Director, Category/Supplier Management

<div class="content-intro"><p>Most companies claim to have the best people. We say to them, "Keep dreaming." Our people are second to none. They set us apart with their entrepreneurial spirit and ambition. They come to us from the likes of Amazon, Microsoft, Nordstrom, Starbucks and the sports world, bringing energy, bold ideas and a willingness to dive into the unfamiliar. It's our people that make BDA the top global Merchandise Agency to work for.</p></div><p>Location: </p> <ul> <li style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;">This role is based in <span style="font-weight: bold;">Woodinville, WA</span> and requires you to work <span style="font-weight: bold;">onsite 4 days per week</span>, with <span style="font-weight: bold;">1 day remote</span>.</li> <li style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;">To be considered, you must <span style="font-weight: bold;">live within commuting distance</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">, as regular in-person collaboration is a key part of the role.</span></li> </ul> <p><strong>We are seeking a strategic and dynamic Category/Supplier Director </strong>to enhance business success and drive continuous improvement. You’ll work closely with our sales, product development, merchandising, and sourcing leadership to bridge operations risk, and portfolio management, while developing and executing global procurement plans, with effective business analysis & oversight to maximize profitability. In this role, you will leverage industry expertise, market insights, and category/supplier retail knowledge to unlock high-impact trends, develop data-driven strategies, and strengthen supplier partnerships.</p> <p>We’re looking for a results-driven strategic leader with a strong background navigating global business negotiations. The ideal candidate has experience leading future-state transformation strategies, scaling current business, analyzing category insights, supplier performance and fostering collaborative relationships across teams.</p> <p><strong>Core / Key Responsibilities</strong></p> <ul> <li>Lead cross-functional efforts to communicate and execute category and supplier growth strategies partnering with executive leadership, legal, sales, and supply chain teams to ensure KPI’s goals align with broader business objectives</li> </ul> <ul> <li>Build, lead, and develop a high-performing team, fostering a culture of accountability, continuous learning, operational discipline, and critical thinking</li> </ul> <ul> <li>Identify and analyze emerging trends, market opportunities, and consumer data to curate optimal product assortments and drive profitability</li> </ul> <ul> <li>Develop and implement strategic initiatives that align with evolving consumer demand, commodity cost, and industry landscapes</li> </ul> <ul> <li>Build out a strategic approach to procurement focused on developing deep expertise, alignment with business goals, and the delivery of substantial value through smarter sourcing practices</li> <li>Expand and strengthen vendor/supplier global network, ensuring efficiency and alignment with business goals, while proactively assessing their capabilities</li> <li>Implement vendor/supplier performance metrics, that drive the right business outcomes resulting in risk reduction, cost savings, and operational resilience</li> <li>Responsible for planning and executing annual exclusive BDA/vendor tradeshow</li> <li>Responsible for ongoing contract control system to ensure value, compliance with all laws, internal policies & standards and risk mitigation throughout the vendor/supplier lifecycle</li> <li>Respon