VP of Category Management and Procurement

About RS Group

RS is a high-service global product and service solutions provider for industrial customers, enabling them to operate efficiently and sustainably.

We operate in 33 markets, stock over 875,000 industrial and specialist products and list an additional five million relevant for our industrial customers, sourced from over 2,500 suppliers. This extensive range supports our customers across the industrial lifecycle of designing, building and maintaining equipment and operations. We enhance their experience through a tailored service model, leveraging our efficient physical, digital and process infrastructure sustainably. We combine a technically led and digitally enabled approach with an exceptional team of experts; ultimately, it’s our people that make the difference.

Our purpose, making amazing happen for a better world, reflects our focus on delivering results for people, planet and profit.

About the Role

Role Purpose

This role will serve as the strategic owner of Category Management and Supplier Relationship Management for RS Americas, with a mandate to design and build a high‑performing direct procurement function that enhances cost control, drives profitability, and strengthens our competitive position.

The leader in this role will shape and execute the long‑term supplier and category strategy, blending deep relationship management with operational rigor to ensure consistent delivery of business outcomes. Success requires strong cross‑functional leadership, the ability to influence at all levels, and a disciplined approach to supplier performance, sourcing strategy, and commercial execution.

This position will be accountable for developing a cohesive supplier ecosystem, optimizing category performance, and ensuring alignment across commercial, operations, finance, and supply chain teams to bring our strategy to life.

Responsibilities

Inventory Optimization & Analytics

Direct Procurement & Supplier Strategy

• Build and lead a direct procurement organization responsible for sourcing, cost negotiations, supplier performance management, and end‑to‑end cost transparency.
• Develop category strategies that reduce cost‑to‑serve, improve customer experience and overall solution flexibility.
• Implement standardized procurement processes, cost modelling, review and strategy of cost increase review process, and supplier scorecards.
• Partner with Finance to ensure full visibility to landed cost, rebates, and margin impacts from ship & debit functions.
• Strengthen supplier partnerships through structured business reviews, performance metrics, and long term strategic planning.

Cross‑Functional Leadership

• Collaborate with Sales, Pricing, Product Management, Operations, and Finance to align inventory, pricing, and procurement decisions with commercial strategy.
• Lead root‑cause analysis and corrective action plans for supply chain bottlenecks, service failures, or cost variances.
• Drive a culture of continuous improvement, data‑driven decision making, and cross‑functional accountability.
• Serve as a key advisor to the SVP, Product & Supply Chain on inventory, supplier strategy, and profitability initiatives.

Operational Execution

• Improve supplier collaboration through S&OP, and shared forecasting processes.
• Ensure operational readiness for new product introductions, supplier transitions, and category expansions.

How I make a difference in this role

• A fully functioning direct procurement team is established with clear processes, supplier scorecards, and cost‑reduction wins.
• Cross‑functional teams operate with shared KPIs and a unified approach to inventory and profitability.
• Supplier performance improves through structured governance, cost transparency, and strategic sourcing initiatives.
• The organization gains full visibility to total landed cost, enabling smarter pricing, procurement, and commercial decisions.

Candidate Requirements

Essential Skills & Experience

• 15+ years of progressive leadership experience in procurement, category management, or related disciplines.
• 10+ years leading multi‑disciplinary teams in complex, matrixed environments.
• Proven leadership in procurement, or category management within a distributor, manufacturer, or large retailer.
• Deep product knowledge in industrial automation, controls and electrical components (e.g., Siemens, Schneider, Phoenix Contact, ABB, Eaton, etc.)
• Demonstrated success improving optimizing SKU portfolios.
• Demonstrated success expanding product portfolios or managing category growth in industrial segments.
• Strong analytical capability with experience in forecasting, data modelling, and financial analysis.
• Experience building or transforming a procurement function, including cost negotiations and supplier management.
• Ability to influence cross‑functionally and drive alignment across commercial and operational teams.
• Strong understanding of end‑to‑end cost structures, including freight, tariffs, rebates, and margin levers.
• Leadership experience managing teams across planning, analytics procurement, or product management

Essential Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Industrial distribution, or a related field; or equivalent practical experience
• Strategic thinker who can translate data into action, and action into measurable business outcomes.
• Deep understanding of end‑to‑end cost structures, including freight, tariffs, rebates, supplier terms, and margin levers.
• Demonstrated ability to build high‑performing teams, develop talent, and lead through change.
• Strong operational rigor with a bias for execution, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Ability to operate effectively in a fast‑paced, growth‑oriented environment with competing priorities.

Equal Employment Opportunity

RS Americas is an equal opportunity employer and maintains policies and practices that are designed to prevent and prohibit unlawful discrimination against any qualified employee or applicant on the basis of race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, military/veteran status, disability, genetic information, citizenship status, or any other unlawful classification to the extent protected by law. This policy of non-discrimination applies to all employment practices, including hiring, compensation, benefits, promotion, training and termination. Employees who engage in unlawful discrimination will be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including termination.

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