Category Manager I - Mechanical Equipment

Mortenson Construction; Minneapolis (MN); Hybrid; USD 102,000 - 153,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical + vision coverage

Dental plan

401k match

PTO & holidays

Life/AD&D/Disability insurance

Mental health support resources

Tuition reimbursement

Adoption assistance

Gym discount

Job summary

Mortenson Construction seeks an experienced Category Manager I - Mechanical Equipment to develop, implement, and manage sourcing strategies for mechanical and electrical equipment. The role focuses on optimizing costs, quality, and delivery while maintaining supplier relationships.

Hybrid in Minneapolis preferred, with potential for other locations. You will lead category strategy, engage stakeholders, negotiate contracts, and drive cost reductions while ensuring alignment with project

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in business, supply chain management, construction management or related field
• 8+ years of experience managing category material spend
• Experience negotiating contracts for mechanical equipment direct from manufacturers
• Experience influencing early design and procurement decisions
• Strong negotiation, business acumen and communication skills
• Willingness to travel up to 30%

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement Category Strategy for assigned categories with clearly defined projects and benefits
• Identify internal stakeholders across engineering and operations to capture category requirements
• Assess opportunities through spend segmentation, category maturity, cost drivers and market analysis
• Develop sourcing strategy detailing timing, levers, resources and expected benefits
• Lead supplier relationship management, including reviews and performance monitoring
• Forecast, monitor and report category financial results; drive cost reductions
• Negotiate supplier contracts and define switching costs and total cost of ownership
• Lead and coach team members and manage performance
• Support annual category reviews with updated metrics and risk mitigation strategies

Skills

Strategic thinking

Negotiation

Communication

Leadership

Travel readiness

Education

Bachelor's degree in business or related field

Job description

SUMMARY

Mortenson is currently seeking an experienced Category Manager I - Mechanical Equipment responsible for developing, implementing, and managing sourcing strategies for mechanical and electrical equipment categories. This role will focus on optimizing costs, quality, and delivery while improving Supply Chain efficiencies and maintaining supplier relationships.

Hiring Locations:

Hybrid in Minneapolis, MN (PREFERRED). Open to other locations such as Phoenix, AZ, Denver, CO, Chicago, IL, Milwaukee, WI, Nashville, TN, Seattle, WA, or Portland, OR.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Develop and implement Category Strategy for Assigned Categories
  • Identify and engage with internal stakeholders across engineering and operations to capture category requirements
  • Assess potential opportunities for categories including spend segmentation, category maturity, cost drivers, and supply market analysis
  • Develop Sourcing Strategy for categories detailing projects, sourcing levers, timing, resources, and expected benefits
  • Adapt the strategy as business, market, and economic environments change
  • Support Annual Category Reviews including updated projects, metrics, strategy, and risk mitigation strategies
• Manage Relationships with Key Suppliers
  • Maintain relationship with suppliers at the Leadership level
  • Conducts supplier business reviews
  • Monitor supplier's quality and delivery performance
  • Leverage supplier relationship to assist buyers with expedites as needed
• Manage Financial Success of Category
  • Responsible for category financial results for assigned categories. Develop strategies to achieve financial and category initiative goals
  • Develop pricing strategies for project proposals
  • Lead monthly and annual category financial reviews with project information, metrics, forecast and strategy, if applicable
• Achieve Material Cost Reductions for Assigned Categories
  • Initiate and conduct supplier contract negotiations
  • Responsible for defining negotiations strategy including supplier profiles, commercial negotiations targets, defining switching costs, and building Total Cost of Ownership (TCO)
  • Closely monitor market drivers affecting the category including raw material pricing and availability, supplier capacity, industry disruptions and new products.
  • Responsible for forecasting, reporting, mitigating, and recovery of commodity inflation
• Effectively work and build relationships with those of diverse backgrounds and organizational levels
• Lead team members by example, offer effective coaching and feedback, and effectively manage performance
• Other duties as assigned

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in business, supply chain management, construction management or equivalent combinations of technical training and/or related experience
• 8+ years of experience in a similar role strategically managing category material spend
• Experience negotiating contracts and procuring commercial mechanical equipment direct from manufacturers
• Experience influencing early phases of design and front-loading decision making to expedite procurement processes
• Strong strategic thinking, business acumen, and negotiations skills
• Effective communication and presentation skills
• Strong organization, planning and decision-making skills
• Ability to influence without authority
• Active listening skills and effective communication including an openness to diverse input and feedback
• Knowledge of construction processes and materials
• Experience presenting in front of Senior Leadership
• Ability to travel up to 30%.

A few benefits offered include:

(for Non-Craft & Non-Union Craft working 25+ hours / week)

• Medical and prescription drug plans that includes no additional cost vision coverage
• Dental plan
• 401k retirement plan with a generous Mortenson match
• Paid time off, holidays, and other paid leaves
• Employer paid Life, AD&D, and disability insurance
• No-Cost mental health tool and conciergewith extensive work-life resources
• Tuition reimbursement
• Adoption Assistance
• Gym Membership Discount Program

The base pay range for this role is $102,000 - $153,000

(Actual range is higher for the following office locations: Denver, CO and Chicago, IL - 5%, Seattle, WA, and Portland, OR - 10%, Washington, D.C. - 12.5%).

PLEASE MAKE NOTE:

• Visa sponsorship is not offered for this position.
• Our postings are typically open a minimum of 5 days and an average of 44 days.

ABOUT MORTENSON

As a top builder, developer, and EPC (Engineering, Procurement, and Construction), our expertise spans markets like sports, renewable energy, data centers, healthcare, and more. We are builders at heart, working to ensure the built environment has a lasting positive impact.

Let's Redefine Possible

Equal Employment Opportunity

Your uniqueness brings new and creative perspectives to the team. Mortenson is committed to providing equal opportunities of employment (EOE) to all individuals, regardless of your race, religion, gender, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, marital status or any other legally protected category.

Other Items to Note

• Mortenson reserves the right to hire any individual without legal or financial obligation on unwanted solicitations. No agency emails, calls, or solicitations are accepted without a valid agreement.
• Must be currently legally authorized to work in the U.S. without sponsorship for employment visa status (e.g., H1B status, 0-1, TN, CPT, OPT, etc.). We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa at this time.