Category Manager - Electronics

Eaton’s Corporate Sector division is currently seeking a Category Manager - Electronics. This position can be based at any Eaton location on a hybrid basis. There is a preference for those living within a 50-mile radius of Beachwood OH, Southfield MI, or Moon Township PA. Other locations throughout the continental United States may be considered. This position will require 25% travel.

The Category Manager Electronics role develops long term category strategic planning, creates category metrics and ensures regional category strategies are aligned with Corporate and Business goals, deployed concurrently and meets the requirements of Supply Chain Management across the Eaton Enterprise. The Category Manager must develop deep category knowledge and become a true expert, knowing the spend portfolio as well as the end markets in order to provide leadership guidance for the businesses and the global purchasing organization in the region. Builds and maintains strong relations with stakeholders and is political savvy deploying organizational resources and supporting functions in reaching their goals. Collaborates with other functions (operations, quality, logistics, R&D and sales) for new product line development as well as solving any existing supply continuity challenges and to prevent reoccurrence of such.

The expected annual salary range for this role is $113000 - $165000 a year.

Please note the salary information shown above is a general guideline only. Salaries are based upon candidate skills, experience, and qualifications, as well as market and business considerations.

What You’ll Do

Job Responsibilities:

• Establish and lead supply chain teams in developing strategies to leverage Eaton’s Enterprise buy, generate cost-outcome results, reduce supply base and improve quality and service performance. Ensures that key metrics for the procurement function (Cost Out, DPO, Diversity Spend, etc.) are achieved according to Business Profit Plans.
• Initiate, develop and execute enterprise strategic initiatives to facilitate cross-business synergies and increased leverage across a rationalized set of global preferred supplier partners.
• Negotiate and manage key strategic supplier contracts and relationships
• Establish, review, approve, monitor and report compliance to category agreements and strategies based upon Eaton SCM strategic directions.
• Lead the category to develop innovative business solutions, forecasts and category projections to understand and manage economics, risks, and market drivers. Reviews both economic and market trends and advises the businesses on best sourcing strategies for assigned categories.
• Present to senior management new planning tools, methods, technical analysis, standards and procurement opportunities that are aligned with SCM/Eaton strategic plans and cost reduction initiatives.
• Lead appropriate regional teams for supporting and managing supply chain strategic and operational goals and objectives.
• Identify and implement innovative solutions to business problems, independently and through high performance cross-functional teams.
• Benchmark procurement processes to develop and implement best practices throughout Eaton and Supply Chain Management.
• Create alignment between corporate, supplier diversity and business unit strategic and financial plans. You will create and development site intimacy with key customers and stakeholders in the decision making process
• Lead the team in conducting Supplier Business Reviews with top strategic suppliers on a regular basis annually and execute the negotiation calendar to negotiate strategic spend annually.
• Drive Eaton’s Global Procurement process to meet Enterprise goals and understand market gap available in category through Ariba RFQs, E-Auctions, Should Cost, Supplier Events and market intelligence
• Work closely with assigned category suppliers and Eaton manufacturing facilities to make sure that Eaton plants are supplied at all times at the most competitive price.
  
  
  

Qualifications

Required (Basic) Qualifications:

• Bachelors degree from an accredited institution required
• Minimum of 5 years' professional experience in Supply Chain or Operations
• Minimum of 2 years’ of experience as category manager.
• No relocation is being offered for this role, candidates must live within a 50 mile radius of an Eaton site to be considered.
• Must be able to work in the United States without corporate sponsorship now and within the future.
  
  
  

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Engineering, Electronic Engineering, Economics or Business Administration from an accredited institution
• Professional Supply Chain related certification (e.g. CPM, CPIM)
• MBA
• Prior experience with Electronic components purchasing.
• 2-4 years’ professional experience with accountability across multiple manufacturing facilities
• Understanding of electronic component specifications, lifecycles, and industry standards.
• Awareness of regulatory compliance related to electronic components.
  
  
  

Skills

• Strategic Thinking, Negotiation, Data/Contract Management, Presentation and Influencing Skills.
• Clear understanding of cost drivers and industry best purchasing practices
• Acknowledged expert in identifying and understanding current trends in supply chain management specific to services, direct and / or indirect materials.
• Exhibits excellent communication, customer service and interpersonal skills necessary to converse with diverse group of stakeholders including senior management (internal and at the suppliers), operations and supply chain management personnel.
• Demonstrates ability in strategic process creation and implementation, knowledge and experience in successfully deploying category strategies and driving cost-out.
• Demonstrates ability to lead cross-functional / global teams in the development, implementation, and achievement of business results for cross-functional business initiatives and category strategies.
• Has a demonstrated ability in the area of strategic process creation and implementation and demonstrates a bias for action and implementation.
• Must be able to identify and implement emerging supply management tools.
• Demonstrated ability to create price GAPs and drive results via fact-based negotiations.
  
  
  

The application window for this position is anticipated to close on 1.26.2026.

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We know that good benefit programs are important to employees and their families. Eaton provides various Health and Welfare benefits as well as Retirement benefits, and several programs that provide for paid and unpaid time away from work. Click here for more detail: Eaton Benefits Overview. Please note that specific programs and options available to an employee may depend on eligibility factors such as geographic location, date of hire, and the applicability of collective bargaining agreements.