Category Lead

Eaton’s AER ITD division is currently seeking a Category Lead.

**What you’ll do**:
Primary Function:

- The primary function of the role is to manage designated Direct Categories of Spend within NA region, ensuring an uninterrupted and timely supply at the optimum cost and quality that satisfies stakeholder requirements and company goals. This includes supplier sourcing, negotiations, contracting and supplier performance management. The position is responsible for the definition and deployment, in conjunction with GPO category managers and key stakeholders across ITD sites, of the Sourcing strategy for the designated CATEGORIES across NA.
- Essential Functions:
- Provides regional leadership, management and oversight for assigned CATEGORIES on a region wide (NA) basis.
- Under the leadership of the NA SCM Lead, in conjunction with respective key stakeholders as well as individual users at Plants, develop, align and deploy effective key commodity strategies for the related CATEGORIES, with accountability to positively impact associated annual commodity spend.
- Deliver an annual Cost Out into the businesses P&L & drive Cost Avoidance of inflationary and discretionary spending items (where appropriate), impacting Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) for assigned CATEGORIES, increasing leverage across a rationalized set of preferred supplier partners.
- Provide Subject Matter Expertise on category industry trends and best practices and assist regional operations in meeting compliance and regulatory items through leverage of professional associations, qualified suppliers and internal knowledge
- Responsible to define and document in GPS an Approved Supplier List as either ‘strategic’, ‘exit”’ or ‘To Be Right sized’, working collaboratively with each location in the Region to convert spend to either ‘strategic’ or ‘exit’ supply base. With this approach, create and leverage a rationalized supply base that covers the majority of spend and is managed at a strategic level in both organizations
- Support GPO Category Managers on a defined list of Strategic projects on behalf of ITD NA - Develop regional Category strategy, in support of global Strategies and in alignment with regional business requirements.
- Build and maintain internal relationship with Regional stakeholders at all levels to clearly understand and influence requirements for assigned CATEGORIES
- Lead the supplier market analysis and ensure supplier qualification for RFQ’s
- Lead supplier selection process and supplier negotiation, establishing and managing regional cross-functional/cross-business team
- Manage EATON supplier’s relationship for assigned CATEGORIES across NA and create long term supplier relationships to ensure deployment programs within cost, time, & quality requirements.
- Lead the Cost Out and Saving performance for assigned CATEGORIES across NA, identifying initiatives and directly managing Cost Out projects to fully maximize benefits
- Lead and conduct supplier performance reviews on agreed KPI’s and develop continuous improvement initiative and actions
- .. Model the Eaton ethical conduct policy, the Eaton Values and Philosophy, and comply with all other corporate, plant, and regulatory policies and regulations as applicable.

**#LI-MM3**

**Qualifications**:

- Basic qualifications:
- Minimum of 5 years in Procurement, preferably in manufacturing industry.
- Word, Excel, Powerpoint, ERP ( MfgPro / SAP)
- Efficient negotiator, great communication skills, service oriented (internal customer), recommendation capability, analytical and synthase skills; interpersonal skills
- Ability to work independently while having a close link with SCM team and the various internal support services (General Services, HR, Maintenance, IT, etc).
- Travel among between ITD sites in France required

Preferred:
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution
- Experience in buying different categories and surface treatment
- English is mandatory

**Additional Information**:
Travel 20%
USA Visa and Passport required

We are committed to ensuring equal employment opportunities for job applicants and employees. Our recruitment processes use balanced selection criteria and avoid unlawful discrimination against applicants on the basis of their age, colour, disability, marital status, national origin, gender, gender identity, genetic information, race or racial origin, religion, sexual orientation or any other status protected or required by law.