Category Lead, Capital Equipment; CAPEX

This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, which manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for a Category Lead, Capital Equipment (CAPEX) based in Canada.

The Category Lead, Capital Equipment will shape and execute global sourcing strategies for capital equipment and technology investments across the organization. This strategic procurement role focuses on securing high-performance, cost-effective, and scalable assets that support engineering, manufacturing, laboratory operations, and product development. You will lead complex sourcing initiatives, negotiate commercial agreements, and build long-term partnerships with key suppliers. Working closely with Engineering, Operations, Manufacturing, Finance, and other stakeholders, you will align procurement decisions with business priorities and technology roadmaps.

You will also drive cost optimization, manage supplier and supply chain risks, and improve asset lifecycle performance. This is an opportunity to influence significant capital investments while contributing to operational efficiency, innovation, and sustainable business growth.

• Develop and execute multi-year category strategies aligned with business objectives, technology roadmaps, manufacturing requirements, and capital investment plans.
• Analyze spending patterns, market intelligence, supplier capabilities, and industry trends to identify sourcing opportunities and long-term value creation.
• Partner with Engineering, Product Development, Global Operations, Manufacturing, and Finance to align equipment sourcing decisions with organizational priorities.
• Support capital planning and budgeting through cost forecasting, market insights, lead-time analysis, and strategic sourcing recommendations.
• Build category roadmaps that balance cost, capability, innovation, risk, and scalability.
• Lead end-to-end strategic sourcing processes, including RFIs, RFQs, RFPs, supplier evaluations, bid analysis, negotiations, supplier selection, and contract awards.
• Develop commercial strategies that optimize cost, quality, service, delivery performance, and long-term supplier relationships.
• Negotiate complex commercial agreements, including master purchase agreements, statements of work, maintenance agreements, support contracts, warranties, service-level agreements, leasing arrangements, and other supplier commitments.
• Apply total cost of ownership (TCO), should-cost analysis, and value engineering principles to guide sourcing and investment decisions.
• Deliver savings, cost avoidance, working capital improvements, and productivity initiatives across assigned categories.
• Establish preferred supplier frameworks and standardization strategies to maximize procurement leverage and operational efficiency.
• Build and maintain strategic relationships with equipment manufacturers, technology providers, and service partners.
• Implement supplier relationship management practices, including business reviews, performance scorecards, continuous improvement initiatives, and executive-level engagement.
• Monitor supplier performance across cost, quality, reliability, responsiveness, innovation, and service metrics, addressing issues and coordinating corrective actions when needed.
• Collaborate with suppliers to identify innovation and technology advancement opportunities that create business value.
• Engage Engineering and Operations teams early in project life cycles to develop sourcing strategies and equipment specifications.
• Support new product introductions, manufacturing readiness, laboratory expansion, automation initiatives, and other strategic investments.
• Provide commercial expertise for capital business cases, investment approvals, and vendor selection activities.
• Work with Finance to monitor capital expenditures, forecast spending, and maintain alignment with approved budgets.
• Ensure compliance with procurement policies, contractual obligations, corporate governance, and applicable regulatory requirements.
• Identify and mitigate commercial, supplier, technology, capacity, and supply chain risks while developing strategies that strengthen business continuity and reduce dependency risks.
• Support asset lifecycle management, including equipment upgrades, service support transitions, end-of-life planning, redeployment, and optimization.
• Identify opportunities to improve equipment utilization, standardization, and lifecycle cost performance across global operations.
• Use spend analytics, supplier benchmarking, market…