Regional Category Leader - Customer Equipment (Remote - CST/EST)
Regional Category Leader – Customer Equipment
Job Type: Full-time; Remote
Responsibilities:
Category Strategy & Leadership
- Develop and implement a comprehensive regional category strategy in conjunction with the global strategy for customer equipment that aligns with corporate goals and supports growth.
- Lead regional strategy development, including segmentation, total cost of ownership (TCO) analysis, market intelligence, and supplier landscape assessment.
- Drive measurable category KPIs, ensuring performance tracking and continuous improvement.
- Build and maintain strategic partnerships with key suppliers of customer equipment.
- Drive robust commercial negotiations, develop long-term agreements, and ensure contractual compliance and performance.
- Identify and qualify new suppliers based on safety standards, quality, capability, and innovation.
- Partner closely with Engineering & Technical Services, Sales, Operations, Quality, and Regulatory teams to ensure equipment solutions meet customer requirements and internal standards.
- Act as the primary interface between Procurement and internal stakeholders for category requirements, project support, and execution.
- Lead regional sourcing initiatives, including RFPs, RFQs, bid analysis, and award recommendations.
- Implement category sourcing plans that balance regional leverage with local execution where necessary.
- Support business units in resolving supply, delivery, and quality issues related to equipment.
- Manage supply risk through diversification, contingency planning, and robust supplier performance metrics.
- Ensure supplier and equipment compliance with relevant industry standards, safety regulations, and internal policies.
- Promote and embed sustainability criteria in sourcing decisions.
- Deliver measurable cost savings and value capture through strategic sourcing, standardization, and process improvements.
- Benchmark category spend and pricing to drive best-in-class commercial outcomes.
- Lead, mentor, and develop regional sourcing professionals.
- Champion a high-performance culture focused on collaboration, accountability, and results.
- Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Engineering, Business, or related discipline; MBA or advanced degree preferred.
- 7+ years of procurement/sourcing experience, with at least 4 years in regional category leadership roles.
- Experience in the chemicals, industrial equipment, or related technical industries.
- Proven success in strategic sourcing, supplier development, and complex negotiations.
- Strong commercial acumen and strategic thinking.
- Excellent negotiation and contract management skills.
- Superior communication and stakeholder management abilities.
- Demonstrated ability to operate effectively in a matrixed organization.
- Data-driven mindset with capability in analytics, forecasting, and spend management tools.
- Flexibility to travel as needed.