Product Line Leader, Global Procurement

Vertiv; Westerville (OH); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Vertiv is seeking a Procurement Product Line Leader in Ohio to own end-to-end procurement for designated product lines, ensuring cost performance, supplier delivery, and NPI readiness. You will bridge GCM strategies with product-line execution and be the primary procurement contact for Product Management and Engineering.

Within the global model, you translate category strategies into line-specific sourcing, lead NPI milestones, and drive cost-out initiatives aligned with product P&L targets.

Qualifications

• 10+ years in procurement, supply chain, or sourcing.
• Proven product-line procurement ownership with cost and delivery accountability.
• Experience integrating procurement into new product development processes.
• Supplier performance management and escalation handling.
• Strong collaboration with Engineering, Product Management, and Operations.
• Commercial acumen with cost modelling and make-vs-buy experience.
• Experience in power/industrial technology preferred.
• Experience in matrixed organisations preferred.

Responsibilities

• Own procurement execution for assigned product lines with cost targets and supplier delivery performance.
• Drive NPI procurement readiness and early supplier engagement for ramp-ups.
• Translate category strategies into product-line sourcing actions and supplier selections.
• Own product-line cost-out programs with VE, spec optimisation, and Make-vs-Buy analysis.
• Manage day-to-day supplier performance for critical vendors, incl. escalation.
• Partner with Engineering and Product Management as primary procurement interface.
• Drive engineering change management from a procurement perspective.

Skills

Procurement leadership

Cost modelling

Make-vs-buy analysis

Cross-functional collaboration

Supplier management

NPDI integration

Product lifecycle

Engineering interface

Job description

JOB DESCRIPTION

The Procurement Product Line Leader owns end-to-end procurement execution for assigned product lines within a Business unit vertical, with accountability for cost performance, supplier delivery, and NPI procurement readiness. The role bridges category strategy — set by Global Category Managers (GCMs) — with product-line-specific execution, ensuring procurement is embedded in product development, engineering changes, and production ramp activities. The Product Line Leader is the primary procurement interface to Product Management and Engineering for their assigned product lines.

Position Summary

The Procurement Product Line Leader owns end-to-end procurement execution for assigned product lines within a Business unit vertical, with accountability for cost performance, supplier delivery, and NPI procurement readiness. The role bridges category strategy — set by Global Category Managers (GCMs) — with product-line-specific execution, ensuring procurement is embedded in product development, engineering changes, and production ramp activities. The Product Line Leader is the primary procurement interface to Product Management and Engineering for their assigned product lines.

Within the global procurement operating model, this role operates as the product-line procurement execution owner — translating GCM category strategies into product-line-specific sourcing actions, owning NPI procurement milestones, and driving cost-out programmes aligned to product P&L targets.

Responsibilities

• Own procurement execution for assigned product lines: cost targets, supplier delivery performance, and material availability aligned to production schedules.
• Drive NPI procurement readiness: early engagement at Gate 0–1, supplier quote coverage, tooling investment decisions, and production ramp sourcing plans.
• Translate global category strategies into product-line-specific sourcing actions and supplier selections, ensuring alignment with approved supply panels.
• Own product-line cost-out programmes: value engineering, specification optimisation, and make-vs-buy analysis in partnership with Engineering.
• Manage day-to-day supplier performance for product-line-critical suppliers: delivery, quality, capacity, and escalation management.
• Partner with Engineering and Product Management as the primary procurement interface for all product-line decisions affecting cost, supply, and schedule.
• Drive engineering change management from a procurement perspective: cost impact assessment, supplier feasibility analysis, and lead-time implications.
• Support the BU Leader in delivering BU savings targets through product-line-level cost reduction initiatives and continuous improvement programmes.
• Coordinate with GCMs on supplier panel utilisation, ensuring product-line sourcing is aligned with globally negotiated commercial frameworks and approved ASLs.
• Own product-line procurement KPIs: material cost variance, supplier on-time delivery (OTD), NPI milestone adherence, and cost-out pipeline value.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in procurement, supply chain, or sourcing within a manufacturing or industrial technology environment.
• Proven experience managing procurement for specific product lines or business units with direct accountability for cost and delivery performance.
• Demonstrated ability to integrate procurement into new product development processes (NPDI or equivalent lifecycle frameworks).
• Experience in supplier management, including performance monitoring, escalation handling, and supplier development programmes.
• Strong cross-functional collaboration skills with Engineering, Product Management, and Operations teams.
• Commercial acumen with hands‑on experience in cost modelling, value engineering, and make-vs‑buy analysis.
• Preferred: experience in power systems, thermal systems, electronics, or industrial technology sectors.
• Preferred: experience working within matrixed organisations with both vertical and horizontal reporting structures.

Time Travel Required

25%

About Us

The successful candidate will embrace Vertiv’s Core Principles & Behaviors to help execute our Strategic Priorities.

OUR CORE PRINCIPLES

Safety. Integrity. Respect. Teamwork. Inclusion.

OUR STRATEGIC PRIORITIES

• High-Performance Culture
• Customer Focus
• Operational Excellence
• Innovation
• Financial Strength

VERTIV BEHAVIORS

• Own it
• Act with urgency
• Foster a customer-first mindset
• Think big and execute
• Lead by example
• Drive continuous improvement
• Learn and seek out development
• Promote transparent & open communication

About Vertiv

Vertiv (NYSE: VRT) brings together hardware, software, analytics and ongoing services to enable its customers’ vital applications to run continuously, perform optimally and grow with their business needs. Vertiv solves the most important challenges facing today’s data centers, communication networks, and commercial and industrial facilities with a portfolio of power, cooling and IT infrastructure solutions and services that extend from the cloud to the edge of the network. Headquartered in Westerville, Ohio, USA, Vertiv employs around 34,000 people and does business in more than 130 countries. Visit Vertiv.com to learn more.

Work Authorization

No calls or agencies please. Vertiv will only employ those who are legally authorized to work in the United States. This is not a position for which sponsorship will be provided. Individuals with temporary visas such as E, F-1, H-1, H-2, L, B, J, or TN or who need sponsorship for work authorization now or in the future, are not eligible for hire.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Vertiv is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. We promote equal opportunities for all with respect to hiring, terms of employment, mobility, training, compensation, and occupational health, without discrimination as to age, race, color, religion, creed, sex, pregnancy status (including childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity / expression (including transgender status or sexual stereotypes), genetic information, citizenship status, national origin, protected veteran status, political affiliation, or disability. If you have a disability and are having difficulty accessing or using this website to apply for a position, you can request help by sending an email to [e-mail]