VP of Category Management and Procurement

RS Group•Richland Hills, TX

38d•Hybrid

About The Position

This role will serve as the strategic owner of Category Management and Supplier Relationship Management for RS Americas, with a mandate to design and build a high‑performing direct procurement function that enhances cost control, drives profitability, and strengthens our competitive position. The leader in this role will shape and execute the long‑term supplier and category strategy, blending deep relationship management with operational rigor to ensure consistent delivery of business outcomes. Success requires strong cross‑functional leadership, the ability to influence at all levels, and a disciplined approach to supplier performance, sourcing strategy, and commercial execution. This position will be accountable for developing a cohesive supplier ecosystem, optimizing category performance, and ensuring alignment across commercial, operations, finance, and supply chain teams to bring our strategy to life.

Requirements

15+ years of progressive leadership experience in procurement, category management, or related disciplines.
10+ years leading multi‑disciplinary teams in complex, matrixed environments.
Proven leadership in procurement, or category management within a distributor, manufacturer, or large retailer.
Deep product knowledge in industrial automation, controls and electrical components (e.g., Siemens, Schneider, Phoenix Contact, ABB, Eaton, etc.)
Demonstrated success improving optimizing SKU portfolios.
Demonstrated success expanding product portfolios or managing category growth in industrial segments.
Strong analytical capability with experience in forecasting, data modelling, and financial analysis.
Experience building or transforming a procurement function, including cost negotiations and supplier management.
Ability to influence cross‑functionally and drive alignment across commercial and operational teams.
Strong understanding of end‑to‑end cost structures, including freight, tariffs, rebates, and margin levers.
Leadership experience managing teams across planning, analytics procurement, or product management
Bachelor’s degree in Business, Industrial distribution, or a related field; or equivalent practical experience
Strategic thinker who can translate data into action, and action into measurable business outcomes.
Deep understanding of end‑to‑end cost structures, including freight, tariffs, rebates, supplier terms, and margin levers.
Demonstrated ability to build high‑performing teams, develop talent, and lead through change.
Strong operational rigor with a bias for execution, accountability, and continuous improvement.
Ability to operate effectively in a fast‑paced, growth‑oriented environment with competing priorities.

Responsibilities

Build and lead a direct procurement organization responsible for sourcing, cost negotiations, supplier performance management, and end‑to‑end cost transparency.
Develop category strategies that reduce cost‑to‑serve, improve customer experience and overall solution flexibility.
Implement standardized procurement processes, cost modelling, review and strategy of cost increase review process, and supplier scorecards.
Partner with Finance to ensure full visibility to landed cost, rebates, and margin impacts from ship & debit functions.
Strengthen supplier partnerships through structured business reviews, performance metrics, and long term strategic planning.
Collaborate with Sales, Pricing, Product Management, Operations, and Finance to align inventory, pricing, and procurement decisions with commercial strategy.
Lead root‑cause analysis and corrective action plans for supply chain bottlenecks, service failures, or cost variances.
Drive a culture of continuous improvement, data‑driven decision making, and cross‑functional accountability.
Serve as a key advisor to the SVP, Product & Supply Chain on inventory, supplier strategy, and profitability initiatives.
Improve supplier collaboration through S&OP, and shared forecasting processes.
Ensure operational readiness for new product introductions, supplier transitions, and category expansions.