Category Manager - Capex & MRO

Position Summary

The Category Manager – Capex & MRO is responsible for developing and executing sourcing strategies for Capital Equipment, Tooling, Industrial Services, Maintenance, Repair & Operations (MRO), and related indirect procurement categories supporting manufacturing operations in China.

The role will play a critical part in enabling the company's localization and growth strategy through procurement leadership of major capital investment projects, manufacturing capacity expansion, new production line installations, tooling acquisition, facility expansion, and operational support services.

Working closely with Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations, Quality, Supply Chain, Finance, and Global Procurement teams, the Category Manager will ensure that capital investments and operational expenditures deliver optimal value through competitive sourcing, supplier development, cost management, risk mitigation, and contract management.

The role will act as the primary procurement partner for China-based manufacturing stakeholders while maintaining strong alignment with global category strategies and governance processes established by the Global Category Lead for Capex & MRO.

Key Responsibilities

Category Strategy & Business Partnership

• Develop and implement local sourcing strategies for Capex, Tooling, Industrial Services, and MRO categories aligned with global procurement objectives.
• Support the execution of the company's China manufacturing localization and expansion strategy.
• Build strong relationships with plant leadership, engineering teams, project managers, finance, quality, and operations stakeholders.
• Translate business requirements into sourcing plans that support production growth, capacity expansion, operational reliability, and cost competitiveness.
• Provide procurement expertise during capital planning, budgeting, and project approval processes.
• Ensure alignment between local sourcing activities and global category governance.

Capital Projects & Tooling Procurement

• Lead procurement activities associated with new manufacturing facilities, production lines, equipment installations, automation projects, and facility upgrades.
• Develop sourcing strategies for manufacturing equipment, automation systems, utilities infrastructure, and production tooling.
• Manage competitive bidding processes, including RFI, RFQ, and RFP activities.
• Conduct total cost of ownership (TCO) analysis and commercial evaluations for major investments.
• Support supplier selection activities involving equipment qualification, factory acceptance testing, and project execution requirements.
• Participate in project teams to ensure procurement delivers equipment and services on budget and on schedule.
• Identify opportunities to increase localization of equipment, tooling, spare parts, and engineering services within China.

MRO & Operational Procurement

• Develop sourcing strategies for maintenance materials, spare parts, industrial consumables, facilities services, utilities-related services, and indirect operational requirements.
• Drive supplier consolidation, standardization, and cost optimization initiatives.
• Support continuous improvement programs aimed at improving equipment uptime and reducing maintenance costs.
• Collaborate with maintenance and engineering teams to optimize inventory strategies and supplier service levels.
• Evaluate opportunities for vendor-managed inventory, framework agreements, and strategic partnerships.

Supplier Management & Localization

• Identify, qualify, develop, and manage strategic suppliers within China and the wider Asia-Pacific region.
• Conduct supplier assessments covering quality, technical capability, financial stability, sustainability, compliance, and operational performance.
• Lead supplier negotiations including pricing, payment terms, warranties, service agreements, and contractual obligations.
• Monitor supplier performance through defined KPIs and supplier review processes.
• Develop supplier localization roadmaps supporting business continuity, cost competitiveness, and supply chain resilience.
• Work closely with Quality and Engineering functions to onboard and qualify new suppliers.

Cost, Risk & Contract Management

• Deliver annual productivity, cost savings, and cost avoidance targets.
• Develop should-cost analyses, benchmarking studies, and market intelligence to support sourcing decisions.
• Identify and mitigate supply chain, geopolitical, commercial, and operational risks.
• Negotiate and manage supplier contracts ensuring compliance with company policies and regulatory requirements.
• Maintain accurate procurement documentation and sourcing records.

Cross-Functional Collaboration & Governance

• Support global category initiatives and supplier negotiations where applicable.
• Participate in category reviews, sourcing councils, and procurement governance processes.
• Provide regular reporting on project status, sourcing pipeline, savings performance, supplier risks, and localization progress.
• Share market intelligence and supplier insights with the global procurement organization.
• Support implementation of procurement systems, digital tools, and continuous improvement initiatives.

Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor's Degree in Engineering, Supply Chain Management, Procurement, Business Administration, Manufacturing, Finance, or related discipline.
• Master's Degree or MBA preferred.
• Professional procurement certifications (CIPS, CPSM, ISM, CPM, or equivalent) are advantageous.

Experience

• 5–10 years of experience in Procurement, Strategic Sourcing, Supply Chain, Engineering, Manufacturing, or Category Management.
• Demonstrated experience managing Capital Equipment, Manufacturing Tooling, Industrial Services, Construction, Automation, Facilities, or MRO categories.
• Experience leading sourcing activities for manufacturing expansion, facility investment, or capital expenditure projects.
• Experience negotiating complex commercial agreements and supplier contracts.
• Experience working within highly regulated manufacturing industries is preferred.
• Experience operating within multinational and matrix organizations preferred.
• Proven experience working with suppliers and stakeholders across China.

Skills & Competencies

Procurement & Commercial

• Strategic sourcing and category management
• Contract negotiation and commercial management
• Supplier relationship management
• Total cost of ownership (TCO) analysis
• Cost modeling and financial analysis
• Capital project procurement
• Market intelligence and benchmarking

Technical & Operational

• Understanding of manufacturing processes and industrial equipment
• Knowledge of tooling, automation, facilities, and maintenance environments
• Project procurement and project management principles
• Understanding of manufacturing operations and plant requirements
• Risk assessment and mitigation

Leadership & Interpersonal

• Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills
• Ability to work effectively across cultures and functions
• Strong communication and presentation skills
• Problem-solving and analytical thinking
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment
• High level of accountability and ownership

Languages

• Fluent Mandarin and English required.
• Additional Asian or European language capabilities are advantageous.
  

Success Measures for the Role

The successful candidate will be measured on:

Business Performance

• Delivery of annual cost savings, cost avoidance, and productivity targets.
• Procurement contribution to China localization objectives.
• Reduction in total cost of ownership across Capex & MRO categories.
• Improved commercial terms and supplier competitiveness.

Capital Project Execution

• On-time procurement support for capital investment projects.
• Achievement of project budget objectives.
• Successful sourcing and implementation of production equipment and tooling.
• Effective support of manufacturing capacity expansion programs.

Supplier & Risk Management

• Development of a robust localized supplier base.
• Improvement in supplier performance metrics.
• Reduction of supply and project execution risks.
• Successful qualifications of strategic suppliers supporting long-term growth.

Stakeholder Satisfaction

• Positive feedback from manufacturing, engineering, operations, and project teams.
• Strong cross-functional collaboration and business partnership.
• Responsiveness and effectiveness in supporting plant requirements.

Procurement Excellence

• Compliance with procurement policies and governance processes.
• High-quality sourcing execution and contract management.
• Accurate reporting and data management.
• Contribution to global category objectives and best-practice sharing.