Regional Category Manager- Customer Equipment

Solenis is a global provider of water and hygiene solutions. The Regional Category Manager – Customer Equipment will lead and optimize the North America customer equipment category, developing sourcing strategies, managing suppliers, driving cost savings, and ensuring compliance. The role also partners with cross-functional teams and leads regional sourcing professionals.

Responsibilities:

• Develop and implement a comprehensive regional category strategy in conjunction with the global strategy for customer equipment that aligns with corporate goals and supports growth
• Lead regional strategy development, including segmentation, total cost of ownership (TCO) analysis, market intelligence, and supplier landscape assessment
• Take responsibility for driving measurable category KPIs, ensuring performance tracking and continuous improvement
• Build and maintain strategic partnerships with key suppliers of customer equipment
• Drive robust commercial negotiations, develop long-term agreements, and ensure contractual compliance and performance
• Identify and qualify new suppliers based on safety standards, quality, capability, and innovation
• Partner closely and work together with Engineering & Technical Services, Sales, Operations, Quality, and Regulatory teams to ensure equipment solutions meet customer requirements and internal standards
• Act as the primary interface between Procurement and internal stakeholders for category requirements, project support, and execution
• Lead regional sourcing initiatives, including RFPs, RFQs, bid analysis, and award recommendations
• Implement category sourcing plans that balance regional leverage with local execution where necessary
• Support business units in resolving supply, delivery, and quality issues related to equipment
• Manage supply risk through diversification, contingency planning, and robust supplier performance metrics
• Ensure supplier and equipment compliance with relevant industry standards, safety regulations, and internal policies
• Promote and embed sustainability criteria in sourcing decisions
• Deliver measurable cost savings and value capture through strategic sourcing, standardization, and process improvements
• Benchmark category spend and pricing to drive best-in-class commercial outcomes
• Lead, mentor, and develop regional sourcing professionals
• Champion a high-performance culture focused on collaboration, accountability, and results

Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Engineering, Business, or related discipline
• 7+ years of procurement/sourcing experience, with at least 4 years in regional category leadership roles
• Experience in the chemicals, industrial equipment, or related technical industries
• Proven success in strategic sourcing, supplier development, and complex negotiations
• Strong commercial acumen and strategic thinking
• Excellent negotiation and contract management skills
• Strong communication and stakeholder management abilities
• Strong interpersonal skills
• Demonstrated ability to operate effectively in a matrixed organization
• Data-driven mindset with capability in analytics, forecasting, and spend management tools
• Flexibility to travel as needed
• MBA or advanced degree preferred