Category Manager

Specific Responsibilities

• Develop strategies to optimize Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) for materials and services.
• Lead strategic sourcing initiatives, contract negotiations, and supplier performance management activities.
• Interact with Executive Leadership and other stakeholders to ensure alignment and understanding.
• Identify opportunities for savings and value creation, and recommend changes to drive higher performance.
• Lead cross-functional teams on project-based initiatives to develop and implement key elements of the category strategy.
• Establish, maintain, and communicate business requirements, importance of materials/services, and process improvement methods.
• Perform assessments, supply market analyses, value chain analyses, and construct cost models.
• Leverage spend across AAON’s business units, form supplier alliances, consolidate the supplier base, and drive efficiencies.
• Develop negotiation strategies, identify and quantify gives, takes, and best alternatives, and coordinate the preparation and execution of commercial agreements.
• Monitor leading supply market indicators, adjust category strategies, negotiate/re-negotiate commercial agreements, and mitigate supply risk.
• Create accurate service/material forecasts to align with category strategies.
• Drive supplier performance management through measurement of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), communication of operational performance, and identifying areas for improvement.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management or relevant Business / Technical discipline.
• Master’s degree in Business, Supply Chain Management, or relevant technical discipline preferred.
• 5+ years of strategic sourcing, category management, or general Supply Chain leadership experience within diverse industries/market.
• In-depth knowledge of category management, strategic sourcing processes, procedures, and practices.
• Executed multiple, large contract/commercial negotiations.
• HVAC manufacturing experience with planning and supply chain activities related to drilling, completion, or production preferred.
• Proven track record applying complex category management techniques, including supply market analysis, TCO principles, and strategy development.
• Working knowledge of evaluation modeling experience, including cost/benefit and present value analysis.
• In-depth Excel knowledge and experience.
• Experience with SAP highly desired.

Attributes/Competencies

• Leading by example through the embodiment of, and by embracing, AAON’s core values and leadership attributes.
• Able to excel with limited supervision.
• Results-oriented.
• Able to balance strong analytical and interpersonal communication skills.
• Comfortable presenting to Executive Leadership.
• Able to positively influence stakeholders.
• Able to plan and execute complex negotiations.
• Able to handle multiple activities and changing priorities.