Field Category Manager

Otis Elevator Co.; United States; Remote; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Otis Elevator Co. seeks a Category Manager to drive strategic sourcing for commercial controllers and drives. The role focuses on developing category strategies, leading RFP/RFQ activities, and managing supplier performance to meet annual savings targets.

Based in Florence, SC, the role collaborates with field offices and internal teams to ensure on-time delivery, cost control, and continuous improvement across sourcing operations.

Qualifications

• BS/BA in business, supply chain, or engineering.
• Minimum 4–6 years related experience in electronics supply chain or elevator field.
• Experience with vendor sourcing and Global JDE & associated systems (K2).

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute category-specific sourcing strategies with centralized spend management.
• Lead RFP/RFQ activities for NE/MOD contracts with field offices.
• Act as primary supplier manager for vendors in assigned categories.
• Manage supplier performance across quality, delivery, cost, and inventory metrics.
• Escalate issues during centralized sourcing to minimize impact.
• Oversee material procurement through delivery and installation with third-party suppliers.
• Collaborate with internal functions and external suppliers to resolve supply issues.
• Develop price proposals, analyses, and reports for sourcing decisions.
• Engage in continuous improvement to enhance processes and FSC centralization goals.
• Resolve PO discrepancies, material rejections, and invoicing issues.

Skills

Category management

Sourcing strategy

Supplier management

Cross-functional collaboration

Data analysis

Lean manufacturing

Engineering drawings reading

Education

BS/BA in business, supply chain, or engineering

Tools

Global JDE

K2

Excel

PowerPoint

Access

Forms

SmartSheet

Teams

Job description

Date Posted:

2026-04-23

Country:

United States of America

Location:

OT541: TFP - Florence, SC 1500 Otis Way, Florence, SC, 29501 USA

At Otis, we're dedicated to reinventing the way people move. As cities reach impossible heights and the digital revolution transforms daily life, our customers look to Otis for new ways to keep their world moving. As always, we're ready - with a bold vision of the future and the groundbreaking technology to make it happen.

The Direct Materials Category Team in North America immediately needs a Category Manager whose responsibilities will include strategic sourcing of commercial controllers/Drives.

The successful candidate will be responsible to:

• Develop and execute category-specific sourcing strategies, ensuring 100% spend under management through centralization and purchasing pathway control, driving to meet annual savings target
• Lead RFP/RFQ activities for both pre- and post-award NE/MOD contracts in partnership with all NAA field offices
• Act as the primary supplier manager for all vendors within assigned commodity categories, ensuring strong performance, compliance, and continuous improvement.
• Manage supplier performance across quality, delivery, cost, and inventory management metrics.
• Escalate issues promptly during centralized sourcing activities to minimize operational impact.
• Oversee material procurement through delivery and installation, coordinating with third-party suppliers to ensure correct package configuration and efficient installation/integration.
• Collaborate with internal functions , and external suppliers to quickly resolve supply issues and maintain excellent customer service.
• Develop price proposals, financial analyses, and reports supporting price reasonableness, purchasing decisions, and sourcing strategies.
• Participate in continuous improvement initiatives to enhance internal processes, productivity, and future FSC centralization goals.

Other responsibilities include:

• Resolve discrepancies in purchase orders
• Resolve material rejections
• Resolve invoicing issues

Education

Candidates must possess a BS or BA in business, supply chain, or engineering.

Experience

• Minimum of 4-6 years related experience in an electronics supply chain function or Elevator Field experience desired
• Experience in SDC
• MOD Elog experience
• Vendor sourcing experience preferred
• Experience with Global JDE & associated systems (K2)
• Microsoft products: Excel, PowerPoint, Access, Forms, SmartSheet, Teams
• Other data manipulation programs is a plus
• Ability to read Engineering drawings & customer Elevator / Escalator specification/requirement documentation required
• Ability to work with various cross-functional groups, including Field Operations (Sales, Supervisors, Project Managers), Engineering, and Supplier Quality to ensure business goals are met.
• Must be able to work in and fully support a Team environment

Additional Comments

We seek a self-motivated, team-oriented person with good interpersonal skills and strong written and oral communication abilities. He/she must be well-versed in related business processes, associated systems, problem-solving methods, and analytical tools. Our internal and external customers are essential; this position requires an excellent Customer Service attitude. A strong understanding and application of lean manufacturing are a strong plus.

If you live in a city, chances are we will give you a lift or play a role in keeping you moving every day.

Otis is the world’s leading elevator and escalator manufacturing, installation, and service company. We move 2.4 billion people every day and maintain approximately 2.4 million customer units worldwide, the industry’s largest Service portfolio.

You may recognize our products in some of the world’s most famous landmarks including the Eiffel Tower, Empire State Building, Burj Khalifa and the Petronas Twin Towers! We are 72,000 people strong, including engineers, digital technology experts, sales, and functional specialists, as well as factory and field technicians, all committed to meeting the diverse needs of our customers and passengers in more than 200 countries and territories worldwide. We are proud to be a diverse, global team with a proven legacy of innovation that continues to be the bedrock of a fast-moving, high-performance company.

When you join Otis, you become part of an innovative global industry leader with a resilient business model. You'll belong to a diverse, trusted, and caring community where your contributions, and the skills and capabilities you'll gain working alongside the best and brightest, keep us connected and on the cutting edge.

We provide opportunities, training, and resources, that build leadership and capabilities in Sales, Field, Engineering and Major Projects and our Employee Scholar Program is a notable point of pride, through which Otis sponsors colleagues to pursue degrees or certification programs.

Today, our focus more than ever is on people. As a global, people-powered company, we put people - passengers, customers, and colleagues - at the center of everything we do. We are guided by our values that we call our Three Absolutes - prioritizing Safety, Ethics, Quality in all that we do. If you would like to learn more about environmental, social and governance (ESG) at Otis click here.

Become a part of the Otis team and help us #Buildwhatsnext!

Otis is An Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status, age, or any other protected class according to applicable law. To request an accommodation in completing an employment application due to a special need or a disability, please contact us at [e-mail].

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