategic sourcing solutions - enabling ASM to scale globally with resilience, agility, and technological leadership.
ASM products use a variety of machining, sheet metal and plastic fabrication parts that are built-to-print per ASM design. These categories encompass close to 20% of ASM's total direct spend and cover a number of parts that are critical to deliver the technology that ASM develops for its customers. The category leader will need to engage supply partners who are able to deliver to ASM's next-gen precision manufacturing requirements, while understanding raw materials, and outside process requirements and continually looking for opportunities to improve the supply base.
What you will be working on
Architect a Future-Ready Supply Base
  • Develop and execute a 3-5 years global category sourcing strategy, ensuring our supplier capabilities are 2-3 years ahead of product introduction
  • Achieve year-over-year total cost of ownership (TCO) reduction through deep technical value engineering, not just negotiation.
  • Establish a "Zero-Defect" quality culture with key suppliers, driving toward Six Sigma levels and achieving a >95% OTD for complex, long-lead items.
  • Continually evaluate new suppliers that can vertically integrate and scale with ASM. Uplevel the commercial relationships with key partners through Supplier Relationship Management programs that help to deliver long-term value for ASM.

Technical Leadership & Supplier Innovation
  • Act as the primary technical authority for your category, leveraging deep expertise to evaluate emerging technologies and supplier capabilities.
  • Drive supplier-led innovation, establishing joint development roadmaps that result in the adoption of at least two new technologies or processes per year.
  • Champion early supplier involvement in New Product Introduction (NPI), thereby significantly reducing time-to-market.
  • Be able to engage engineering and suppliers on technical level discussions on design and opportunities to improve yield, quality and costs.

Team Leadership & Development:
  • Build, coach, and develop a high-performing, global sourcing team.
  • Foster a culture of excellence and data-driven decision-making, leveraging tools like SAP S/4HANA, Power BI and other analytics tools.
  • Achieve high team retention rate through active mentorship and development planning.
  • Influence and manage internal stakeholders such as manufacturing, quality, purchasing, planning, business units and finance. Ensure team responsiveness towards supporting cross functional initiatives that relate to continuity of supply, cost management, quality enhancement, lead time reduction, capacity management, etc.

Operational Excellence & Execution
  • Own end-to-end supplier relationship management, implementing standardized scorecards and metrics, holding quarterly business reviews (QBRs) and driving continuous improvement.
  • Lead cross-functional efficiency programs and improvements to reduce overhead, lead times, liabilities and costs.
  • Ensure supply chain resilience by developing and maintaining robust business continuity plans, including second sourcing, raw materials management other relevant potential risks to cover short term and Long-Range-Planning.

What we are looking for
  • Bachelor's degree in supply chain, engineering, materials science or equivalent degree.
  • Minimum of 15 years of progressive strategic sourcing, procurement, or engineering experience in a high-mix, low-volume / high-complexity manufacturing environment (e.g., semiconductor, aerospace, medical devices).
  • Proven track record in managing complex global supply chains and categories such as mechanical systems, advanced materials, contract manufacturing, or electrical categories.
  • Strong commercial acumen, negotiation skills, and experience managing suppliers across globally.
  • Demonstrated leadership in driving sourcing transformation and building high-performing teams.
  • Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, technology-driven industry with demanding supply chain challenges.
  • Experience using SAP/S4 Hana preferred.
  • Deep technical acumen in the Mechanics category
    • Mechanics: Expertise in managing a global network of suppliers for complex machine components, sheet metal, frames, plastics and special processes. You need to understand precision manufacturing, tolerances, design standards, raw materials properties, surface cleaning and treatment, and material science for ultra-high vacuum and plasma environments.

What sets you apart
  • Excellent written and verbal Communication skills. Can clearly and succinctly articulate clear strategies and action plans. Are able to deliver dynamic presentations to share information, drive alignment, update and influence to various levels of audiences.
  • Strategic Visionary: You anticipate technological shifts and build supply chains to capitalize on them.
  • Influential Leader: You build trust and exert influence at the highest levels, both internally and with supplier executive teams.
  • Relentless Problem-Solver: You thrive on solving problems that have no existing solution.
  • Business Acumen: You seamlessly translate a technical challenge into its financial and strategic implications for ASM.
  • Proactive, entrepreneurial mindset with continuous improvement orientation.
  • Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, technology-driven industry with demanding supply chain challenges.

Apply today to be part of what's next.
We make the tech that enables the chips in devices which improve lives around the world. We do this with an eye to the future, pushing the boundaries of what's possible through cutting-edge innovation, and driving the next wave of technological breakthroughs that shape how we live, work, and connect.
To learn more about ASM, find us at asm.com and on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X and YouTube.
ASM is an equal opportunity employer and considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, nationality, social or ethnic origin, sexual orientation, gender, gender identify or expression, marital status, pregnancy, political affiliation, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.