Global Category Manager

Job Requirements

Why work for us?

Alkegen brings together two of the world’s leading specialty materials companies to create one new, innovation-driven leader focused on battery technologies, filtration media, and specialty insulation and sealing materials. Through global reach and breakthrough inventions, we’re delivering products that enable the world to breathe easier, live greener, and go further than ever before. 

With over 60 manufacturing facilities with a global workforce of over 9,000 of the industry’s most experienced talent, including insulation and filtration experts, Alkegen is uniquely positioned to help customers impact the environment in meaningful ways.

Alkegen offers a range of dynamic career opportunities with globe-spanning reach. From production operators to engineers, technicians to specialists, sales to leadership, we’re always looking for top talent ready to bring their best.  Come grow with us!

Job Requirements:

The Global Category Manager – Capital Projects Strategic Procurement is responsible for leading and executing the strategic procurement of capital projects worldwide. This includes sourcing construction services, capital equipment, and all other Capex-related expenditures, ensuring optimal total cost of ownership, supplier risk management, and alignment with business objectives.

As a key procurement leader, this role will drive strategic supplier relationships, negotiate high-value contracts, enforce best practices, look to minimize risk and collaborate with cross-functional teams (Engineering, Manufacturing, Finance, Legal and Operations) to support Alkegen’s growth and operational excellence.

This position requires an individual who is an analytical and strategic thinker who is financially savvy with strong business acumen. The ability to discuss technical materials and services supplied to the industry. Demonstrated creative problem solving and leadership capability to make effective and timely decisions. Results‐oriented with strong commercial acumen. Demonstrated ability to create/identify and capture savings opportunities. Strong communication skills, including written, verbal and presentation skills are necessary. Strong listening skills are required. Ability to facilitate teamwork internationally and across cultures.

The position is located at Corporate Headquarters, Tonawanda, NY, or Corporate Headquarters Dallas, TX or Corporate Headquarters Northwest, UK and reports to the Senior Manager Global Procurement - Indirect and Capex.

Key deliverables:

• Engaging site and corporate teams to utilize the global CPMP (Capital Procurement Management Process), to drive standardization of approach, correct approvals and outcomes in terms of budget adherence and timeline expectations.
• Negotiate total cost of ownership, including performance deliverables, price, spare parts packages, warranties, liabilities etc.
• Source and support qualification of new suppliers to add competition to historically single sourced areas.
• Identify opportunities to standardize common equipment and put strategies in place to manage these on a global scale.
• Report and update budget and progress of active projects.
• Ensure legal review of contracts and policy documentation is completed by suppliers and logged in the database.
• Update and maintain categorization of suppliers in our global systems and track savings in the global tracker.

Responsibilities:

• Act as the subject matter expert (SME) in capital expenditure procurement, providing strategic guidance on supplier selection, negotiations, and contract management.
• Develop and execute global procurement strategies for Capex projects, ensuring alignment with business objectives and driving cost efficiencies.
• Lead the development and implementation of standardized Capex sourcing processes to ensure compliance, consistency, and best-practice adoption across all regions.
• Conduct spend analysis and establish procurement plans, including contract grouping, supplier consolidation, and process improvements at the plant/site level.
• Develop and manage RFQs (Request for Quotations), analyze supplier proposals, and lead sourcing decisions to maximize business value.
• Lead complex contract negotiations to secure competitive pricing, commercial terms, and risk mitigation strategies.
• Drive supplier performance management, ensuring key project milestones and financial objectives are met while addressing any performance gaps.
• Partner with Engineering and Project Management teams to ensure procurement strategies align with technical and operational requirements.
• Manage supplier relationship governance, including performance tracking, compliance enforcement, and long-term partnership development.
• Support regional procurement teams in direct and indirect sourcing activities, fostering global collaboration and alignment.
• Provide procurement leadership and mentorship, contributing to a high-performance culture within the global procurement function.
• Travel may be required up to 25%.

Qualifications/ Experience:

Required Experience:

• Strategic Capital Equipment category management experience with a minimum of 5 years in a global organization with multi-site, multi-process continuous manufacturing operations across the Americas and international geographies.
• Desirable to have experience of FIDIC/NEC/JCT model form contracts.
• A second language would be viewed favorably, however is not required.

Required Qualifications:

• A B.S./B.A. degree in Procurement, Business, Finance, Engineering or a related discipline is required and/or professional body qualification (ISM CPSM / MCPIS / ASCM CSCP).
• A Master’s degree in Supply Chain/Procurement or an MBA is highly desirable.

Salary:

115,000 - 140,000 USD per annum

Pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. The total compensation package for this position may also include other elements dependent on the position offered. Details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided if an employee receives an offer of employment.

If you are interested in being part of a world class procurement function here at Alkegen then we would love to hear from you.

At Alkegen, we strive every day to help people – ALL PEOPLE – breathe easier, live greener and go further than ever before. We believe that diversity and inclusion is central to this mission and to our impact. Our diverse and inclusive culture drives our growth & innovation, and we nurture it by actively embracing our differences and using our varied perspectives to solve the complex challenges facing our changing and diverse world.

Employment selection and related decisions are made without regard to sex, race, ethnicity, nation of origin, religion, color, gender identity and expression, age, disability, education, opinions, culture, languages spoken, veteran’s status, or any other protected class.