Category Manager

Johnson Controls is a global diversified technology and multi-industrial leader serving a wide range of customers in more than 150 countries. Our commitment to sustainability dates back to our roots in 1885, with the invention of the first electric room thermostat. We are committed to helping our customers win everywhere, every day and creating greater value for all of our stakeholders through our strategic focus on buildings.

What you will do

• Working closely with cross-functional teams, develop and lead implementation of global category procurement strategies for assigned Indirect Procurement MRO & Industrial Supplies category; key areas of focus include hand & power tools; janitorial supplies; electrical & lighting supplies; measuring & test equipment; personal protective equipment (PPE); MRO integrated supply and other indirect categories as assigned.
• Lead both traditional and non-traditional supplier procurement activities, ensuring timely execution and focusing on global solutions which improve services and reduce costs
• Facilitate supplier procurement process and negotiations relative to business requirements and cost, maximizing JCI’s leverage and negotiation position
• Lead supplier contracting negotiations and execution, collaborating with corporate legal for escalation of certain risk-related terms and conditions
• Identify, develop and maintain relationships with internal stakeholders to increase engagement and develop a robust procurement project pipeline across all business segments of manufacturing, corporate and service (branches)
• For each procurement project, ensure project alignment and drive collaborative procurement efforts with the necessary cross-functional counterparts and matrix teams (e.g. IT, Risk Management, HR, Compliance, Legal, Real Estate, Operations, EHS, etc.) to maximize transactional efficiency and mitigate potential risks
• Identify, develop and maintain relationships with key suppliers to understand the suppliers’ current services for the company as well as additional capabilities
• Gain a comprehensive understanding of business and functional strategic roadmaps and resulting business requirements, as related to assigned categories
• Drive cost out targets for the supply management organization; calculate and report savings
• Drive compliance of enterprise agreements
• Assist with key supplier issue resolution and risk mitigation, as required
• Maintain a comprehensive knowledge of marketplace, benchmarks and industry best practices for assigned categories
• Perform all duties within the Company's Code of Conduct
• Assume additional procurement category management responsibilities, as required

What we look for

• Bachelor's degree (B.S.) from four-year college or university is required
• Advanced degree in business, finance, and/or legal is highly desirable
• 8+ years related experience and/or training or equivalent combination of education and experience is required
• Significant negotiating experience is required
• Operational and procurement experience
• Prior contracting experience (negotiation, implementation, management of agreements) is required
• Fluency to speak and write in English

Preferred

• Extensive project management experience and/or PMP certification is preferred
• Operational and/or procurement experience in most if not all of the assigned Indirect Categories is strongly preferred

Leadership and Project Management Skills

• Ability to lead complex procurement events and demonstrated negotiation skills
• Ability to influence others and manage competing internal stakeholder priorities
• Ability to generate alternative solutions for consideration to increase total value to the organization while reducing cost and minimizing risk
• Ability to develop and communicate vision and strategic procurement initiatives, both verbally and in writing, to internal and external stakeholders
• Demonstrated project management capabilities to lead multiple and complex projects
• Demonstrated capability to translate strategies into executable implementation plans
• Ability to identify new procurement opportunities
• Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with diverse groups of people in a global, matrix organization
• Clear problem-solving skills
• Strong organizational and interpersonal skills
• Sound prioritization skills to balance multiple tasks simultaneously
• Comfort with ambiguity
• Ability to embrace change in the organization

Supply Market Knowledge and Indirect Procurement Knowledge

For most or all of the above-listed categories –

• In-depth knowledge of key industry drivers and dynamics,
• Understanding of categories and category-specific procurement processes/issues/strategies
• Understanding of current supplier markets, products, customer demands, and future trends
• In-depth knowledge of variety of procurement implementation approaches (e.g. RFX, e-auction)
• Strong contract development skills
• Supplier Management and Stakeholder Management Skills
• In-depth knowledge of pricing issues, service levels, and supplier contracts
• Ability to develop and maintain relationships with key suppliers/customers, understand supplier/customer organization and operations and identify new opportunities
• Ability to perform sustained supplier performance management and continuous improvement
• Strong verbal and written communication skills & ability to influence without formal authority
• Demonstrated presentation skills and ability to interact with all levels of the organization

Analytical Skills

• Strong financial analytical skills for conducting data analytics, cost modeling, business case development, reporting, and proactive interaction with Corporate Finance functional stakeholders
• Ability to effectively forecast impact of procurement initiatives with accuracy to P&L
• Ability to conduct bench-marking or other analysis to track global spend and savings
• Ability to think strategically about key procurement and financial issues and quantify the underlying implications
• Comprehension of company financials and implication on market power
• In-depth knowledge of Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint and Word

Johnson Controls is an equal employment opportunity and affirmative action employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, protected veteran status, status as a qualified individual with a disability, or any other characteristic protected by law. For more information, please view EEO is the Law. If you are an individual with a disability and you require an accommodation during the application process, please visit www.johnsoncontrols.com/tomorrowneedsyou.