Global Category Manager - Plant Equipment & Tooling, Indirect Procurement

About the Role

Vertiv is seeking an experienced and strategic Global Commodity Category Manager – Plant Equipment & Tooling to lead the development and execution of our global procurement strategy for production OEM equipment, specialised manufacturing equipment, tooling, and related CAPEX investments across our global manufacturing footprint.

This role is responsible for driving a best-in-class global sourcing strategy while ensuring effective execution at regional and site level. The successful candidate will work closely with the Global Advanced Manufacturing Engineering (AME) Team, Regional CAPEX Procurement Leads, Operations, Engineering, Finance, and other cross-functional stakeholders to support Vertiv's manufacturing growth strategy.

The role focuses on delivering measurable value through Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) optimisation, supplier relationship management, risk mitigation, productivity improvements, and achievement of annual savings commitments while ensuring compliance with Vertiv's CAPEX Governance and Savings Policies.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement global sourcing strategies for CAPEX equipment, specialised manufacturing equipment and tooling.
• Drive standardisation and leverage global purchasing volumes to maximise value and commercial advantage across regions.
• Support manufacturing expansion, capacity growth, automation, and productivity initiatives through strategic supplier engagement.
• Partner with Global AME, Engineering, Operations, and regional procurement teams to align procurement strategies with business objectives.
• Build and maintain a robust global supplier portfolio for the procuring of equipment
• Lead complex RFQs, supplier evaluations, commercial negotiations, and contract execution.
• Establish and negotiate global framework agreements that support both global leverage and regional operational requirements.
• Manage strategic supplier relationships and act as the escalation point for critical supplier performance or delivery issues.
• Deliver annual procurement savings targets and support broader productivity initiatives.
• Drive Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) methodologies when evaluating sourcing decisions, including acquisition, operating, maintenance, lifecycle, and disposal costs.
• Monitor market trends, supplier capabilities, and industry developments to identify cost reduction and innovation opportunities.
• Ensure procurement activities comply with Vertiv's CAPEX Procurement Policy, Savings Policy, Delegation of Authority requirements, and applicable contracting standards.
• Support supplier onboarding, qualification, performance management, and audit activities.
• Ensure risk management considerations are incorporated into sourcing decisions including supply continuity, quality, delivery performance, and financial stability.

Qualifications & Experience

Required

• Bachelor's degree in Procurement, Engineering, Business, Supply Chain, Operations Management, or a related discipline.
• Minimum 8 years of procurement experience, including significant experience within CAPEX equipment procurement in a manufacturing environment.
• Strong commercial acumen, contract negotiation and supplier management experience.
• Demonstrated ability to think strategically, develop and execute global commodity or category strategies.
• Experience managing complex global sourcing projects involving multiple stakeholders and regions.
• Strong analytical, commercial, and financial acumen.
• Excellent communication, influencing, and stakeholder management skills.
• Proficiency with ERP systems such as Oracle and Microsoft Office applications.
• Approximately 25% global travel required.

#LI-DR2