Lead Category Manager – MRO Americas

About the role

The Lead Category Manager – MRO Americas is a hybrid position based in New Britain, CT, USA, Towson, MD, USA, and Valley City, OH, USA. Reporting to the Sr. Manager – MRO & Facilities, this role serves as a key member of the Global Indirect Supply Management team.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategic sourcing of MRO parts for SBD’s plants across Americas, supporting all business units.
• Develop and implement robust, category-specific sourcing strategies to drive supply base consolidation and improve procurement efficiency.
• Analyze current procurement and contractual situations, identifying opportunities for supplier rationalization and supply base consolidation.
• Collaborate with plant managers, site champions, and finance controllers to address data gaps and drive the Americas’ MRO category strategy, aligned with the 4S framework.
• Coordinate with global and regional MRO category leads to ensure alignment of sourcing strategies across all regions.
• Oversee Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) value creation through initiatives focused on productivity, quality, innovation, service excellence, risk management, and margin resiliency.
• Support and manage the MRO procurement needs for a manufacturing footprint of 30+ locations across three business units.
• Develop and implement global MRO category strategies in alignment with Americas’ business objectives.
• Drive year-over-year productivity improvements for a spend category ranging from $150M–$200M.
• Navigate multiple ERP and procurement systems to establish and analyze spend baselines.
• Consolidate a supply base of 100+ suppliers to a select pool of preferred vendors by collecting data, bundling purchases, and driving consolidation through effective contract management.
• Select suppliers and lead negotiations within the North America region to secure optimal agreements.
• Drive the creation and maintenance of visual management dashboards for the North America Specialty MRO space.
• Build sustainable business partnerships with internal stakeholders and strategic suppliers to support long-term category goals.
• Determine, oversee, and perform negotiations and contract management for large-scale, enterprise-wide volume purchase agreements.
• Deliver TCO value to the organization through productivity gains, working capital improvements, synergy realization, risk reduction, and enhanced supplier lead times.
• Develop and foster strategic supplier relationships that deliver cost reduction, supply assurance, quality improvement, and innovation.
• Ensure compliance with Global Supply Management (GSM) policies, procedures, and Delegation of Authority (DoA) requirements.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in business, engineering, or related field.
• 5-12 years of strategic sourcing experience, with a proven track record of driving change in matrixed organizations.
• 3-5+ years of direct experience in MRO (Maintenance, Repair, Operations, including Chemicals, Gases, Uniforms, Lubricants, Repairs, etc.) category management.
• Demonstrated ability to develop, sell, and implement category strategies within large, matrixed environments.
• Skilled in managing complex commercial and contractual negotiations.
• Experience driving change at the plant level, particularly within decentralized operational models (preferred).
• Strong balance of strategic and operational capabilities, including global sourcing, supplier management, and commodity risk management.
• Global mindset with experience working in international and multi-cultural matrix environments.
• Proficient in advanced sourcing techniques, supplier management, SKU rationalization, and value engineering.
• Comfortable working in a high-paced environment, with strong project management and execution skills.
• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, able to engage effectively with C-level, VP, and Director stakeholders.
• Able to influence without direct authority and navigate conflicts constructively to achieve positive outcomes.
• Willing and able to travel up to 30% of the time.

Qualifications

• Global mindset with experience working in international and multi-cultural matrix environments.
• Strong balance of strategic and operational capabilities, including global sourcing, supplier management, and commodity risk management.
• Proficient in advanced sourcing techniques, supplier management, SKU rationalization, and value engineering.
• Comfortable working in a high-paced environment, with strong project management and execution skills.
• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, able to engage effectively with C-level, VP, and Director stakeholders.
• Able to influence without direct authority and navigate conflicts constructively to achieve positive outcomes.
• Willing and able to travel up to 30% of the time.

Skills

• Strategic sourcing and category management expertise.
• Supplier management and negotiation skills.
• Project management and execution skills.
• Interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability to work in a high-paced environment.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, life, vision, disability, 401(k), Employee Stock Purchase Plan, paid time off, and tuition reimbursement.
• Discounts on Stanley Black & Decker tools and other partner programs.

Pay

The salary range for this position is $77,600.00 - $124,900.00. The salary offered within the range may vary depending on multiple factors including job level, geographic location, job-related knowledge, skills, qualifications, experience and in compliance with local wage requirements.

Schedule

This is a hybrid position, combining remote and in-office work.