Category Manager, Indirect Procurement

Supply Chain
Dallas, TX
January 31, 2025

Category Manager, Indirect Procurement

Coppell, TX

What does it mean to be a BrinkerHead? We play like a team, take pride in our culture and seek every opportunity to make people feel special. Life is short. Work happy. At Brinker, we connect, serve and give to create the best life for our Team Members, Guests community. Through our cultural beliefs, Brinker empowers its Team Members to positively impact our 4 Key Results: Engaging Team Members, Bringing Back Guests, Growing Sales and Increasing Profits. Brinker International is an equal opportunity employer; we foster an inclusion environment that promotes respect, diversity of thought and success for all.

Job Summary

The Category Manager on our Indirect Procurement team aligns procurement strategies with Brinker's overall enterprise business objectives. They support restaurant operations in strategic sourcing activities in the following areas: Marketing (traditional, media, social, mar-tech, merchandise & others), promotional products & uniforms, Risk Management, and other products, services and programs. This team member will lead strategic supplier identification, vetting and negotiations with the goal of achieving process efficiencies, cost avoidance/reductions and continuous improvements. 

Your Key Job Functions

• Set strategic direction for managed categories and suppliers to deliver value, both financially and operationally. 
• Develop, review and manage contracts, agreements, statements of work, etc. with best-in-class suppliers
• Negotiate agreements with buy-in from stakeholders by leveraging terms, conditions, volumes, service levels, etc. ensure cost-effectiveness and quality of goods and services.
• Create touchpoints with internal and external teams such as quarterly business reviews.
• Review/analyze various agreement documents to ensure Legal and Risk Management support.
• Analyze and effectively communicate business terms with internal stakeholders and gain feedback
• Manage and deliver on project timelines to meet stakeholder initiatives/expectations.
• Develop world-class partnerships with suppliers and serve as the direct point of contact during escalations.
• Write and apply procurement knowledge to Requests for Proposals, Quotes or Information (RFPs, RFQs, RFIs) for new and/or existing strategic projects.
•  Collaborate with cross functional departments within a multi-tiered corporate environment to support and serve.
•  Stay informed on key industry and market information.
•  Lead multiple individual and team projects with various deadlines, ensuring accurate and timely deliverables.

What You Bring to the Team

• Required: Minimum of 5+ years working in procurement, with a minimum of 2-3 years of Indirect experience. 
• Strongly Preferred: Experience with Advertising and Marketing.
• Preferred: Previous experience within restaurant/hospitality procurement. 
• Bachelor's degree required. 
• Collaborative attitude through proven experience as a procurement professional
• Proven expertise with the end-to-end procurement process, including budget/cost control, negotiation, legal/risk management, and financial forecasting,
• Proven expertise in conducting complex negotiations
• Experience with informing broad business strategies into action items and objectives  
• A "self-starter" attitude that thrives in a fast paced and dynamic environment Strong communication style, both verbal and written, with experience presenting complex ideas to varying levels of familiarity, adjusting style to their experience and needs.
• Strong interpersonal communication is a must
• High organization, attention to detail, and project management skills 
• Proven ability to influence and build productive, cooperative, and impactful relationships with team members, stakeholders, senior leadership, and other key partners.