.Â:At UL, we know why we come to work.:Thousands of us around the world wake up every day with a common purpose: to make the world a safer, more secure and sustainable place. Science is in our DNA; we are endlessly curious and passionate about seeking and speaking the truth. We take delight in knowing that our work makes a meaningful contribution to society, and we are proud that our culture is centered on integrity, collaboration, inclusion and excellence. UL stands at the forefront of technological advancement, and we are continually challenged to find new ways to foster innovation and positive change. Satisfying? Yes. Exciting? Absolutely!What youâll learn & achieve:The Category Specialist will lead the development and execution of category plans and implement a range of sourcing initiatives to support those plans.**JOB RESPONSIBILITIES**:- Develop Category Plans and sourcing strategies containing a portfolio of key initiatives- Lead or support category planning and execution- Lead sourcing initiatives, achieving best value within acceptable risk.- Contribute to the development of the annual pipeline of sourcing initiatives- Rationalize the number of suppliers and reduce fragmentation in the spend base to simplify the supplier landscape and drive commercial efficiency- Manage key suppliers to ensure that all contractual obligations are met, initiatives are performing against business case and that issues and disputes are resolved in a timely manner- Build and enhance relationships with strategic suppliers to deliver high levels of service while maintaining best-in-class commercial terms and conditions- Performs other duties as directed.What makes you a great fit:- Bachelor's degree in Business, Information Technology, Supply Management, or related field- 3+ years Procurement experience- CPM/CPSM certification a plus- Familiarity with technologies available in the marketplace today- Solves complex problems and takes a broad perspective to identify innovative solutions.- Lead functional teams/projects with direction of category manager.- Excellent relationship management and cross-functional leadership skills, understanding of best-practice sourcing methodology and a demonstrated track record of working ethically to achieve excellent outcomes.- Knowledge of standard commercial contracting practices and procedures.- Ability to interpret and summarizing contractual terms for internal clients, such as license rights, product entitlements, intellectual property, and use restrictions.- Ability to take a hands-on approach to analyze and interpret spend data is support of sourcing initiatives and UL business objectives.- Strong process management, organizational and effective time management skills.What youâll experience working at UL:- **Mission**: For UL, corporate and social responsibility isn't new