Category Manager - OEM at Service Logic – Charlotte, North Carolina

Role Overview

Service Logic is seeking a Category Manager to lead sourcing strategy and supplier management for key spend categories within a decentralized, field-driven organization.

The Category Manager – OEM Equipment owns enterprise sourcing strategy and supplier relationships for HVAC equipment manufacturers, including national account development, supplier negotiations, and overall category performance across Service Logic business units.

While branch-level teams execute day-to-day purchasing, this role defines sourcing strategy, supplier programs, and purchasing guardrails within a center-led procurement model, partnering closely with operational leadership to translate those strategies into adoption across the field.

Success in this role requires balancing cost improvement with service reliability in a technician-centered operating environment while strengthening procurement capabilities as data, systems, and governance continue to mature.

Core Responsibilities

Category Strategy & Value Creation

• Develop and own sourcing strategies for assigned categories, including supplier selection, commercial models, and category roadmaps aligned with operational and financial goals
• Identify, quantify, and deliver savings opportunities using levers such as pricing, rebates, supplier consolidation, and standardization
• Use spend analytics, supplier insights, and market benchmarks to prioritize initiatives and track category performance
• Ensure sourcing strategies support field operations, balancing cost improvement with service levels and technician productivity

Strategic Sourcing & Negotiation

• Lead strategic sourcing initiatives, including RFI/RFP processes and supplier negotiations
• Structure and execute supplier agreements covering pricing, rebates, service levels, and commercial terms
• Partner with operational teams to implement sourcing strategies, ensuring negotiated agreements translate into real operational and financial outcomes

Supplier & Program Management

• Own enterprise supplier relationships within assigned categories, including performance management and commercial governance
• Manage supplier performance across pricing, service levels, lead times, and contract compliance through regular business reviews
• Define preferred supplier strategies and purchasing guardrails to guide decentralized buying decisions
• Drive adoption of procurement programs across business units, partnering with local leaders and buyers to ensure compliance and capture realized savings

Category-Specific Responsibilities

• Develop and manage national account strategies with major HVAC OEMs (e.g., Trane, Carrier, Daikin, Lennox)
• Negotiate equipment pricing programs, discount structures, and rebate agreements that improve commercial economics while maintaining competitiveness in the field
• Define preferred OEM strategies and coordinate equipment standards across Service Logic business units.
• Balance national OEM programs with regional distributor relationships to ensure programs are operationalized effectively through local supply channels
• Partner with operations to ensure supplier programs support project timelines, equipment availability, and service requirements
• Monitor OEM and distributor performance (pricing, lead times, warranty support, service levels) and drive continuous improvement through regular supplier reviews

Core Capabilities & Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Procurement, Finance, Business, or related field
• 7–10 years of experience in strategic sourcing, procurement, or category management
• Demonstrated experience leading sourcing initiatives and supplier negotiations
• Strong analytical capability and comfort working with incomplete or fragmented data
• Ability to influence decentralized teams without direct reporting authority
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills
• Strong commercial judgment and financial acumen