Category Management Direct Sr. Manager

  • Vertiv Holdings, LLC
  • Westerville, Ohio
  • Full Time

Brief Job Description: -

The Vertiv Category Manager is a key individual within the purchasing organization. It is a complex role that requires a number of skills, qualifications and attributes.

The Category Manager, in conjunction with key stakeholders, develops, communicates and coordinates the procurement strategy for that commodity for the Americas. This involves an in depth understanding of the market, the technology, supplier sourcing, risk and performance management.

The Category Manager also needs to be able to minimize risk to Vertiv. In short this means that the manager has to develop an appropriate risk mitigation strategy through an appropriate supplier network maintaining continuity of supply while reducing risk within the supply chain as a whole.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

  • Development, communication and ongoing refinement of the Vertiv commodity strategy through regular (monthly) engagement with marketing, purchasing, materials management engineering and strategic supply partners to plan, organize and manage strategic and tactical sourcing and procurement efforts

  • Development of deep relationships with Marketing, Engineering and Regional Operations teams will be critical to success

  • Process Optimization: Design and implement processes to improve visibility to spend and supplier relationships, speed up sourcing and contracting efforts, and streamline processes.

  • Commercial relationship management of key strategic suppliers, including contract negotiation, pricing, lead-time, inventory performance and monitoring of quality performance (quality and execution)

  • Ensure all necessary legal agreements are executed and all supplemental contracts supporting goals and objectives for supply continuity and optimization are completed

  • All prices have been negotiated and cost analysis completed against should cost models and internal make costs

  • Lead projects focused on reducing waste and improving efficiency and effectiveness of sourcing process

  • Manages the development of program budgets, plans, and objectives to meet the goals of the Procurement organization

  • Oversight, communication and reporting of commodity performance, including, but not limited to:

  • Technology and Innovation trends and progress

  • Material Inflation planning & reporting, including risk mitigation and cost reduction strategies and planning towards achieving the Annual Operating Plan (AOP)

  • Supply base development and management (supplier strategy, supplier population, preferred supplier list, tier 2 supply planning)

  • Working with Quality Assurance to develop and report on continuous improvement programs and ensure detailed performance feedback is communicated to suppliers

  • Build dashboards, scorecards, and reports to track performance against KPIs

  • Identify and drive best practices (internal and vendor/supplier) related to sourcing, pricing and total cost contributors, quality, efficiency, speed and responsiveness.

  • Potentially lead highly complex projects of large scale

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

  • Bachelor's degree in an appropriate discipline - Supply Chain Management, Engineering or Business preferred
  • 10 years' experience, specifically in Manufactured assemblies
  • CPIM or equivalent is desirable
  • Strong proficiency in MS Office applications and experience with Oracle, SAP or other ERP databases
  • Experience in Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) thought process (solutions thinking vs piece part)
  • Experience in understanding market trends and developing clear reports that help the organization to understand what is trending and why, in support of business decisions
  • Ability to develop KPI's (Key Performance Indicators) specific to the commodity management, market and TCO
  • Experience developing and implementing replenishment programs such as VMI, consignment or kanbans
  • Strong negotiation skills are essential along with the ability to manage confidential and sensitive information and having general knowledge of regional trade compliance laws
  • Strong analytical and presentation skills are key, along with ability to clearly communicate complex scenarios while managing/leading multiple projects and changing priorities
  • Requires very strong interpersonal skills and the ability to develop and cultivate productive and lasting relationships with cross-functional team in a global organization
  • Ability to apply critical analysis of procedures and processes and develop alternate solutions to address supply chain risks and challenges

Additional / Preferred Qualifications: -

  • Have a technical aptitude in sheet metal and mechanical components in datacenter application environment
  • Demonstrable experience in developing relationships with vendors, research and development and product development roadmap integration
  • Ability to lead and have the capacity to multi-task, whilst ensuring that the small details are not overlooked.
  • Strong analytical and presentation skills are key, along with ability to clearly communication complex scenarios.
  • Requires very strong interpersonal skills and the ability to develop and culture productive and lasting relationships remotely across a global organization.

Time Travel Needed: -

  • 25% domestic and 10% international travel.

OUR CORE PRINCIPALS: Safety. Integrity. Respect. Teamwork. Diversity & Inclusion.

OUR STRATEGIC PRIORITIES

  • Customer Focus
  • Operational Excellence
  • High-Performance Culture
  • Innovation
  • Financial Strength

OUR BEHAVIORS

  • Own It
  • Act With Urgency
  • Foster a Customer-First Mindset
  • Think Big and Execute
  • Lead by Example
  • Drive Continuous Improvement
  • Learn and Seek Out Development
  • Promote transparent & Open Communication

At Vertiv, we're on a mission to empower the people that will power the future. From a simple swipe to life-changing medicines, from push notifications to generative AI. We design, manufacture, and service the products and solutions that keep the world connected. With $6.9 billion in revenue, a strong customer base and global reach spanning nearly 70 countries, we are uniquely positioned to deliver greater value to our customers and create new opportunities for our people.

Vertiv is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. We promote equal opportunities for all with respect to hiring, terms of employment, mobility, training, compensation, and occupational health, without discrimination as to age, race, color, religion, creed, sex, pregnancy status (including childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity / expression (including transgender status or sexual stereotypes), genetic information, citizenship status, national origin, protected veteran status, political affiliation, or disability. If you have a disability and are having difficulty accessing or using this website to apply for a position, you can request help by sending an email to .... If you are interested in applying or learning more about this role, please visit the company's career page located on Vertiv.com/Careers

Work Authorization

No calls or agencies please. Vertiv will only employ those who are legally authorized to work in the United States. This is not a position for which sponsorship will be provided. Individuals with temporary visas such as E, F-1, H-1, H-2, L, B, J, or TN or who need sponsorship for work authorization now or in the future, are not eligible for hire.

Job ID: 507125135
Originally Posted on: 1/20/2026

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