Category Leader, Marketing & Communications
Work Mode: Onsite
Location: Onsite, four days per week - Kohler, WI
Opportunity
As the Category Leader – Marketing & Communications, you will play a key role in shaping sourcing strategies that support Kohler’s brand, business priorities, and marketing execution. In this role, you will independently manage assigned marketing and communications categories, partner with internal stakeholders and external suppliers, and help deliver strong outcomes across cost, service, quality, risk, compliance, and total value. You will own category, procurement, contract, supplier, and budget-related results within your area of responsibility while knowing when to escalate complex supplier, commercial, legal, or stakeholder matters for senior leadership guidance.
- Own delivery of defined procurement and category goals for marketing and communications categories, aligned to Kohler’s purchasing/procurement strategy and business priorities.
- Manage day-to-day supplier and contract relationships within established category and contract management plans, ensuring providers deliver required service levels, quality, compliance, and business value.
- Jointly with marketing stakeholders, develop clear specifications, success metrics, performance indicators, deliverable scope, and evaluation criteria for contracts across a portfolio of medium to large marketing and communication programs and projects.
- Collect and analyze supplier, market, spend, cost-driver, and performance data to inform sourcing recommendations, category improvements, and supplier decisions.
- Support competitive sourcing events, bid analysis, supplier selection, and negotiations to improve cost, service, innovation, risk mitigation, and total value delivered.
- Partner with marketing, communications, legal, privacy, risk, finance, and business stakeholders to understand needs, resolve issues, and promote alignment to category plans and procurement processes.
- Provide specialist guidance on procurement policies, supplier processes, contract requirements, and marketing/communications sourcing practices; escalate highly complex or contentious issues as appropriate.
- Monitor category performance, supplier performance, budget impacts, and value metrics; prepare clear updates and recommendations for stakeholders and senior sourcing leaders.
- Identify improvements to category plans, supplier coverage, sourcing processes, and stakeholder engagement practices to increase efficiency, compliance, and business impact.
- Maintain working knowledge of marketing and communications supplier models, pricing structures, digital ecosystem considerations, and industry trends to support sound business decisions.
Key Marketing/Communications Subject Matter Expertise
- Marketing category expertise across creative, digital, PR, media, production, events, agency models, pricing, supplier landscape, and key cost drivers.
- Ability to connect marketing performance metrics, business outcomes, supplier value, and compliance considerations including data privacy, IP rights, and content usage.
Key Procurement Subject Matter Expertise
- Lead sourcing and contracting processes with strong contract proficiency, including interpreting business, commercial, and legal terms for stakeholders at all levels.
- Build effective internal and external partnerships to gather requirements, align statements of work, and support project execution with marketing and communications stakeholders.
- Develop and execute negotiation strategies for marketing and communications engagements, balancing leverage, commercial terms, performance metrics, and total value.
Interpersonal Competencies and Capabilities
- Own commitments, communicate proactively, and build trust with internal customers, stakeholders, and supplier partners.
- Work independently, ask clarifying questions, prioritize effectively, and manage workstreams with urgency and accountability.
- Model sound judgment, continuous improvement, and a strong focus on doing what is right for Kohler.
Skills/Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in supply chain, business, marketing, operations, or a related field
- 5+ years of relevant sourcing, procurement, category management, supplier management, marketing/communications operations, or related business experience.
- Experience managing day-to-day supplier relationships, contract deliverables, sourcing activities, and stakeholder requirements within an established procurement or category management framework.
- Experience analyzing spend, supplier proposals, contracts, budgets, and market information to support sourcing recommendations and business decisions.
- Basic experience coordinating the work of others or providing guidance to more junior associates, stakeholders, or project contributors preferred.
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Applicants must be authorized to work in the US without requiring sponsorship now or in the future.
We believe in supporting you from the moment you join us, which is why Kohler offers day 1 benefits. This means you’ll have access to your applicable benefit programs from your first day on the job, with no waiting period.
The salary range for this position is $107,650 - $166,650. The specific salary offered to a candidate may be influenced by a variety of factors including the candidate’s experience, their education, and the work location. In addition, this position is eligible for a performance bonus/variable incentive compensation.
Why Choose Kohler?
We empower each associate to #BecomeMoreAtKohler with a competitive total rewards package to support your health and wellbeing, access to career growth and development opportunities, a diverse and inclusive workplace, and a strong culture of innovation. With more than 30,000 bold leaders across the globe, we’re driving meaningful change in our mission to help people live gracious, healthy, and sustainable lives.
About Us
It is Kohler’s policy to recruit, hire, and promote qualified applicants without regard to race, creed, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, national origin, disability or status as a protected veteran. If, as an individual with a disability, you need reasonable accommodation during the recruitment process, please contact kohlerjobs@kohler.com. Kohler Co. is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.
