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Category Manager III

Zurn Elkay · Milwaukee, WI · $125,000–$180,000 a year · Full time

Posted Sep 10, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Tell me about a time you grew sales or margin in a category you managed.

What they are checking: Their track record of driving results, which a senior category manager role requires.

Tell me about a time you worked with engineering or operations to launch a product.

What they are checking: Whether they can lead cross-functional work to bring products to market.

Tell me about a category decision that did not work out.

What they are checking: Whether they learn from mistakes and adjust their approach.

How do you mentor less experienced members of the category team?

What they are checking: Whether they help develop others, as expected at a senior level.

What would you do

Sales wants a lower price to win a big deal, but it would hurt margin. How do you respond?

What they are checking: Their ability to protect profitability while supporting sales goals.

How do you gather feedback from customers like contractors, distributors and specifiers?

What they are checking: Whether they use real customer input to shape category decisions.

About the work

How would you build a category strategy for a line of plumbing products?

What they are checking: Whether they can connect market analysis, product mix and pricing into a clear plan.

How do you decide when to add a new product or remove an old one?

What they are checking: Their judgment on product lifecycle, using data like sales, margin and customer demand.

How do you analyze competitor pricing and positioning?

What they are checking: Whether they understand the market and use competitive insights to make decisions.

What data would you review monthly to manage your category?

What they are checking: Whether they run the category on clear metrics like sales, margin and inventory.

Practice this interview out loud.

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The full job description

As published by Zurn Elkay.

Category Manager III The Company Zurn Elkay Water Solutions Corporation is a thriving, values-driven company focused on doing the right things. We’re a fast growing, publicly traded company (NYSE: ZWS), with an enduring reputation for integrity, giving back, and providing an engaging, inclusive environment where careers flourish and grow. Named by Newsweek as One of America’s Most Responsible Companies and an Energage USA Top Workplace, at Zurn Elkay Water Solutions Corporation, we never forget that our people are at the center of what makes us successful. They are the driving force behind our superior quality, product ingenuity, and exceptional customer experience. Our commitment to our people and their professional development is a recipe for success that has fueled our growth for over 100 years, as one of today’s leading international suppliers of plumbing and water delivery solutions. Headquartered in Milwaukee, WI, Zurn Elkay Water Solutions Corporation employs over 2800 employees worldwide, working from 24 locations across the U.S., China, Canada, Dubai, and Mexico, with sales offices available around the globe. We hope you’ll visit our website and learn more about Zurn Elkay at zurnelkay.com. If you’re ready to join a company where what you do makes a difference and you have pride in the work you are doing, talk to us about joining the Zurn Elkay Water Solutions Corporation family! If you are a current employee, please navigate here to apply internally. This category Manager will provide leadership and strategic direction for assigned procurement categories within Zurn Elkay Water Solutions. This role is responsible for developing and executing category strategies that align with company objectives, ensuring cost competitiveness, quality, and delivery performance across multiple sites. The Category Manager will collaborate with cross-functional teams, suppliers, and stakeholders to drive value, mitigate risk, and support sustainability initiatives. • Maintains the highest level code of conduct and ethics. • Create and implement category strategies to optimize cost, quality and delivery • Manages complex multi-year customer / supplier relationships aligned to enable our front-end portfolio strategies • Plans, organizes, directs, controls, and communicates strategic sourcing activities related to BU products and other assigned commodities aligning cross functional supply, engineering, technical support, product management, and operations groups. • Conducts brainstorming sessions at Zurn Elkay facilities with cross functional teams to identify strategic commodities and deployment priorities on cost saving initiatives. • Provides oversight to sourcing/project managers on the deployment of projects with internal and external stakeholders. • Collaborates with internal stakeholders to identify, screen and qualify strategic suppliers. Works with global facilities to create regional and global material cost savings funnels that align with commercial strategies and financial targets. • Drives spend analysis, including counter measures for projects that fall short of plan and makes decisions to remedy the issues to get the teams back on track to meet or exceed plan. • Possesses an understanding of total cost of ownership. • Proactively assesses internal and external process improvements and influences effective change and drive innovation and continuous improvements. • Collaborates with global business units on the preparation of Request for Proposals (RFPs), Request for Quotations (RFQ’s) and leads the screening and supplier selection process. • Negotiate and drafts supply agreements, including: payment terms, deliveries, price, freight terms, currency exchange, raw material commodity fluctuation, inventory levels. • Analyzes market and delivery conditions to determine present and future (industry trends in pricing and availability that will impact the business) material availability and prepares market analysis reports. • Responsible for timely reporting to agreed-upon KPI’s and presenting Strategic Sourcing plans, activities and progress. QUALIFICATIONS • BA or BS degree preferably in Engineering or Supply Chain competency. Minimum in a business/industrial related field. • At least 5 years of experience as a Category Manager in an industrial manufacturing environment with experience in an Engineering, Supply Chain, or similar position. • Proven success of strategically working with suppliers or customers. • Ability to travel domestically and internationally ~25%. • Experience sourcing in low-cost regions. • Experience working with multiple locations globally. • Proven success in a change management and “stretch” environment. The compensation range identified below are a good faith estimate of the salary expected to be paid as performed from these locations. Actual salaries may vary based on compensable factors including but not limited to skillset, experience, education and training, and other relevant business and organizational factors. Most candidates will start in the lower half of the range. The Salary Range: $125,000-180,000 Total Rewards and Benefits • Competitive Salary • Medical, Dental, Vision, STD, LTD, AD&D, and Life Insurance • Matching 401(k) Contribution • Health Savings Account • Up to 3 weeks starting Vacation (may increase with tenure) • 12 Paid Holidays • Annual Bonus Eligibility • Educational Reimbursement • Matching Gift Program • Employee Stock Purchase Plan – purchase company stock at a discount! **THIRD PARTY AGENCY: Any unsolicited submissions received from recruitment agencies will be considered property of Zurn Elkay, and we will not be liable for any fees or obligations related to those submissions.** E qual Opportunity Employer – Minority/Female/Disability/Veteran

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