Category Manager

Schneider Electric; El Paso (TX); On-site; USD 102,000 - 152,000; Full time

Job summary

Schneider Electric is seeking a Category Buyer to optimize supplier quality, cost and delivery. You will lead RFQ processes, negotiate terms, and drive global category strategies while managing supplier risks and performance.

The role requires a Bachelor's degree in business, supply chain, engineering or related field and 5+ years in category management. Travel ~10% within the US is expected.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in business administration, supply chain, engineering or related field.
• Experience with fabricated components category.
• 5+ years as category manager or similar role.
• Solid knowledge of category management, marketing, and sales.
• Supplier relationship management.
• Strategic planning and global sourcing.
• Understanding of data analysis and forecasting methods.

Responsibilities

• Be the representative/voice for Schneider Electric to the suppliers in your category.
• Ensure category is meeting business needs with its suppliers and conducting business reviews with suppliers to communicate the needs and performance.
• Manage the Request for Quotations and supplier selection in consistency with the commodity strategy.
• Lead business risk evaluations in your category and devise a strategy to remove risk.
• Execute the supplier strategy by understanding multiple business unit needs and translating that to supply that meet Schneider’s needs.
• Identify/implement technical productivities (QVE), Supplier Change (COS) while collaborating cross functionally with internal teams to move quickly and with accuracy
• Lead a global approach of category ownership including but not limited to negotiation, should Cost, and lean initiatives for allocated suppliers.
• Contribute to the purchasing database/tools updates by providing necessary information to commodity managers / supplier leaders/ purchasing assistant
• Be the first escalation level for supplier crisis management.
• Communicate Supplier strategy internally.

Skills

Category management

Supplier relations

Global sourcing

Data analysis

Forecasting

Strategic planning

Marketing principles

Education

Bachelor's degree in business administration, supply chain, engineering or related field

Job description

What do you get to do in this position?

As a Category Buyer, you are responsible to ensure the best Quality, Cost and Delivery Conditions for suppliers. Aligned with the Corporate Strategy, you are in charge to implement the best terms and conditions with suppliers to achieve on a sustainable basis, the targets allocated to the team and the Purchasing Department (Yearly Cost Reductions, Supplier’s Quality & Delivery performances):

• Be the representative/voice for Schneider Electric to the suppliers in your category


• Ensure category is meeting business needs with its suppliers and conducting business reviews with suppliers to communicate the needs and performance.


• Manage the Request for Quotations and supplier selection in consistency with the commodity strategy.


• Lead business risk evaluations in your category and devise a strategy to remove risk. Including but not limited to financial risk, capacity constraints, and long lead times.


• Execute the supplier strategy by understanding multiple business unit needs and translating that to supply that meet Schneider’s needs. Including but not limited to securing growth, improving margins (pay terms, inventory, part price), rebalancing, ensuring quality, and delivery performance.


• Identify/implement technical productivities (QVE), Supplier Change (COS) while collaborating cross functionally with internal teams to move quickly and with accuracy


• Lead a global approach of category ownership including but not limited to negotiation, should Cost, and lean initiatives for allocated suppliers.


• Contribute to the purchasing database/tools updates by providing necessary information to commodity managers / supplier leaders/ purchasing assistant


• Be the first escalation level for supplier crisis management.


• Communicate Supplier strategy internally.

Travel expectations of 10% within US mainly.

What will be the qualifications that will make you successful in this role?

• Bachelor's degree in business administration, supply chain, engineering or related field


• Experience with fabricated components category.


• 5+ years of proven experience as category manager or similar role


• Solid knowledge of category management, marketing, and sales principles


• Supplier relationship management


• Strategic planning and global sourcing


• Understanding of data analysis and forecasting methods

What's in it for me?

• High-impact role where your decisions directly influence business outcomes


• Opportunity to lead strategic initiatives and drive meaningful change


• Collaborative culture that values expertise and invests in your development


• Autonomy to manage priorities and shape your work approach

At Schneider, we believe that every employee is a talent who deserves equal opportunities. This means you matter. Every individual needs to feel valued, supported, and treated fairly to do their best work.

Our Total Rewards is our way of saying: “We see you. We value you”. It’s more than just pay and benefits- it’s a meaningful investment in you. It is designed for you to perform, grow, feel safe, and elevate your potential to shine as an impact maker.

For this U.S. based position, the expected pay range is USD 101,600 - USD 152,400 per year. This pay range includes base pay and short-term incentives. The compensation range for this full-time position applies to candidates located within the United States. Our pay ranges are determined by reviewing roles of similar responsibility and level. Within the pay range, individual pay is determined by several factors including performance, knowledge, job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training.

Schneider Electric is there when it matters most to you

Our Total Rewards package outlines all the benefits and support you’ll enjoy as part of the Schneider Electric team:

Care for Yourself and Your Family. We ensure you feel secure with benefits that help you and your family thrive: medical (with member reward points), dental, vision, and basic life insurance, Benefit Bucks, flexible work arrangements, paid family leaves, well-being programs, 12 holidays per year, and 15 days of paid time off per year.

Invest and Plan Your Future. We help you plan and invest for the future with competitive pay and programs including base salary, incentives, company share ownership, and 401(k) with match.

Grow Your Skills and Career. We support development through performance discussions, global opportunities, the Schneider Career Hub, and learning platforms like Coursera.

Team Up in the Workplace. We encourage collaboration, recognition, sharing your voice, and an inclusive workplace.

Support Your Community. We make a difference through volunteer leave, programs with the Schneider Electric Foundation, youth education initiatives, and military leave benefits.

If you believe this job posting is not compliant with applicable state pay transparency laws in the U.S., please notify the Company as soon as possible upon discovery by completing this form Job Posting Compliance Form.

Looking to make an IMPACT with your career?

When you are thinking about joining a new team, culture matters. At Schneider Electric, our values and behaviors are the foundation for creating a great culture to support business success. We believe that our IMPACT values – Inclusion, Mastery, Purpose, Action, Curiosity, Teamwork – starts with us.

IMPACT is also your invitation to join Schneider Electric where you can contribute to turning sustainability ambition into actions, no matter what role you play. It is a call to connect your career with the ambition of achieving a more resilient, efficient, and sustainable world.

We are looking for IMPACT Makers; exceptional people who turn sustainability ambitions into actions at the intersection of automation, electrification, and digitization. We celebrate IMPACT Makers and believe everyone has the potential to be one.

€40 billion global revenue
+9% organic growth
150 000+ employees in 100+ countries

Schneider Electric aspires to be the most inclusive and caring company in the world, by providing equitable opportunities to everyone, everywhere, and ensuring all employees feel uniquely valued and safe to contribute their best. We mirror the diversity of the communities in which we operate, and ‘inclusion’ is one of our core values. We believe our differences make us stronger as a company and as individuals and we are committed to championing inclusivity in everything we do.

At Schneider Electric, we uphold the highest standards of ethics and compliance, and we believe that trust is a foundational value. Our Trust Charter is our Code of Conduct and demonstrates our commitment to ethics, safety, sustainability, quality and cybersecurity, underpinning every aspect of our business and our willingness to behave and respond respectfully and in good faith to all our stakeholders. You can find out more about our Trust Charter here

Schneider Electric is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is our policy to provide equal employment and advancement opportunities in the areas of recruiting, hiring, training, transferring, and promoting all qualified individuals regardless of race, religion, color, gender, disability, national origin, ancestry, age, military status, sexual orientation, marital status, or any other legally protected characteristic or conduct.