Global Category Manager

About the Role

The Global Category Manager role sits within the Global Products and Solutions business unit as part of the Direct Materials Procurement Category team. This team partners with stakeholders across the organization to develop global sourcing strategies, establish a best‑in‑class sourcing footprint, and act as a Center of Excellence for their categories. The manager supports new product development and helps the business meet its objectives by aligning commodity strategies with product business units. Focusing on packaging, labels, literature, adhesives, paints and coatings, the manager oversees the macro‑category spend budget and associated savings. They develop, communicate, and implement comprehensive category strategies while navigating ambiguity and making decisions with limited data. Strong project management, organization, and time‑management skills enable them to juggle multiple priorities, and they foster teamwork through cooperative leadership and indirect people‑management. Key responsibilities include developing detailed category strategies, mentoring Product Business Unit Buyers, and ensuring alignment with business goals. The manager leads supplier negotiations, selection, and contract lifecycle management, and acts as a Center of Excellence by staying current on industry trends and innovations. They maintain continuity of supply, mitigate risks, project‑manage quality and delivery issues, and support make‑vs‑buy decisions to meet profit‑plan targets. Monthly or quarterly category reviews are conducted with global and regional teams to drive continuous improvement. • Develop and implement global category strategies for packaging, labels, literature, adhesives, paints, and coatings. • Mentor and lead Product Business Unit Buyers to drive sourcing, supplier management, and cost‑saving initiatives. • Lead supplier negotiations, selection, and contract lifecycle management. • Ensure continuity of supply and mitigate risks across the global supply base. • Project‑manage quality, delivery, and capacity issues with plants and resolve escalations. • Support make‑vs‑buy decisions and achieve profit‑plan targets (cost savings, raw‑material economics, payment terms, etc.). • Conduct monthly/quarterly category reviews with global teams and regional stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

• ▸category strategy
• ▸supplier negotiation
• ▸contract management
• ▸supply continuity
• ▸risk mitigation
• ▸make‑vs‑buy

What You Bring

Required qualifications are a bachelor’s degree plus a minimum of five years in strategic sourcing with extensive global experience. Candidates must possess strong negotiation, supplier relationship, and indirect people‑management skills, as well as the ability to influence senior leadership across regions. Proficiency in purchasing tools, advanced Excel, and ERP systems such as Oracle or SAP is essential, along with strong costing and analytical abilities. Travel up to 20% domestically and internationally may be required. • Bachelor’s degree required; minimum 5 years in strategic sourcing with extensive global experience. • Strong negotiation, supplier relationship, and indirect people‑management skills. • Proficiency with purchasing tools, advanced Excel, and ERP systems (Oracle/SAP). • Ability to travel up to 20% domestically and internationally.

Requirements

• ▸bachelor's
• ▸strategic sourcing
• ▸negotiation
• ▸excel
• ▸sap
• ▸travel

Benefits

Johnson Controls has been protecting the environment since inventing the electric thermostat in 1885, driving energy efficiency across the globe. Today, its products and services help customers and communities consume less energy and conserve resources. The company is a global, innovative industry leader ranked #70 on Fortune’s most admired list, embraces diversity, and offers rapid growth opportunities. Employees enjoy great benefits such as healthcare wellness discounts, a strong 401k match, company‑funded retirement, vacation, sick time, floating holidays and national holidays. The salary range for this position is $100,000‑$150,000, determined by education, experience, and market data, and includes a competitive benefits package. Johnson Controls may use AI‑assisted tools during the hiring process, but final decisions are made by human reviewers. The company is an equal employment opportunity and affirmative‑action employer, offering accommodations for candidates with disabilities. • Competitive salary $100k‑$150k, based on experience and market data. • Comprehensive benefits: health wellness discounts, 401k match, company‑funded retirement, paid vacation, sick time, floating and national holidays. • Commitment to diversity, growth opportunities, and an inclusive workplace.

Work Environment

Office Full-Time