Global Category Manager, Global Procurement

Vertiv Group Corporation; Dublin; On-site; EUR 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

The Global Category Manager (GCM) owns the supply panel strategy and supplier governance for assigned categories across regions. The role is the single source of truth for category cost models, supplier segmentation, and long-term commercial frameworks, driving should-cost discipline and demand aggregation to meet enterprise targets.

Based in a global procurement team, the GCM sets multi-year supply market vision, coordinates with Product Line Leaders, and leads negotiations and supplier

Qualifications

• 12+ years of experience in procurement, category management, or supply chain within a global, multi-national organization.
• Proven track record in category strategy development and execution across complex global supply bases.
• Experience managing global supplier relationships, including LTA negotiation, supplier development, and performance management.
• Demonstrated ability to drive cost reduction through should-cost modelling, TCO analysis, and value engineering.
• Strong commercial acumen and negotiation skills at senior supplier level.
• Experience working within matrixed organizations with both vertical and horizontal reporting structures.
• Preferred: experience in power systems, thermal systems, electronics, or industrial technology sectors.
• Preferred: experience integrating procurement into product development (NPDI or equivalent lifecycle processes).

Responsibilities

• Own supply panel strategy: ASL governance, dual-source qualification, demand aggregation, and supplier consolidation across all assigned category spend.
• Govern long-term commercial frameworks (LTAs, MSAs, SOWs, capacity reservations, and commodity hedging) - transitioning to outcome-based contracting.
• Coordinate with Procurement Product Line Leaders to drive early NPI engagement at Gate 0-1.
• Own supplier innovation partnerships: Advanced Technology Partner (ATP) engagements, technology pipelines, and co-investment strategies with key suppliers.
• Drive cost model governance: should-cost discipline, TCO frameworks, and supplier cost challenge across all category spend.
• Oversee supply panel diversification: alternate source qualification to eliminate single-source risk and regional panel coordination for commercial alignment.
• Own Supplier Code of Conduct and Responsible Business compliance across all assigned category spend.
• Drive supplier segmentation: Strategic / Critical / Important / Transactional.
• Lead supplier negotiations and ensure competitive commercial terms across all regions.
• Implement robust supplier performance management frameworks covering cost, quality, delivery, and innovation.

Skills

Procurement leadership

Category management

Global supplier relationships

Cost reduction via should-cost

Senior-level negotiation

Matrixed organization experience

Power systems / industrial tech domain

NPDI integration experience

Job description

Position Summary

The Global Category Manager (GCM) owns the supply panel strategy, category economics, and supplier management for assigned categories across all regions. The role is the single source of truth for category cost models, supplier segmentation, and long-term commercial frameworks - driving should-cost discipline, demand aggregation, and supply panel governance. The GCM coordinates across Product Line Leaders and Regional Category Managers to ensure category strategies are aligned to product roadmaps, NPI timelines, and enterprise cost targets.

Within the global procurement team, this role serves as the category strategy owner - setting the multi-year supply market vision, governing the supplier panel, and driving should-cost discipline across all assigned category spend.

Responsibilities

• Own supply panel strategy: ASL governance, dual-source qualification, demand aggregation, and supplier consolidation across all assigned category spend.
• Govern long-term commercial frameworks (LTAs, MSAs, SOWs, capacity reservations, and commodity hedging) - transitioning to outcome-based contracting.
• Coordinate with Procurement Product Line Leaders to drive early NPI engagement at Gate 0-1.
• Own supplier innovation partnerships: Advanced Technology Partner (ATP) engagements, technology pipelines, and co-investment strategies with key suppliers.
• Drive cost model governance: should-cost discipline, TCO frameworks, and supplier cost challenge across all category spend.
• Oversee supply panel diversification: alternate source qualification to eliminate single-source risk and regional panel coordination for commercial alignment.
• Own Supplier Code of Conduct and Responsible Business compliance across all assigned category spend.
• Drive supplier segmentation: Strategic / Critical / Important / Transactional.
• Lead supplier negotiations and ensure competitive commercial terms across all regions.
• Implement robust supplier performance management frameworks covering cost, quality, delivery, and innovation.

Qualifications

• 12+ years of experience in procurement, category management, or supply chain within a global, multi-national organization.
• Proven track record in category strategy development and execution across complex global supply bases.
• Experience managing global supplier relationships, including LTA negotiation, supplier development, and performance management.
• Demonstrated ability to drive cost reduction through should-cost modelling, TCO analysis, and value engineering.
• Strong commercial acumen and negotiation skills at senior supplier level.
• Experience working within matrixed organizations with both vertical and horizontal reporting structures.
• Preferred: experience in power systems, thermal systems, electronics, or industrial technology sectors.
• Preferred: experience integrating procurement into product development (NPDI or equivalent lifecycle processes).

Time Travel Required

25%

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
• Promote transparent and open communication
• Lead by Example
• Drive Continuous Improvement
• Learn and Seek Out Development

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