Category Manager

Salary Range: $90,000 - $110,000

Job Posting End Date: 2/13/2026

We’ve Got You Under Our Wing

We are the duck. We develop and empower our people, cultivate relationships, give back to our community, and celebrate every success along the way. We do it all…The Aflac Way.

Aflac, a Fortune 500 company, is an industry leader in voluntary insurance products that pay cash directly to policyholders and one of America's best-known brands. Aflac has been recognized as Fortune’s 50 Best Workplaces for Diversity and as one of World’s Most Ethical Companies by Ethisphere.com.

Our business is about being there for people in need. So, ask yourself, are you the duck? If so, there’s a home, and a flourishing career for you at Aflac.

Worker Designation – This role is hybrid. This means you will be expected to report to one of our Aflac offices located in Columbus. GA, for at least 60% of the work week. You will work from your home (within the continental US) for the remaining portion of the work week. Details of this schedule will be discussed with your leadership. 

What does it take to be successful at Aflac?

• Acting with Integrity
• Communicating Effectively
• Pursuing Self-Development
• Serving Customers
• Supporting Change
• Supporting Organizational Goals
• Working with Diverse Populations

What does it take to be successful in this role?

• Knowledge of sourcing principals and indirect procurement 
• Knowledge of primary and secondary research methods 
• Knowledge and demonstrated experience performing financial/cost analysis, business case development, quantitative and qualitative analysis and decision modeling

Education & Experience Required

• Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration or related field
• 6+ years of related work experience
• 4+ years in procurement operations, strategic sourcing or similar roles

Or an equivalent combination of education and experience

Principal Duties & Responsibilities

• Act as a trusted procurement advisor and deliver value to the business 
• Opportunity identification for business thru category strategy development 
• Communication on emerging trends 
• Collaboration to resolve key challenges in supply continuity or efficiency 
• Support business unit planning, demand planning, budgeting and forecasting 
• Develop and implement cost-based reduction or efficiency opportunities capable of delivering against annual targets thru the analysis of strategic value levers 
• Establish leading practices and drive continuous improvement within the category 
• Develop and enable set up of a preferred supplier list; develop strategic suppliers and grow alliances to meet cost and performance goals 
• Facilitate competitive intelligence / MI to identify emerging/potential sources of competitive advantage (i.e., market pricing, etc.) 
• Manage the category's supply portfolio - ensure supply security & cost transparency 
• Lead analysis of current spend to identify opportunities aligned to goals, KPI's and objectives of each category 
• Coordinate the sourcing strategy review with business stakeholders. Provide active support to fact-based negotiations with suppliers 
• Oversee proposal evaluation and award decisions with business stakeholders
• Work with the Sourcing and Contracting team to create, revise, and execute strong contracts with suppliers, business stakeholders, and legal 
• Develop transition plan for implementing new contracts 
• Coordinate with business to understand procurement policy and processes 
• Accountable for providing category reports and communicating with business / SRM teams 
• Performs other related duties as required

Total Rewards

The salary range for this job is $90,000 to $110,000. This range is specific to the job and salary offers consider a wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions, including, but not limited to: education, experience, licensure, certifications, geographic location, and peer compensation. The range has been created in good faith based on information known to Aflac at the time of the posting. 

At Aflac, it is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the range for the role to allow for future and continued salary growth, and compensation decisions are dependent on the circumstances of each case. This salary range does not include any potential incentive pay or benefits, however, such information will be provided separately when appropriate.

In addition to the base salary, we offer an array of benefits to meet your needs including medical, dental, and vision coverage, prescription drug coverage, health care flexible spending, dependent care flexible spending, Aflac supplemental policies (Accident, Cancer, Critical Illness and Hospital Indemnity offered at no costs to employee), 401(k) plans, annual bonuses, and an opportunity to purchase company stock.  On an annual basis, you’ll also be offered 11 paid holidays, up to 20 days PTO to be used for any reason, and, if eligible, state-mandated sick leave (Washington employees accrue 1-hour sick leave for every 40 hours worked) and other leaves of absence, if eligible, when needed to support your physical, financial, and emotional well-being. Aflac complies with all applicable leave laws, including, but not limited to, sick and safe leave, and adoption and parental leave, in all states and localities.