Category Manager - Metals & Fasteners

Nortek Data Center Cooling

Nortek Data Center Cooling builds the systems that keep modern data centers running — from liquid cooling to large‑scale air solutions. Our work supports some of the world’s most demanding AI and hyperscale environments, and we solve those challenges with engineering depth and practical execution.

We keep things simple here. We communicate early, stay close to the details, and follow through. When issues come up, we address them directly, not with layers of process. Customers count on us because we do what we say and we keep projects moving.

Our culture is hands‑on and collaborative. People take ownership, move quickly, and help each other. If you like working with teammates who are straightforward and accountable, you’ll feel at home.

With the backing of Madison Air, we have the scale, stability, and manufacturing footprint to support complex, high‑growth programs.

Nortek Data Center Cooling. is an equal employment opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a qualified individual with a disability or any other characteristic protected by law.

Nortek Data Center Cooling offers comprehensive compensation and benefits package. Our benefits package includes Health, Dental, Vision, Life, STD, LTD, FSA, HAS and 401(k) Plan with company contributions. To apply, please visit our career site at www.nortekdatacenter.com/careers.

Job Summary

The Metals & Fasteners Category Manager is responsible for developing and executing sourcing strategies across key direct material categories including carbon steel, stainless steel, aluminum, copper, and industrial fasteners supporting Nortek Data Center Cooling's manufacturing operations. This role combines strategic category management with tactical execution, ensuring material availability, competitive cost structures, supplier performance, and supply chain continuity across multiple manufacturing locations.

The ideal candidate brings a strong understanding of metals markets, fabrication processes, supplier management, and category strategy. This individual will leverage market intelligence, supplier partnerships, and cross-functional collaboration to drive cost reduction, support business growth, and ensure a resilient supply chain capable of supporting Nortek's expanding data center cooling business.

What You’ll Do

Strategic Sourcing & Category Management

• Develop and execute sourcing strategies for metals, fabricated components, and fastener categories.
• Analyze commodity market trends, cost drivers, and industry indices, including CRU and other relevant market benchmarks, to support sourcing decisions and negotiations.
• Build and maintain category strategies aligned with business objectives, supplier capabilities, and operational requirements.
• Develop cost models, should-cost analyses, and forecasting tools to support procurement decisions.
• Identify opportunities for cost reduction, supplier consolidation, and long-term value creation.
• Manage the assigned category portfolio and maintain visibility to spend, pricing, and supplier performance metrics.

Supplier Identification & Management

• Identify, evaluate, qualify, and develop strategic suppliers across metals fabrication, raw materials, and fastener categories.
• Lead supplier negotiations covering pricing, lead times, service levels, inventory strategies, and capacity commitments.
• Establish and maintain strong supplier relationships to ensure quality, delivery, responsiveness, and continuous improvement.
• Monitor supplier performance using key performance indicators and implement corrective actions when necessary.
• Evaluate supplier capacity and develop risk mitigation plans to support business continuity.
• Support sourcing decisions related to direct-buy, distributor, and vendor-managed inventory (VMI) programs.

Cross-Functional Collaboration & Design Optimization

• Partner with Engineering, Operations, Quality, and Supply Chain teams to support product cost, manufacturability, and supply continuity objectives.
• Influence material selection and design-for-cost initiatives during new product development and product enhancement activities.
• Recommend alternative materials, fabrication methods, and sourcing strategies that improve cost, quality, or lead time performance.
• Support new supplier qualifications, product launches, and supplier transition projects.
• Coordinate sourcing activities across multiple manufacturing locations to ensure alignment and standardization.

Supply Chain Execution & Operational Support

• Collaborate with Planning, Operations, and Procurement teams to ensure material availability supports production schedules and customer commitments.
• Manage supplier lead times, inventory strategies, and replenishment programs to balance supply continuity and working capital objectives.
• Support multi-site inventory optimization initiatives.
• Track, analyze, and report category spend, savings performance, supplier scorecards, and supply chain metrics.
• Serve as a key escalation point for supplier-related delivery, capacity, and performance issues.

Risk Management, Compliance & Continuous Improvement

• Develop and maintain supplier risk assessments and contingency plans for critical materials and suppliers.
• Ensure compliance with trade regulations, company sourcing policies, and applicable procurement standards.
• Support sustainability, ethical sourcing, and supplier diversity initiatives where applicable.
• Drive continuous improvement projects focused on cost reduction, supplier performance, inventory optimization, and process standardization.
• Collaborate with Logistics, Quality, and Operations teams to strengthen end-to-end supply chain performance.

What You Bring

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Engineering, Materials Science, Operations Management, or a related field.
• 5+ years of sourcing, procurement, or category management experience within a manufacturing or industrial environment.
• Experience sourcing metals, fabricated components, industrial hardware, fasteners, or related direct material categories.
• Strong understanding of commodity markets, metals pricing, fabrication processes, and cost drivers.
• Experience developing category strategies, supplier negotiations, and cost-reduction initiatives.
• Ability to interpret engineering drawings and collaborate effectively with technical teams.
• Experience managing large SKU portfolios and complex supplier networks.
• Strong analytical, negotiation, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Proficiency with ERP systems, supplier performance management tools, and Microsoft Office applications.

Preferred

• MBA or advanced degree in Supply Chain, Engineering, or Business.
• Experience sourcing across carbon steel, stainless steel, aluminum, copper, and industrial fastener categories.
• Familiarity with CRU indices, commodity forecasting, and should-cost modeling.
• Experience supporting multi-site manufacturing operations.
• Knowledge of fabrication processes including laser cutting, punching, machining, welding, forming, and finishing.

• Experience with supplier quality, global sourcing, trade compliance, and sustainability programs.
• Background in HVAC, data center infrastructure, industrial equipment, or engineered products manufacturing.

Why Join Nortek DCC

• Play an important role on a growing team
• Contribute to a company helping power the next generation of AI‑ready data centers
• Work in an environment with meaningful growth opportunities