Global Category Manager - CAPEX & Post-Processing Equipment

VulcanForms Inc.; Ayer (MA); On-site; USD 114,000 - 156,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Equity

Comprehensive benefits

Job summary

VulcanForms Inc. in Massachusetts is seeking a Global Category Manager for CAPEX & Post-Processing Equipment to lead the sourcing strategy and supplier relationships for high-value capital equipment across heat treatment, depowdering, HIP, and finishing systems.

You will partner with Engineering and Operations to define specifications, qualify suppliers, manage FATs, and drive end-to-end procurement, cost performance, and risk mitigation in a fast-growing manufacturing environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field required.
• 10+ years in procurement or supply chain with senior leadership in capital equipment.
• Experience sourcing complex industrial capital equipment and OEM negotiations.
• Technical fluency in post-processing or precision manufacturing equipment.
• Strong CAPEX budgeting, should-cost modeling, and lease vs. buy analysis.

Responsibilities

• Own multi-year category strategy for post-processing capital equipment (heat treatment, depowdering, HIP, finishing).
• Lead sourcing, negotiation, and contracting for OEMs and service providers, including terms, warranties, and spares.
• Partner with Engineering and Operations on specs, FAT, and on-site commissioning milestones.
• Manage end-to-end procurement lifecycle from business case to PO execution and delivery.
• Build and maintain supplier panels for subcontracted post-processing services; monitor KPIs.
• Develop should-cost models and provide cost benchmarking to Engineering and Finance.
• Identify and mitigate supply risk; maintain risk registers and mitigation plans.
• Define savings roadmap and report spend and delivery metrics to VP Supply Chain.
• Scope and develop category specialist support as the team grows.

Skills

Procurement leadership

Strategic sourcing

Contract negotiation

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical/Manufacturing/Supply Chain

Tools

ERP systems (Epicor/SAP)

Job description

About Us Founded in 2015 to develop the world’s first industrially scalable laser metal additive manufacturing solution, VulcanForms is reshaping how the world manufactures critical products. We build and operate advanced digital infrastructure that enables innovation, accelerates growth, and supports sustainability across aerospace, defense, medical, and other essential industries. Through our vertically integrated capabilities, including scalable additive manufacturing and precision machining, we deliver true end-to-end production at scale by combining cutting-edge technology with a foundation of proven industrial craftsmanship. Our team brings deep expertise in manufacturing, materials science, software, automation, and operations, united by a shared commitment to quality, curiosity, and accountability. We foster an inclusive culture where people take ownership, solve meaningful problems, and continuously learn, because we believe diverse perspectives lead to better outcomes.

About Us Founded in 2015 to develop the world’s first industrially scalable laser metal additive manufacturing solution, VulcanForms is reshaping how the world manufactures critical products. We build and operate advanced digital infrastructure that enables innovation, accelerates growth, and supports sustainability across aerospace, defense, medical, and other essential industries. Through our vertically integrated capabilities, including scalable additive manufacturing and precision machining, we deliver true end-to-end production at scale by combining cutting-edge technology with a foundation of proven industrial craftsmanship. Our team brings deep expertise in manufacturing, materials science, software, automation, and operations, united by a shared commitment to quality, curiosity, and accountability. We foster an inclusive culture where people take ownership, solve meaningful problems, and continuously learn, because we believe diverse perspectives lead to better outcomes.

Job Purpose

The Global Category Manager (GCM) – CAPEX & Post-Processing Equipment owns the sourcing strategy, supplier relationships, and commercial execution for VulcanForms' capital equipment spend across the post-processing pillar. This includes heat treatment furnaces, depowdering systems, build plate separation equipment, and all subcontracted post-processing services such as machining, coating, and finishing. Reporting to the VP of Supply Chain, this role partners directly with the Post-Processing Operations pillar lead and the Engineering team to drive equipment delivery, cost performance, and supplier capability development for a rapidly scaling production environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Own and develop the multi-year category strategy for post-processing capital equipment, including heat treatment, depowdering, HIP, and surface finishing systems.
• Lead sourcing, negotiation, and contracting for post-processing equipment OEMs and subcontract service providers, including pricing, delivery terms, warranty, spares packages, and service agreements.
• Partner with Engineering and Operations on equipment specifications, supplier qualification, factory acceptance testing (FAT), and on-site commissioning milestones.
• Manage the end-to-end procurement lifecycle for all post-processing CAPEX requests — from business case support and budget alignment through PO execution, expediting, and delivery confirmation.
• Build and maintain a qualified supplier panel for subcontracted post-processing services (machining, coating, HIP, EDM, finishing); manage performance against cost, quality, and turnaround KPIs.
• Develop should-cost models and TCO frameworks for CAPEX purchases and subcontract scopes; provide independent cost benchmarking to Engineering and Finance.
• Identify and mitigate supply risk across the post-processing equipment and services supply base; maintain category risk registers and single-source mitigation plans.
• Negotiate initial spares and consumables packages at point of equipment purchase to maximize commercial leverage with OEMs; hand off replenishment execution to the Indirect GCM within agreed frameworks.
• Define and deliver an annual savings and cost-avoidance roadmap for the category; report to VP Supply Chain on pipeline, spend, and delivery metrics.
• Scope, onboard, and develop category specialist support as the post-processing category team grows.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Materials Science, or Supply Chain preferred.
• 10+ years of progressive procurement or supply chain experience, with at least 5 years managing capital equipment or industrial equipment categories at a senior or leadership level.
• Demonstrated experience sourcing and contracting for complex industrial or manufacturing capital equipment, including OEM negotiations, FAT processes, and multi-site delivery programs.
• Technical fluency in post-processing or precision manufacturing equipment — heat treatment, machining, coating, surface finishing, or comparable capital equipment categories.
• Strong financial acumen including CAPEX budget management, should-cost modeling, and lease vs. buy analysis.
• Proven ability to partner with engineering and operations stakeholders to translate technical requirements into commercial strategies.
• Exceptional negotiation and supplier relationship management skills, including experience managing OEM relationships at senior commercial levels.
• Ability to operate independently and make sound procurement decisions in a fast-moving, technically complex environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in additive manufacturing, aerospace, defense, or medical device manufacturing environments.
• Hands-on familiarity with heat treatment, HIP, EDM, or precision machining processes and their associated supply chains.
• Prior experience managing subcontracted manufacturing services in a regulated environment (AS9100, ISO 13485, NADCAP).
• CPSM, CPM, or equivalent professional certification.
• Experience with ERP systems and CAPEX tracking tools (Epicor, SAP, or similar).
• Exposure to ITAR/DFARS-regulated supply chains and government program procurement requirements.

VulcanForms offers a competitive salary and equity package. Actual compensation is based on factors such as the candidate's skills, qualifications, and experience. In addition, VulcanForms provides comprehensive benefits including medical, dental, vision, and life insurance; generous paid time off; and a 401(k) plan with company match.

The annual base salary range for this position is $113,600.00 to $156,200.00.