Category Leader

Kohler is seeking a Category Leader, MRO to own strategy and sourcing for maintenance, repair, and operations across our manufacturing network. You will analyze spend, build category roadmaps, and lead sourcing events to optimize total cost, reliability, and service. Partnering with plant, maintenance, engineering, and finance teams, you will standardize materials, consolidate suppliers, and drive inventory and process improvements. In Kohler's collaborative, innovation-focused culture, you will help advance sustainable, high-performing operations while growing your procurement and leadership skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute MRO category strategies to support manufacturing operations
• Source, evaluate, and negotiate with MRO suppliers to improve cost, quality, and service
• Analyze spend data to identify savings, standardization, and consolidation opportunities
• Collaborate with plant, maintenance, and engineering teams to align MRO needs and specifications
• Manage supplier performance, contracts, and KPIs to ensure reliability and compliance
• Drive continuous improvement, inventory optimization, and risk mitigation for MROSupport implementation of digital procurement tools and data-driven decision making
• Prepare and present category plans, results, and recommendations to leadership

Required Skills

• Strategic sourcing
• Category management
• MRO procurement
• Spend analysis and cost modeling
• Contract negotiation and supplier management
• Manufacturing operations familiarity
• Inventory optimization
• Data analysis and Excel/analytics tools
• ERP/procurement systems (e.g., SAP/Oracle/Ariba)
• Continuous improvement/Lean principles