Senior Manager Category Management - Maintenance Repair and Operations (MRO), Fleet, Real Estate and Utilities

POSITION SUMMARY

Senior Manager, Category Management for Maintenance Repair and Operations (MRO), Fleet, Real Estate and Utilities is responsible for overseeing all aspects of negotiation, acquisition, and management of goods and services critical to Vertiv's manufacturing operations, facility infrastructure, and mobile asset base. This strategic role encompasses industrial MRO supplies, plant maintenance services, fleet management, corporate and manufacturing real estate, facilities management, and utilities procurement across all Vertiv regions.

This role is essential for optimising Vertiv's indirect supply base — ensuring the organisation secures high-quality, cost-effective goods and services that maintain operational continuity, minimise downtime, and align with business objectives. This role requires strong leadership capabilities to drive the execution of global strategies and set regional direction in collaboration with global procurement leadership. Additionally, this role will play a key role in fostering high-performing teams and ensuring alignment between procurement initiatives and overall business goals, making them a pivotal asset in our organisational success.

The ideal candidate will develop and implement category strategies that meet the diverse needs of business partners across the enterprise, while effectively managing a supply base that drives growth, operational resilience, and profitability across all Vertiv regions. They must possess extensive experience in MRO, facilities, fleet, and real estate procurement within a manufacturing environment, demonstrating a proven track record of delivering global category strategies that enhance cost efficiencies, strengthen supplier relationships, and drive standardisation across a complex multi-site footprint.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategic Procurement: Collaborate closely with Vertiv business leaders to identify and source partners for MRO supplies, fleet services, real estate, facilities management, and utilities — ensuring alignment with organisational objectives and operational continuity requirements.

Partner Compliance: Work with business units to enforce compliance with health and safety regulations, environmental standards, and data protection measures across all MRO, fleet, real estate, facilities management, and utilities partnerships.

Supplier Programme Management: Oversee the preferred supplier programme for MRO, fleet, real estate, facilities management, and utilities categories, developing tailored plans for each partner to ensure business continuity, optimal performance, and competitive pricing.

Cross-Functional Leadership: Lead cross-functional teams in analysing historical spend data, conducting market research, and employing cost modelling techniques to uncover high-value opportunities that drive innovation, operational efficiency, and risk mitigation across the portfolio.

Cost Modelling: Establish comprehensive total cost of ownership models for key categories — including lifecycle costing for fleet assets, occupancy cost benchmarking for real estate, and consumption-based modelling for utilities — ensuring alignment with stakeholder needs and procurement strategies.

Sourcing Strategy Development: Create and implement effective sourcing, negotiation, and contracting strategies — including multi-year service agreements, lease structures, and volume consolidation programmes — to achieve desired outcomes consistent with global indirect procurement category strategies.

MRO Strategy: Formulate and execute a robust procurement strategy for industrial MRO supplies and plant maintenance services, driving standardisation of parts catalogues, reducing tail spend, and optimising inventory holding costs across manufacturing sites.

Fleet Management: Develop and implement a global fleet procurement strategy encompassing vehicle acquisition, leasing, telematics, fuel management, and end-of-life disposal — ensuring cost efficiency, compliance, and sustainability targets are met.

Real Estate Procurement: Lead the procurement of corporate and manufacturing real estate services — including lease negotiations, fit-out management, property management, and facilities maintenance — in collaboration with the Real Estate function.

Facilities Management: Formulate and execute a robust procurement strategy for industrial facilities management supplies and plant maintenance services, driving standardization of suppliers, reducing tail spend, and optimizing economies of scale.

Utilities Management: Oversee the strategic procurement of energy, water, and waste management services across all Vertiv sites, driving sustainability initiatives and cost optimisation through demand management and market timing strategies.

Supplier Relationship Management: Identify, evaluate, and cultivate strategic partnerships with key suppliers, ensuring high-quality, reliable, and competitively priced goods and services across all categories.

Cost Efficiency Initiatives: Spearhead cost reduction initiatives and value analysis processes to optimise the total cost of ownership and minimise operational expenditure budgets.

Risk Management: Conduct in-depth market analyses and risk assessments to proactively mitigate supply chain disruptions, ensure regulatory compliance, and maintain operational continuity across all sites.

Collaboration: Partner with operations, engineering, EHS, finance, and facilities teams to understand site requirements, ensuring seamless alignment on procurement timelines, specifications, and service levels.

Standardisation: Standardise tools, processes, and contracting frameworks across all MRO, fleet, real estate, facilities management, and utilities categories — including catalogue management systems, lease administration platforms, and energy management tools.

Team Development: Mentor and lead a high-performing procurement team, fostering a culture of continuous improvement, accountability, and professional growth.

Performance Measurement: Establish and track key performance indicators (KPIs) to evaluate procurement effectiveness, supplier performance, and operational outcomes across all categories.

Reporting: Prepare and present comprehensive reports to senior management on procurement performance, trends, and strategic insights to inform decision-making.

Education

Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Engineering, Facilities Management, or a related field.

Master's degree or relevant professional certifications (e.g., CPSM, CIPS, IFMA, CIWFM) preferred.

Experience

• Minimum of 10 years in procurement or supply chain management, with at least 5 years in a leadership role focused on MRO, facilities, fleet, facilities management, or real estate procurement within a manufacturing environment.
• Proven track record in developing and executing global category strategies that drive cost efficiencies and supplier performance across MRO and facilities categories.
• Deep understanding of manufacturing operations, plant maintenance requirements, fleet lifecycle management, real estate lease structures, and utilities markets.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment and manage multiple priorities effectively.
• Track record of establishing and monitoring key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure procurement effectiveness and drive results.
• ANTICIPATED BUSINESS TRAVEL: ~30%
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