Procurement Category Manager - MRO

Summary Description

The Category Manager MRO & Indirect Procurement is responsible for developing and executing sourcing strategies for Maintenance, Repair & Operations (MRO), industrial services, utilities, facilities, and selected indirect spend categories across Refresco’s North American manufacturing network. This role partners closely with Operations, Engineering, Maintenance to improve plant performance, reduce downtime, optimize inventory, and deliver sustainable cost savings. The successful candidate will lead supplier negotiations, strategic sourcing initiatives, national agreements, and category management programs that directly support manufacturing operations.

• MRO Category Management
  • Develop sourcing strategies for MRO categories including industrial supplies, bearings, motors, power transmission, electrical components, automation, pneumatics, hydraulics, conveyors components, OEM spare parts, and maintenance services
  • Lead supplier consolidation and national account programs
  • Partner with Maintenance and continuous improvement teams to optimize storeroom inventory and spare parts management
  • Support plant reliability initiatives by improving supplier performance and reducing lead times
  • Develop and implement Vendor Managed inventory (VMI) and inventory optimization programs
  • Identify opportunities to reduce emergency purchases and improve planned maintenance sourcing
• Categories Managed
  • Industrial Supplies
  • Bearings & Power Transmission
  • Motors & Drives
  • Electrical Components
  • Automation & Controls
  • Conveyors Components
  • Maintenance services
• Supplier Management
  • Identify, evaluate, and onboard suppliers to ensure a competitive supplier landscape
  • Lead contract negotiations, RFx processes, and supplier evaluations
  • Manage ongoing supplier relationships to ensure compliance, performance, and continuous improvement
  • Develop and monitor supplier KPIs and scorecards
• Cross-Functional Collaboration
  • Partner with internal stakeholders (HR, Operations, Engineers, Legal, etc.) to understand business needs and define sourcing requirements
  • Serve as the primary Procurement advisor to internal teams on market insights, contract risk, and sourcing best practices
• Cost Optimization & Process Improvement
  • Deliver year-over-year cost savings through strategic sourcing and total cost of ownership (TCO) methodologies
  • Identify opportunities to streamline procurement processes, automate workflows, and increase efficiency
  • Ensure compliance with procurement policies, approval workflows, and governance procedures
• Risk & Compliance
  • Evaluate and mitigate supplier risks, including financial, operational, compliance, and ESG considerations
  • Maintain accurate documentation, contracts, and procurement records
  • Support audits, contract renewals, and supplier compliance initiatives

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain, Finance, or related field
• 5+ years of experience in sourcing MRO Categories within a manufacturing environment
• Experience supporting maintenance and reliability organizations
• Experience negotiating agreements with industrial distributors and OEM suppliers
• Experience working in food, beverage, consumer products, packaging, chemical, pharmaceutical, or industrial manufacturing environments
• Proficiency in procurement systems (Coupa, SAP Ariba, Oracle) and MS Office/Excel
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills

• Strategic thinking & business acumen
• Strong negotiation and influencing skills
• Project management and prioritization
• Analytical problem-solving
• Relationship-building and collaboration
• Results-oriented and continuous improvement mindset

• Minimum required
  • Bachelor's Degree in Business, Engineering, or other related technical field
  • 5+ years of experience in sourcing MRO procurement or Indirect sourcing
• Must be permanently authorized to work in the United States now and in the future without sponsorship

• Physical Demands:
  Continuously sitting for prolonged periods; job is administrative in nature
• Visual/Sensory:
  Requires attention to detail, focusing on one or two senses at a time
• Work Environment:
  Fast paced, requiring ability to remain focused under…