Category Manager

Category Manager - Capital Expenditures

We're seeking a strategic and results-oriented Category Manager ("CM") to join our Residential and Light Commercial HVAC Americas Procurement team, supporting Capital Equipment and Maintenance and Repair of Capital Equipment. As a high-visibility leader, you'll play a pivotal role in overseeing at least $100 million in annual spend.

You'll develop and implement comprehensive category strategies, driving cost reduction, optimizing working capital, mitigating risk, and ensuring exceptional performance and quality from our suppliers. Through strong partnerships and collaboration across internal and external stakeholders, you'll ensure our R&LC business has the components needed to support growth and profitability.

You'll be responsible for developing and driving category strategies working closely with Product Management, Engineering, Business Unit Procurement, Operations, Quality, and other functions within JCI.

In this role, you'll be expected to manage ambiguity, make decisions with or without data, manage multiple priorities and can effectively manage and drive change. You believe that the best work is done in teams - you're seen as a cooperative leader, candid yet fair. You can manage multiple priorities simultaneously because of your excellent project management, organization, and time management skills. You are intellectually curious - driving continual learning for you and your team. You're also interpersonally curious - understanding that internal and external collaboration fuels improvement and best practice. You are seen as a leader and have strong indirect people management skills to influence multidisciplinary teams and peers, and to drive R&LC business success.

Responsibilities and how you will do it

• Lead category strategy development, execution, and communication, aligning with overall business objectives.

• Identify, evaluate, negotiate, and manage relationships with key suppliers.

• Conduct in-depth market analysis to ensure best-in-class sourcing strategies.

• Drive continuous improvement and cost transparency.

• Manage supplier contracts, ensuring optimal pricing, quality, and delivery terms.

• Lead cross-functional teams to optimize supply continuity and mitigate potential risks.

• Analyze category data and identify cost-saving opportunities.

• Champion innovation and stay abreast of industry trends and emerging technologies.

• Meet or exceed profit plan, trade working capital, supplier rationalization, and other Procurement KPIs related to categories: cost savings, raw material economics, quality, supplier rationalization, LCC % content and other agreed objectives.

• Lead monthly or quarterly category reviews.

• Effectively plan, communicate, manage, and work in a team environment. Excellent questioning and influencing skills. Ability to manage within tight time constraints. Leadership, problem-solving, and conflict resolution skills.

What you will need

• Bachelor's degree required. Master degree preferred.

• Minimum of 6 years of experience with Manufacturing equipment in a global, multi-industry manufacturing environment.

• CPSM Certification preferred.

• Proven track record of success in global strategic sourcing and a strong understanding of market dynamics and best practices.

• Excellent negotiation, communication, and influencing skills.

• Proficient in project management methodologies and various sourcing tools.

• Data-driven with a keen eye for cost optimization and risk mitigation.

• Very strong negotiation skills.

• Experienced in supplier relationship management

• Indirect people management skills to influence dotted lines.

• Capability to interface with senior leadership across regions both internally & externally.

• In-depth understanding of purchasing tools and practices.

• Strong MS Office skills; including advanced spreadsheet skills and ability to lead virtual meetings in Microsoft Teams

• Working knowledge of SAP, Power BI or other equivalent ERP systems.

• Travel up to 25% domestic and international.

• Location: Wichita, KS and Norman, OK.

• Language skills not required but preferred: Spanish.