Category Manager

At Trane TechnologiesTM and through our businesses including Trane® and Thermo King®, we create innovative climate solutions for buildings, homes, and transportation that challenge what’s possible for a sustainable world. We're a team that dares to look at the world's challenges and see impactful possibilities. We believe in a better future when we uplift others and enable our people to thrive at work and at home. We boldly go.

What’s in it for you:

Be a part of our mission! As a world leader in creating comfortable, sustainable, and efficient environments, it’s our responsibility to put the planet first. For us at Trane Technologies, sustainability is not just how we do business—it is our business. Do you dare to look at the world's challenges and see impactful possibilities? Do you want to contribute to making a better future? If the answer is yes, we invite you to consider joining us in boldly challenging what’s possible for a sustainable world.

Thrive at work and at home:

• Benefits kick in on DAY ONE for you and your family, including health insurance and holistic wellness programs that include generous incentives – WE DARE TO CARE!
• Family building benefits include fertility coverage and adoption/surrogacy assistance.
• 401K match up to 6%, plus an additional 2% core contribution = up to 8% company contribution.
• Paid time off, including in support of volunteer and parental leave needs.
• Educational and training opportunities through company programs along with tuition assistance and student debt support.
• Learn more about our benefits here!

Where is the work:

Due to the nature of this role, this position has been designated as a Hybrid work schedule, with work performed onsite 3 days each week. Approved work locations: Davidson,NC (HQ); Columbia, SC; Greenville, SC; Newberry, SC; Vidalia, GA; Clarksville, TN; Ft. Smith, AR; Lynn Haven, FL; Tyler, TX; Waco, TX; Rushville, IN; Noblesville, IN; Bloomington, MN; St. Paul, MN; Pueblo, CO; Hastings, NE; Grand Rapids, MI; Trenton, NJ

What you will do:

Trane Technologies is hiring a Category Manager to directly manage the Electric Component category focused on Tier 2 Manufacturers and the Distribution Network. This is a critical role on our Procurement team, with a large, complex scope of responsibilities within the assigned category. We are looking for a Subject Matter Expert (SME) to own the space, strategy, supply base, and performance, and stay current on market trends and conditions in this category.

• Distributors and Tier 2 Manufacturers of Electrical Components and/or Assemblies
• Circuit Breakers
• Disconnect Switches
• Contactors
• Soft Starters
• Relays / Timers / Fuses
• Automation / Controls / HMI
• Batteries / Battery Chargers
• Power Electronics / Power Supplies / Transformers / Power Conversion / Filtration
• Electrical Enclosures / Thermal Management / Lighting / Wire Management
• Panels/Box Builds: Contract Design Services / Contract Manufacturing (UL)
• Manage components within the Electrical Components category.
• Identify, engage and align with internal stakeholders to capture category requirements and ensure supplier qualification and quality;
• Partner with business unit Procurement teams to efficiently transition suppliers as needed; Support region/sector New Product Development (NPD) Procurement teams through preferred supplier programs.
• Responsible for developing and executing detailed category strategy, expanding the Preferred Supplier Program and segmentation based on the business needs and effective procurement principles.
• Assess opportunities for commodity including spend segmentation, commodity maturity, cost drivers, and supply market analysis
• Negotiations: Manage contract lifecycle and compliance, ensure supply continuity and deliver best total value through RFx activities to execute supplier selection and negotiation.
• Risk Management: Actively monitor and mitigate supplier risk including financial, capacity, quality and compliance.
• Cost Management: Responsible for delivering category productivity through price, value analysis (VA) or continuous improvement projects.
• Supplier Management: Oversee Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) and regular supplier reviews for all strategic suppliers within category to meet program Quality/Cost/Delivery targets.
• Scribe for all quarterly reviews and key supplier meetings, while ensuring creation of supplier profiles for all SRM suppliers.
• Develop sourcing strategy for commodity detailing projects, sourcing levers, timing, resources, and expected benefits.
• Responsible for commodity continuity of supply - engage with plants to efficiently resolve escalated issues and formally manage and secure supplier capacity.

What you will bring:

• Bachelor’s Degree required.
• 5 years of procurement, strategic sourcing, engineering design or applications engineering experience with large-scale, complex, and/or regional/global categories of spend.
• Demonstrated success in assessing, negotiating and managing vendors.
• Collaborative, facilitation, consultation and conflict resolution skills; you will be a trusted business partner and engage both internal and external stakeholders/customers, and we are seeking the ability to collaborate and influence within a highly matrixed environment.
• Professional communication; both verbal and written are required.
• Ability to travel as needed.
• Experience or background in electrical design, application/sales engineering or procurement of electrical systems is preferred (Relevant Industry Experience: HVAC, Gensets, Compressors, Pumps, Factory Automation, Building Control Systems; Automotive/Transportation EV, Off-highway Transportation, Marine Electronics, Refrigeration, Panel Design/Building, Applications Engineering, Electrical Component Sales/Distribution, Power Electronics)