Commodity/Category Manager

Overview & Responsibilities

POSITION SUMMARY

The Category Manager is responsible for developing and executing sourcing strategies for outsourced machining, outsourced fabrication, and miscellaneous new suppliers.  This role ensures supplier capabilities meet technical, quality, and delivery requirements while driving cost competitiveness and risk mitigation.  The Category Manager partners with engineering, operations, quality, and supply chain teams to align supplier strategies with business needs, and actively develops new supplier relationships to support innovation and capacity expansion.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Engineering, Business or related field:  MBA or advanced degree preferred

• Experience:  8+ years in procurement/category management experience in machining, fabrication, or industrial supply chain

• Proven experience finding and developing new suppliers and leading terms and conditions negotiations

• Strong understanding of the full PO lifecycle, supplier negotiation, and material planning within an ERP environment (Oracle, SAP, or similar)

• Knowledge of machining/fabrication processes and supplier capabilities preferred

• Excellent interpersonal, organizational, and communication skills

• Background in manufacturing, ideally turbomachinery, energy, or heavy industrial sectors

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Category Strategy & Management:

• Develop and manage sourcing strategies for outsourced machining and fabrication services, as well as onboarding of miscellaneous new suppliers

• Identify, qualify, and develop new outsourcing suppliers to expand capabilities, mitigate risk, and support business growth

• Conduct market analysis and benchmarking to identify competitive suppliers and drive cost savings

• Lead RFP’s , RFQ’s, and supplier selection processes for assigned categories

• Lead all terms and conditions (T&C) negotiations with suppliers, ensuring favorable commercial and legal outcomes

• Manage supplier negotiations for pricing, terms, and service level agreements

Supplier Relationship Management

• Build and maintain strong partnerships with machining and fabrication suppliers, ensuring capacity, quality, and on-time delivery

• Evaluate and qualify new suppliers, working with quality and engineering to meet standards

• Monitor supplier performance, including delivery, quality, and responsiveness, and implement corrective actions as needed

• Mitigate supply chain risks by diversifying supplier base and developing contingency plans

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with engineering to align supplier with technical and innovation needs

• Work with operations and planning team to forecast demand and align supplier capacity

• Coordinate with quality teams to ensure supplier compliance with standards

• Support finance and leadership in identifying and delivering cost savings

Governance, Risk, & Compliance

• Ensure procurement activities align with corporate governance, compliance requirements, and ethical sourcing practices

• Monitor supplier risk, develop contingency plans, and escalate issues as necessary

• Drive adherence to procurement policies, processes, and systems across the team

• Maintain transparency in supplier selection, evaluation, and contracting

Skills:

• Strategic sourcing and category management expertise

• Supplier identification, qualification, and development

• Contract management and T&C negotiation skills

• Proficiency in ERP systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle) and supply chain analytics

• Strong cost modeling and data analysis capability

• Proven leadership in building cohesive, high-performing teams

• Ability to navigate ambiguity and adapt to changing priorities

• Certifications:  APICS CPIM, CSCP, or similar preferred but not required

Competencies

• Strategic thinking & execution

• Deep understanding of turbomachinery supply chain dynamics (e.g., turbines, compressors)

• Ability to balance cost efficiency with quality and delivery requirements

• Collaborative approach to working with internal stakeholders across functions

• Commitment to EEE’s values of innovation, integrity, and sustainability

• Demonstrated ability to drive cultural ch