Global Category Manager, Logistics

About Kennametal

With over 85 years as an industrial technology leader, Kennametal Inc. delivers productivity to customers through materials science, tooling and wear‑resistant solutions. Customers across aerospace and defense, earthworks, energy, general engineering and transportation turn to Kennametal to help them manufacture with precision and efficiency. Learn more at kennmetal.com. Follow @Kennametal on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and YouTube.

Job Summary

The Global Category Manager, Logistics leads the development and execution of global category strategies across North America, EMEA, APAC, and India with responsibility for approximately $67 M in annual spend. The role is accountable for driving competitive advantage through strategic sourcing, supplier relationship management, risk mitigation, contract governance, and logistics network optimization. Delivers measurable business value through savings, service improvements, working‑capital optimization, and supply‑chain resiliency initiatives.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead development, implementation, and governance of global logistics category strategies across NAM, EMEA, and APAC.
• Own sourcing and contract management activities for parcel, 3PL services, truckload, LTL, flatbed, dry van, air freight, ocean freight, freight forwarding, customs brokerage, warehousing, distribution, and freight‑pay and audit providers.
• Develop annual sourcing roadmaps, project pipelines, and category strategies aligned with business objectives and service‑cost reduction goals.
• Deliver approximately $2 M annually through hard savings while also driving cost avoidance, lead‑time reductions, inflation mitigation, working‑capital, and DPO improvement initiatives.
• Work cross‑functionally with various business functions to define requirements, develop SOWs, and prepare RFPs and negotiations.
• Lead global RFx events, supplier negotiations, contract renewals, and commercial discussions.
• Serve as the global category lead and NAM category owner while coordinating regional sourcing support teams in EMEA and APAC.
• Partner closely with Logistics, Warehousing & Distribution, Operations, Finance, Legal, and regional stakeholders to develop and execute strategic initiatives.
• Assist with the Freight Pay & Audit supplier relationship and leverage analytics to identify sourcing opportunities and support decision‑making.
• Track savings, project execution, and value realization through Amplify and related sourcing tools.
• Leverage transportation‑management systems, freight‑audit data, market intelligence, AI‑enabled analytics, and sourcing technologies to identify optimization opportunities and improve business performance.
• Analyze transportation and logistics market conditions, cost drivers, carrier trends, capacity changes, and inflationary impacts to develop proactive strategies.
• Develop expertise in transportation rating methodologies, freight‑movement processes, Incoterms, and commercial logistics structures.
• Prepare executive presentations, business cases, contract‑approval packages, and sourcing recommendations in accordance with delegation‑of‑authority requirements.
• Lead cross‑functional meetings focused on service improvements, operational efficiencies, supplier performance, and cost‑reduction opportunities.
• Lead executive‑level supplier relationship management, business reviews, performance scorecards, and continuous‑improvement initiatives with strategic logistics providers.
• Monitor supplier performance against contractual obligations and negotiate corrective actions when service, cost, or compliance issues arise.
• Support enterprise sustainability objectives through transportation optimization, mode conversion, network‑efficiency improvements, and carrier sustainability initiatives.
• Support broader sourcing and special projects outside logistics categories as business needs require.
• Leverage SAP, spend‑analytics tools, contract repositories, sourcing systems, PO systems, savings trackers, and logistics data platforms to drive insights and results.

Minimum Qualifications

• Minimum of 5+ years of strategic sourcing, procurement, logistics, transportation, freight forwarding, warehousing, distribution, or supply‑chain experience, including 3+ years leading global sourcing initiatives and category strategies.
• Bachelor’s Degree in Supply Chain, Business, or Engineering; MBA preferred.

Skills & Competencies

• Demonstrated ability to develop and execute global category strategies, lead complex sourcing initiatives, and deliver measurable savings, cost avoidance, service improvements, and working‑capital benefits.
• Deep understanding of logistics and distribution operations, transportation networks, warehousing processes, freight economics, and how logistics strategies influence cost, service, inventory performance, and customer satisfaction.
• Proven experience negotiating complex commercial agreements across parcel, 3PL, freight forwarding, air, ocean, truckload, LTL, warehousing, customs brokerage, and related logistics services.
• Strong knowledge of transportation markets, carrier pricing methodologies, logistics cost drivers, market indices, Incoterms, and global supply‑chain operations.
• Experience managing strategic supplier relationships, supplier‑performance programs, and executive‑level business reviews within a global environment.