Category Manager, OEM

Accrue Partners; Charlotte (NC); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 165,000; Full time

Job summary

AccruePartners seeks an experienced procurement leader in Charlotte, NC to own strategic sourcing across HVAC-related categories and enterprise supplier programs. You will collaborate with procurement leadership and executives to deliver measurable cost savings and build centralized processes in a fast-growing, PE-backed environment.

You will lead negotiations, manage key supplier relationships, and drive adoption of national agreements, while balancing cost with operational needs and service

Qualifications

• 7-10 years in strategic sourcing or procurement roles (strongly preferred).
• Proven ability to develop category strategies and negotiate complex supplier agreements.
• Experience managing supplier relationships across multiple units or locations.
• Background in HVAC, industrial equipment, building products, or related industries valued.
• Experience transforming procurement processes in decentralized or high-growth organizations.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute enterprise sourcing strategies for HVAC equipment manufacturers and related categories.
• Lead commercial negotiations covering pricing, discounts, rebates, service levels, and contracts.
• Identify cost savings via supplier consolidation, pricing optimization, and standardization.
• Manage strategic supplier relationships and conduct regular business reviews to improve pricing and service.
• Partner with business leaders to drive adoption of national agreements across decentralized operations.
• Establish purchasing guidelines and supplier governance while supporting field operations.
• Leverage spend analytics to identify opportunities and track financial results.
• Help build procurement processes and systems as the organization scales its sourcing strategy.

Skills

Strategic sourcing

Procurement

Category management

Supplier relationship mgmt

Negotiations

Spend analytics

Financial acumen

Executive presence

Job description

THE TEAM YOU WILL BE JOINING

• Join a rapidly growing, private equity-backed organization that provides commercialservices across North America.

• Be part of a newly established procurement function focused on building enterprise sourcing strategies, strengthening supplier relationships, and delivering significant cost savings.

• Work directly with procurement leadership and business unit executives to implement purchasing programs across a decentralized organization.

• Help shape a procurement function being built from the ground up, with significant investment and executive support following a major acquisition.

LOCATION

• Charlotte, NC - Uptown area.

• Hybrid schedule, approximately 3 days onsite per week.

• Strong preference for Charlotte-based candidates, with flexibility for exceptional talent located elsewhere on the East Coast.

• Up to 25% travel to business units to support supplier programs, operational alignment, and implementation initiatives.

WHAT THEY OFFER YOU

• Opportunity to own a significant category portfolio within an organization managing approximately $975M in total addressable spend.

• Individual category responsibility ranging from $150M-$400M in annual spend.

• High-visibility role within a procurement function identified as one of the organization's largest opportunities for profitability improvement.

• Opportunity to build sourcing programs, influence enterprise purchasing strategies, and help shape a growing procurement team.

• Exposure to a major technology transformation, including implementation of new procurement software and standardized enterprise systems.

WHAT YOU WILL DO

• Develop and execute enterprise sourcing strategies for HVAC equipment manufacturers, including national supplier programs and preferred OEM relationships.

• Lead commercial negotiations with major manufacturers and distributors, focusing on equipment pricing, discounts, rebates, service levels, and contractual terms.

• Identify and deliver measurable cost savings through supplier consolidation, pricing optimization, standardization, and improved purchasing practices.

• Manage strategic supplier relationships, monitor performance, and conduct regular business reviews to improve pricing, availability, lead times, and service levels.

• Partner with business unit presidents, operational leaders, and local purchasing teams to drive adoption of national agreements across decentralized operations.

• Establish purchasing guidelines and supplier governance while maintaining flexibility to support field operations and customer service requirements.

• Leverage spend analytics and supplier data to evaluate opportunities, track performance, and demonstrate realized financial results.

• Help develop procurement processes, systems, and capabilities as the organization builds and scales its centralized sourcing strategy.

THE BACKGROUND THAT FITS

• Ideally 7-10 years of experience in strategic sourcing, procurement, category management, or supplier relationship management; exceptional candidates with less experience considered.

• Proven experience developing category strategies, negotiating complex supplier agreements, and delivering measurable cost savings.

• Experience managing significant supplier relationships and purchasing programs across multiple business units or locations.

• Background in HVAC, industrial equipment, mechanical services, building products, equipment distribution, or related industries is highly relevant.

• Experience building or transforming procurement processes, particularly within decentralized or rapidly growing organizations.

• Strong analytical and financial skills, including spend analysis, supplier performance measurement, and commercial negotiations.

• Exceptional communication, executive presence, and relationship-building skills with the ability to influence senior operational leaders without direct authority.

• Comfortable navigating ambiguity, incomplete data, evolving systems, and an entrepreneurial, fast-paced environment.

• Strong service-oriented mindset with the ability to balance cost savings against operational needs, equipment availability, and customer service.