Category Manager - Marketing, Meetings & Events

Applied Materials is a global leader in materials engineering solutions that are essential to the production of nearly every advanced chip and innovative display worldwide. The company specializes in designing, building, and servicing cutting-edge equipment that enables customers to manufacture semiconductor chips and displays. These technologies form the foundation of the global electronics industry and power transformative innovations such as artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things. Established as a leading force in materials science and engineering, Applied Materials is committed to pushing the boundaries of technology to create next-generation solutions that impact the world on a large scale.

Applied Materials offers an inclusive and supportive work culture that emphasizes continuous learning, career development, and innovation. Employees benefit from a collaborative environment where challenges are met with innovative solutions that drive customer success. With locations in Austin, Texas, and Santa Clara, California, the company provides competitive compensation, including a salary range of $108,000 to $148,500. The firm is dedicated to employee health and wellbeing, offering comprehensive programs and resources to support personal and professional growth, evidenced by its comprehensive benefits package.

The company is currently seeking a highly skilled and strategic Category Manager to oversee sourcing and category management for Marketing, Meetings, and Events. This full-time role is vital in driving category strategies, supplier performance, commercial rigor, and operational excellence across a dynamic portfolio. The Category Manager will act as a trusted business partner to internal stakeholders in a fast-paced environment, delivering value through deep market insights, strong category expertise, and data-driven decision-making.

This role requires experience in strategic sourcing, supplier management, contracting, and stakeholder engagement, particularly within meetings, events, hospitality, venue sourcing, event production, and related service areas. Experience with marketing communications, creative agencies, media, digital marketing, or production services is also advantageous. The successful candidate will lead the development and execution of multi-year global category strategies aligned with company priorities, clearly defining category scope and integrating supply and demand perspectives. They will establish supplier portfolio designs segmented by strategic importance and manage supplier relationships through supplier performance management, innovation initiatives, and governance frameworks.

The Category Manager will facilitate category councils, drive decision-making and accountability, and implement a category value pipeline that partners with finance for tracking and reporting. They will translate category strategies into actionable sourcing plans and ensure alignment with organizational processes and standards. Responsibilities include leading end-to-end sourcing initiatives, negotiating commercial terms, driving supplier consolidation, and improving service quality. Additionally, they will manage supplier risk and compliance, promote continuous improvement initiatives, and support cross-functional teams, including legal, finance, and accounts payable.

Moreover, the role emphasizes process excellence that supports procurement efficiency and category visibility. The candidate will be expected to support urgent and planned business needs with sourcing discipline and agility, ensuring budget-conscious decisions that balance cost with stakeholder experience. This position involves some travel, up to 10% of the time, and is not relocation eligible. Applied Materials is an equal opportunity employer that values diversity and inclusivity in its workforce, committed to accessible employment practices.