Category Manager-Logistics Procurement

Trane Technologies•Davidson, NC

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

Trane Technologies is hiring an International Logistics Procurement Category Manager for its Procurement team in Davidson, North Carolina. This role owns the International Logistics category, including its strategy, supply base, and performance, and keeps current with relevant market trends and conditions. The position develops international logistics category and carrier strategies and implements transportation initiatives to secure capacity, improve service and damage-claim performance, reduce costs, and advance sustainability and diversity solutions. The Category Manager leads sourcing activities and cross-functional projects, manages supplier and carrier performance, and works with International Operations, overseas regional teams, SBUs, and other business partners. The role also manages capacity commitments, contingency planning, spend forecasts and reporting, and category performance analysis. The work arrangement is onsite Monday through Thursday; on Fridays, employees may choose their work location based on work needs. Travel of up to 10% is required.

Requirements

Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, or ME degree in Logistics, Supply Chain, or Business.
At least 7 years of transportation-industry experience, including exposure to carrier management, carrier negotiation, and carrier operations for international modes.
Demonstrated success in transformation change management, structured problem solving, and process thinking.
Experience working with international teams across multiple geographic regions.
Demonstrated experience managing and supervising suppliers or service providers.
Experience negotiating supplier contracts and managing their execution.
Experience leading large, complex, cross-functional sourcing or bid projects.
Ability to travel up to 10%.
Strong business and financial acumen, deep analytical skills, and the ability to lead, motivate, and set clear expectations with suppliers and vendors.
Strategic thinking and demonstrated experience driving strategies.
Strong customer-service orientation, leadership, interpersonal, influencing, problem-solving, communication, and organizational skills.
Ability to manage multiple priorities, work in ambiguous and high-pressure environments, take smart risks, and be flexible, decisive, and proactive.
Expertise with Microsoft Office tools, including data analysis using Microsoft Excel.

Nice To Haves

Experience with sourcing or rate-management transportation management systems, such as Transporeon, E2Open, or P44.
Foreign-language proficiency, such as Spanish or Mandarin.

Responsibilities

Develop category and carrier strategies and implement aligned transportation initiatives to secure capacity, improve on-time service and damage-claim performance, reduce costs, and advance sustainability and diversity solutions.
Lead sourcing activities within assigned transportation modes, including bid-schedule improvements, continuous improvement initiatives, and supply-base rationalization.
Lead Business Review Meetings with selected partners and evaluate business needs against supplier performance.
Work with cross-functional teams to build and execute implementation plans for capacity, productivity, and continuous improvement projects within committed timelines.
Manage active projects by updating status, removing roadblocks, escalating issues, investigating and communicating project changes, and creating and presenting project approvals and status updates.
Partner with International Operations and overseas regional teams to track contracted-provider performance and ensure timely resolution of performance issues.
Develop contingency plans and escalation approaches for crisis situations.
Manage service-provider capacity commitments, allowing adequate lead time for surge-capacity plans, particularly during peak seasons.
Partner with SBUs, Regions, and International Operations to review and update volume forecasts and manage exceptions.
Analyze modal and carrier spend and performance to benchmark service standards and identify applicable trends.
Ensure contracted service-level agreements and budgeted operating costs are met.
Collaborate with business partners, including International Operations, to develop corrective action plans addressing performance gaps.
Manage category spend forecasting and actuals reporting, including reconciling discrepancies between the spend plan and actuals.