Category Manager - Supply - EdTech

Key Responsibilities:

- Own and strengthen relationships with key suppliers and university partners.

- Drive regular business reviews, joint planning, and performance discussions.

- Develop long-term partnerships aligned with business and category objectives.

- Lead negotiations on pricing, payment terms, commercials, and SLAs.

- Identify opportunities to improve margins, reduce costs, and drive commercial efficiency.

- Balance cost optimization with quality, availability, and partner experience.

- Work closely with Sales and Demand teams to translate business forecasts into effective supply plans.

- Ensure optimum availability while balancing cost, quality, and service levels.

- Identify supply gaps and proactively address capacity and fulfilment challenges.

- Partner with Product and Technology teams to improve supply and fulfilment processes.

- Identify operational gaps and drive automation, digitization, and data-led solutions.

- Improve SLAs through better tracking, reporting, onboarding, and fulfilment processes.

- Define and track key supplier and category metrics including cost, lead time, quality, availability, and SLA adherence.

- Build performance dashboards and provide actionable insights to leadership.

- Drive corrective actions and continuous improvement initiatives.

- Track market trends, pricing movements, supplier landscape, and competitor activity.

- Use market insights to identify new opportunities and strengthen category strategy.

- Evaluate alternate suppliers and sourcing opportunities to improve competitiveness.

- Identify potential supply risks and develop mitigation plans.

- Build alternate sourcing and contingency strategies to ensure business continuity.

- Proactively address supply vulnerabilities before they impact business operations.

Ideal Candidate Profile:

- 4 - 8 years of experience in Category Management, Procurement, Supply, Vendor Management, Business Operations, or a similar commercial role.

- Strong experience in commercial negotiations and supplier or partner management.

- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a data-driven approach.

- Ability to manage multiple stakeholders and drive cross-functional initiatives.

- Strong understanding of P&L, cost optimization, pricing, and business performance.

- Experience in EdTech, e-commerce, marketplaces, B2B, or other high-growth businesses would be preferred.