Category Manager (Direct Procurement)

Hitachi•Hagerstown, MD

22h•$109,682 - $164,523•Onsite

About The Position

Hitachi Rail is seeking an enthusiastic and self-motivated Category Manager (Direct Procurement) to support North American Vehicle projects in Hagerstown, Maryland. The role develops category strategies, manages supplier performance, negotiates commercial agreements, and helps ensure a reliable supply chain that supports business objectives and project delivery commitments. The position develops and executes category strategies for assigned Class A categories across projects and bids, from request for quotation through contract closure. It leads sourcing and negotiation activities, works with internal stakeholders to assess supplier bids, manages contractual and commercial data, identifies supply risks, and monitors category financial performance. The role requires coordination across functions and management of multiple categories and projects. The position is onsite and requires 20% domestic and international travel. The salary range is $109,682 to $164,523 per year. Final pay depends on experience, skillset, ability level, internal equity, and location. The role is subject to pre-employment and ongoing substance screening as required for safety-sensitive positions.

Requirements

8–10 years of procurement experience in the manufacturing industry.
University degree in Science, Engineering, or Economics, or equivalent technical background.
Strong knowledge of mechanical and electrical subsystems, cost breakdowns, and price breakdowns.
Experience negotiating complex agreements across multiple categories.
Ability to manage multiple categories and projects simultaneously.
Excellent communication skills, including the ability to present data concisely and with appropriate detail.
Experience with Microsoft Office, including advanced Excel skills, SAP, and e-auctions.
Strong commercial and cost acumen.
Experience drafting and negotiating contract agreements.
Knowledge of statutory policies and organizational processes.
Strategic sourcing skills.
Contract negotiation skills.
Supplier relationship management skills.
Cost modeling and should-cost analysis skills.
Project procurement planning skills.
Risk management skills.
Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.
Advanced Excel, Power BI, and ERP proficiency.
Willingness to travel 20% domestically and internationally.

Nice To Haves

Relevant experience in transit railway or heavy industrial manufacturing.
Experience procuring metallic, mechanical, or electrical subsystems.
Exposure to contract law.
Experience in rolling stock subsystem procurement.

Responsibilities

Develop and execute regional category strategies for Class A subsystems, aligned with project-specific requirements.
Lead request-for-quotation activities for assigned projects and negotiate and execute agreements and contracts on time for complex electromechanical categories.
Coordinate with Engineering, Quality, Project, and other internal functions to evaluate supplier bids.
Formalize supplier selection through bid evaluations covering commercial, legal, technical, and warranty considerations.
Review and revise contract terms and conditions to address supplier conflicts, including payment terms, warranty, liquidated damages, RAMS variation, escalation, and claims.
Maintain contract data from initial negotiation through termination in the contract management tool (Jaggaer/ETQ), and maintain contract commercial conditions in SAP.
Identify supply chain risks related to capacity, supplier financial health, geopolitical factors, and material shortages.
Manage relationships with strategic suppliers, conduct supplier performance reviews, and recommend and implement improvements.
Initiate supplier claims for non-performance against contractual terms and conditions.
Monitor and control procurement risks for assigned local procurement activities.
Monitor and report economic and financial figures, including budgeted versus actual savings, for each assigned category.