Category Manager-Logistics Procurement
About The Position
Trane Technologies is hiring an International Logistics Procurement Category Manager in Davidson, North Carolina. This Procurement team role owns the strategy, supply base, and performance of the International Logistics category, while monitoring market trends and conditions. The role develops category and carrier strategies and implements transportation initiatives to secure capacity, improve service, reduce costs, and advance sustainability and diversity solutions. The Category Manager leads sourcing activities, supplier business reviews, cross-functional project implementation, and performance management for contracted providers. The role partners with International Operations, overseas regional teams, SBUs, and other business partners to manage capacity, forecasts, service levels, operating costs, corrective actions, spend forecasts, and actuals. The position is onsite Monday through Thursday, with the option to choose a work location on Fridays based on work needs, and may require travel up to 10%.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Logistics, Supply Chain, or Business (BA/BS/ME stated).
- At least 7 years of transportation-industry experience, including exposure to carrier management, carrier negotiation, and carrier operations for international modes.
- Demonstrated success with 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 running large, complex cross-functional sourcing (bid) projects.
- Ability to travel up to 10%.
- Strong business and financial acumen, deep analytical skills, and ability to lead, motivate, and set clear expectations with suppliers and vendors.
- Strategic thinking and demonstrated experience driving strategies.
- Strong customer-service orientation and leadership skills to thrive in a team environment.
- Interpersonal skills to interact with and influence departments across the organization and multiple management levels.
- Exceptional problem-solving skills; flexibility, decisiveness, and proactive problem solving.
- Strong communication and organizational skills, including the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
- Comfort managing ambiguity, taking considered risks, and bringing work to completion.
- Ability to work well in a high-pressure, fast-paced environment.
- Expertise with Microsoft Office tools, including data analysis using MS Excel.
Nice To Haves
- Experience with sourcing or rate-management TMS platforms, 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 claims, reduce costs, and advance sustainability and diversity solutions.
- Lead sourcing activities within assigned modes, including improving bid schedules, driving continuous improvement, and rationalizing the supply base.
- Lead Business Review Meetings with selected partners and evaluate business needs against supplier performance.
- Work with cross-functional teams to develop and execute project implementation plans for capacity, productivity, and continuous improvement projects within committed timelines.
- Manage active projects by updating status, removing roadblocks, escalating issues, and investigating, coordinating, and communicating project changes.
- Create and deliver presentations for project approvals and recurring 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 manage escalations and crisis situations proactively.
- Manage capacity commitments for service providers, allowing adequate lead time to develop 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 relevant 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, reconciling discrepancies between the spend plan and actuals.
Benefits
- Health insurance for the employee and family, effective on day one.
- Holistic wellness programs with incentives.
- Fertility coverage and adoption/surrogacy assistance.
- Paid time off, including up to 15 vacation days, paid holidays, sick leave, and options supporting volunteer and parental leave.
- 401(k) match.
- Educational and training opportunities through company programs.
- Tuition assistance and student debt support.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
