About The Role

SeaWorld is a world-renowned leader in the themed-park and entertainment industry. Our success is built on a passion for caring for animals and a dedication to delivering positive, memorable experiences to people from around the world. Were also committed to helping ambitious people achieve their professional best. We're always seeking exceptionally skilled and knowledgeable individuals to join our team.

What you get to do

Primary responsibility of the Category Manager is strategic sourcing to best support the needs of United Parks & Resort Food & Beverage. You will be part of a team responsible for Sourcing & Procurement activities with a focus on stakeholder management, category management and technical solutions.

Develop strong working relationships with business units through active listening and problem solving to gain a position of influence as a trusted advisor
Participate in cross functional teams responsible for developing and implementing strategic sourcing projects
Evaluate total cost/supply analyses to identify opportunities to reduce Total Cost of Ownership
Develop and manage new contracts, implementation/communication plans and strategies to maximize contract utilization and cost savings
Participate in preparing and executing clear, structured negotiations following established Strategic Sourcing methodology
Execute balanced supplier selection metrics that extend beyond purchase
Ensure compliance with Sourcing and Procurement policies and best practices
Promote compliance with Procurement policies for purchase requisitions, purchase orders, invoice processing, account reconciliation and issue resolution to ensure accurate and timely financial transactions
Participate in Article Master Data team; responsible for creating and maintaining item master records and pricing information accurately across all systems
Initiate sourcing projects through spend and market analysis
Communicate and report to management the status of any critical purchases that could affect planning and decision-making
Analyze market trends and conditions that affect suppliers, cost of goods, pricing and the resulting impact on clients
Research and implement “best practices” for procurement, including supporting technologies related to sourcing commodities
Participate in professional development activities to keep abreast of current industry best practices
Demonstrate exemplary integrity and ethics in all instances

What it takes to succeed

Bachelor’s degree in supply chain management, Business, Finance or other quantitative discipline preferred
Professional supply chain certification preferred i.e. CPSM, CSM, C.P.M., SCSP, CPIM
Must have at least 3 years’ experience strategically sourcing goods and services
Must have experience with Sourcing & Procurement processes
Demonstrated knowledge of variations in the financial terms of contracts, contract standards and other business practices
Excellent verbal and written communication and presentation skills, including a demonstrated ability to articulate ideas and issues clearly, concisely and persuasively to a variety of audiences, including technical, administrative, vendor representatives and senior management
Demonstrate critical thinking; consider all factors affecting a decision before making a recommendation
Strong analytical skills
Strong negotiation skills
Must be able to interact with team members at all levels
Must have internal customer focus
Must have experience with SAP or other ERP system
Experience with eSourcing systems (i.e. Zycus, Ariba) a plus

The perks of the position

Paid Time Off
Complimentary Park Tickets and Passes
Park Discounts on Food and Merchandise
Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
401K Retirement plan
Voluntary Insurance
Life Insurance
Disability Benefits
Tuition Reimbursement
Dependent and Health Care Flexible Spending Accounts
Employee Assistance Program
Legal Assistance Plan

EEO Employer

SEAWORLD PARKS & ENTERTAINMENT IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER. ALL APPLICANTS WILL BE CONSIDERED WITHOUT REGARD TO AGE, RACE, COLOR, RELIGION, SEX, NATIONAL ORIGIN, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, PREGNANCY, GENDER IDENTITY OR EXPRESSION, DISABILITY OR COVERED VETERAN STATUS.