Category Associate

About JLG, an Oshkosh company

JLG began in 1969, when our founder, John L. Grove set out to resolve growing safety concerns in the construction industry. Since then we have been committed to understanding the challenges and delivering innovative solutions to the access market. We partner with customers to provide quality equipment, training opportunities and trusted support within the access industry. We are a global company, and our products—including mobile elevating work platforms, telehandlers, utility vehicles and accessories—can be found all over the world.

This Category Associate – Advanced Technology role is an entry-level position in the Advanced Technologies Category Management Team within the Global Procurement & Supply Chain function. In support of the organization’s Procurement Excellence Strategy, this role will support, in collaboration with the Advanced Technology Category Managers, Engineering, Product Management, and Supplier Development, the identification, engagement, evaluation, development, deployment, sustainment, and management of suppliers for key emerging technologies associated with the Oshkosh Corporation Corporate Strategic Initiatives of Electrification, Autonomy & Active Safety, and Intelligent Products.

This role primarily supports the team by serving as the critical analytical, organization, and communication link between Category Managers, Suppliers, and Program Teams to assist in the improvement of the organization’s time-to-market for new products and features, helping ensure holistic sourcing decisions are made on time and are in alignment with Category and Organizational Strategies.

YOUR IMPACT

These duties are not meant to be all-inclusive and other duties may be assigned.

• Serve as a key point of contact between Category Managers, Cross-Functional Program Teams, and Suppliers to ensure accurate and timely information flows to support improved time-to-market objectives.

• Support or lead Request for Quotes (RFQs) or Request for Proposals (RFPs) by collecting all required information, distributing to the identified supply base, and consolidating and summarizing results and findings with the potential to make initial recommendations based on Total Cost of Ownership analysis to present to Category Managers and Leaders for consideration.

• Develop Time-to-Source and Source-to-Strategy metrics, ensure Program Management tools and dashboards are maintained, and provide routine updates to Category Managers, Category Management Leadership, and Program Teams.

• Understand supply market trends and how they impact the business, compiling cost and technology readiness trend / model analyses, total cost of ownership assessments, and identifying additional ways to add value to the team.

• Coordinate required audits (Quality, Operations, Financial, Capacity, etc.) and lead the supplier onboarding process for awarded suppliers per the organization’s processes.

• Serve as the first point of contact for production-related opportunities, such as part shortages, with escalation to the Category Managers as needed.

• Complete and maintain purchasing parameters, such as Quotes & Contracts, Item Balances, Cost Roll, etc., in applicable systems and manage or support Price Updates, Invoice Errors, and Change Notices for sourced parts.

• Other Duties and Responsibilities:

  • Data mining and manipulation

  • Knowledge of data analytics tools; data analytics in a specific commodity/category.

  • Critical thinking skills that support the business environment.

  • Develop knowledge of suppliers’ core competencies and capabilities.

  • Develop supplier relationships management and engagement methodology.

  • Develop an understanding for supply market trends.

  • Connect with engineer/technical drawings and beginning stages of understand technical grammar and learning the language of the business/category/commodity, reading of technical drawings.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management or a related field.

• OR an equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Ability to travel up to 5-10%, which could include international travel.

STANDOUT QUALIFICATIONS

• Passion to understand key components and market trends tied to emerging technologies in the fields of Electrification, Autonomy & Active Safety, and Intelligent Products such as lithium-ion batteries, fuel cells, battery energy storage systems, electric motors and invertors, thermal management, advanced camera and sensor systems (ex. ultrasonic sensors, lidar), and other emerging technologies as needs evolve.

• Strong internship experience or previous professional experience in global procurement or supply chain at a multi-national organization.

• Category Management or Strategic Sourcing experience within the manufacturing industry, especially in off-highway / heavy equipment or automotive markets.

• Team-first mentality that derives value from helping the team succeed from both a leader and support position.

• Exceptional analytical skills, leveraging Microsoft Excel or other software platforms as needed to conduct in-depth analyses which includes total landed cost and total cost of ownership calculations and comparisons, should cost model development, regression analysis, etc.

• Strong organizational, time-management, and prioritization skills with the ability to multi-task and effectively balance competing priorities and deadlines.

• Ability to consolidate complex topics into clear and concise communications and presentations, which could include Executive-level internal and external audience members.

• Experience and proficiency with various web-based software applications including Microsoft Office Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint, etc.

WORKING CONDITIONS

The following represents general working conditions for this office-based role. Specific conditions may vary depending on business needs and individual circumstances.

• This role is primarily performed in a professional office environment with standard lighting, ventilation, and temperature-controlled settings.

• Duties are largely sedentary, requiring extended periods of sitting and using a computer and telephone.

• Visual acuity to operate a computer and read documents is required, along with auditory ability to participate in virtual and in-person meetings.

• Occasional movement within the office environment is necessary, including walking short distances, standing, or reaching for files.

• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this role.

Pay Range:

$57,600.00 - $90,400.00

The above pay range reflects the minimum and maximum target pay for the position across all U.S. locations. Within this range, individual pay is determined by various factors, including the scope and responsibilities of the role, the candidate's experience, education and skills, as well as the equity of pay among team members in similar positions. Beyond offering a competitive total rewards package, we prioritize a people-first culture and offer various opportunities to support team member growth and success.

Oshkosh is committed to working with and offering reasonable accommodation to job applicants with disabilities. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to disability for any part of the employment process, please contact us at [email protected].

Oshkosh Corporation is a merit-based Equal Opportunity Employer. Job opportunities are open for application to all qualified individuals and selection decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or other protected characteristic. To the extent that information is provided or collected regarding categories as provided by law it will in no way affect the decision regarding an employment application.

Oshkosh Corporation will not discharge or in any manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with Oshkosh Corporation's legal duty to furnish information.

Certain positions with Oshkosh Corporation require access to controlled goods and technologies subject to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations or the Export Administration Regulations. Applicants for these positions may need to be "U.S. Persons," as defined in these regulations. Generally, a "U.S. Person" is a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, or an individual who has been admitted as a refugee or granted asylum.