Global Category Manager - Material Handling & Facilities, Indirect Procurement

Role Summary 

Vertiv is seeking a strategic Global Category Manager – Material Handling & Facilities to lead global sourcing, supplier strategy, and commercial execution for material handling equipment, facility fit-out, and related infrastructure investments across Vertiv’s global manufacturing footprint. 

This role will own procurement strategy for both capital purchases and leasing arrangements supporting new site launches, manufacturing expansions, consolidations, renovations, refurbishments, automation initiatives, and operational infrastructure upgrades. The position will partner closely with Global Advanced Manufacturing Engineering, Real Estate & Facilities, Operations, Regional Procurement, Treasury, Finance, and other cross-functional stakeholders to support manufacturing growth, operational excellence, and long-term cost competitiveness. 

The role is accountable for delivering sustainable value through total cost of ownership optimization, supplier standardization, global leverage, risk mitigation, and continuous improvement. Success will require strong commercial leadership, disciplined execution, and consistent compliance with Vertiv procurement, CAPEX, equipment leasing, delegation of authority, and savings policies. 

Scope of Responsibility

The role covers global procurement strategy and execution for material handling equipment, facility fit-out, and related operational infrastructure, including: 

• Forklifts, cranes, hoists, lifts, and other industrial handling equipment 
• Automated guided vehicles and automated material handling solutions 
• Warehouse racking, storage systems, and internal logistics infrastructure 
• Facility fit-out for new plants, manufacturing expansions, office areas, and operational spaces 
• Restroom, locker room, office, welfare, kitchen, and canteen furniture, equipment, and infrastructure 
• CAPEX-related purchases supporting plant launches, capacity growth, renovations, and refurbishments 
• Leasing arrangements and lifecycle asset strategies for key equipment categories 

Key Responsibilities 

Global Category Strategy 

• Develop and execute global sourcing strategies for material handling equipment, facility fit-out, and related infrastructure categories. 
• Drive standardization across regions to maximize global leverage, improve consistency, and reduce lifecycle cost. 
• Align procurement strategies with manufacturing expansion, automation, capacity growth, and productivity priorities. 
• Monitor market trends, supplier capabilities, and industry developments to identify cost reduction, innovation, and risk mitigation opportunities. 

Supplier Management & Commercial Execution 

• Build and manage a robust global supplier portfolio aligned to Vertiv’s business growth, regional requirements, and standardization objectives. 
• Lead complex RFQs, supplier evaluations, commercial negotiations, and contract execution. 
• Establish and negotiate global framework agreements that balance global commercial leverage with regional operational flexibility. 
• Manage strategic supplier relationships and serve as the escalation point for critical supplier performance, delivery, quality, or commercial issues. 
• Support supplier onboarding, qualification, performance management, and audit activities. 

CAPEX, Leasing & Total Cost of Ownership 

• Lead lease-versus-buy evaluations for key material handling equipment in partnership with Treasury, Operations, and Finance. 
• Apply total cost of ownership methodology across acquisition, operating, maintenance, utilization, lifecycle, lease-versus-buy, and disposal costs. 
• Develop sourcing and asset strategies that optimize lifecycle cost, cash flow, utilization, and long-term operational flexibility. 
• Deliver annual procurement savings targets and support broader productivity initiatives. 

Stakeholder Partnership 

• Partner with Global AME, Real Estate & Facilities, Operations, Regional Procurement, Treasury, Finance, Engineering, and other stakeholders to support global manufacturing and facility priorities. 
• Provide procurement leadership for new site launches, plant expansions, consolidations, renovations, and refurbishment projects. 
• Support manufacturing environments, office workspace projects, and operational infrastructure requirements across regions. 
• Communicate sourcing strategies, supplier decisions, commercial risks, and savings opportunities clearly to business stakeholders. 

Governance, Compliance & Risk Management 

• Ensure sourcing activities comply with Vertiv procurement policies, savings policy, delegation of authority requirements, CAPEX processes, equipment leasing requirements, and applicable contracting standards. 
• Incorporate risk management into sourcing decisions, including supply continuity, quality, delivery performance, supplier capability, and financial stability. 
• Maintain disciplined sourcing documentation, approval records, savings validation, and contract governance. 
• Drive continuous improvement in sourcing process efficiency, supplier performance, and procurement governance. 

Required Qualifications 

• Bachelor’s degree in Procurement, Engineering, Business, Supply Chain, Operations Management, or a related discipline. 
• Minimum of 8 years of procurement experience, including CAPEX equipment procurement and facility fit-out experience in a manufacturing environment. 
• Proven experience developing and executing global commodity, category, or sourcing strategies. 
• Strong commercial acumen with demonstrated experience in contract negotiation, supplier management, and RFQ execution. 
• Experience managing complex global sourcing projects involving multiple stakeholders, regions, and business functions. 
• Strong analytical, commercial, and financial acumen. 
• Excellent communication, influencing, and stakeholder management skills. 
• Proficiency with ERP systems such as Oracle and Microsoft Office applications. 
• Ability to travel globally approximately 25% of the time. 

Preferred Qualifications 

• Experience sourcing material handling equipment, automation-related equipment, facility fit-out, or manufacturing infrastructure. 
• Experience with lease-versus-buy analysis, lifecycle cost modeling, and CAPEX governance. 
• Familiarity with global framework agreements, supplier standardization, and multi-region sourcing strategies. 
• Experience supporting manufacturing site launches, plant expansions, renovations, or operational infrastructure projects. 
• Knowledge of procurement savings methodologies, supplier risk management, and policy compliance requirements. 

Key Success Measures 

• Delivery of annual procurement savings and productivity targets. 
• Improved supplier performance, commercial leverage, and contract coverage across regions. 
• Increased standardization of material handling, facility fit-out, and infrastructure sourcing strategies. 
• Effective lease-versus-buy and total cost of ownership decisions that optimize cost, utilization, and cash flow. 
• Strong stakeholder alignment across AME, Facilities, Operations, Finance, Treasury, and Regional Procurement. 
• Compliance with Vertiv procurement, CAPEX, equipment leasing, savings, delegation of authority, and contracting standards. 
• Reduced sourcing risk through proactive supplier qualification, performance management, and continuity planning. 

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