Associate Category Manager

James Hardie Building Products Inc. is the North American leader in fiber cement home siding and exterior design solutions. Hardie® products offer long lasting beauty and endless design possibilities with trusted protection and low maintenance. The company pioneered modern fiber cement building products and continues to invest in innovation to transform the industry. James Hardie is a high-performance organization, with an unwavering commitment to Zero Harm. The company proudly employs a diverse workforce of over 3,000 employees across operations in North America.

Make your dream career a reality. It’s possible!

Hybrid from our Chicago, IL office 

The MRO Associate Category Manager is responsible for developing and executing sourcing strategies for Maintenance, Repair, and Operations (MRO) goods and services across the organization. This role manages supplier relationships, drives cost savings, ensures supply continuity, and supports operations and maintenance teams. The ideal candidate has strong analytical, negotiation, and project management skills with solid knowledge of industrial MRO categories. The role reports to the Sr. Manager, MRO & CapEx, and is based in the Chicago Office or manufacturing plant sites.

What You’ll Do: 

• Develop and implement category strategies for MRO commodities (e.g. bearings & power transmission, spare parts, tools, safety equipment, etc.)
• Lead RFx activities (RFI/RFP/RFQ), including supplier identification, evaluation, selection, and negotiation
• Analyze spend and market trends to identify cost reduction and value improvement opportunities
• Increase total spend with preferred partners and expand spend under management using network contracts
• Manage supplier performance and escalations through regular audits, plant feedback, and business reviews
• Collaborate with maintenance, operations, and finance teams to ensure alignment of sourcing strategies with business needs
• Mitigate supply risks by identifying and qualifying alternate suppliers and ensuring dual sourcing when applicable
• Ensure contract compliance, including pricing, service levels, and regulatory requirements
• Continuously improve procurement processes, tools, and reporting related to MRO
• Track and report KPIs including monthly spend compliance, cost savings, rebates, and service levels

The position responsibilities outlined above are in no way to be construed as all encompassing.  Other duties, responsibilities, and qualifications may be required and/or assigned as necessary.

What You’ll Bring:  
 

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Business Administration, Engineering, Finance, or related field strongly preferred. Degree must be from an accredited institution. 
• 5+ years of experience in procurement or related field, with at least 2 years focused on MRO or indirect spend
• Strong negotiation and contract management skills
• Proven ability to manage complex categories and drive cross-functional initiatives
• Familiarity with CMMS (Computerized Maintenance Management Systems) and ERP systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle)
• Excellent analytical, communication, and stakeholder management skills
• Availability to travel to manufacturing sites, supplier locations, or conferences
• Experience in manufacturing, utilities, or heavy industry environments
• Lean or Six Sigma certification
• Knowledge of supplier quality, compliance, and sustainability practices
• Based in Chicago Office 

The position responsibilities outlined above are in no way to be construed as all encompassing.  Other duties, responsibilities, and qualifications may be required and/or assigned as necessary.  

What You’ll Receive:

As of the date of this posting, a good faith estimate of the current pay scale for this position is $77,100K to $96,300K. Placement in the range depends on several factors such as experience, skills, geography and internal equity and may change over time. This position qualifies for benefits and you will be eligible to participate in a bonus plan.

At James Hardie, we recognize that our success depends on our people. We've worked hard to build a generous and competitive benefits program that demonstrates our commitment to our employees.

• Comprehensive low-cost co-pay Health Insurance; medical, dental, prescription, and vision insurance benefits for every 30+ hour full-time employee. Insurance starts on day one!
• Life insurance
• Short-term and long-term disability insurance
• 401(k) Retirement plan that will match 100% of employees saved dollars up to the first 6% of your salary
• 11 paid holidays per year
• Paid vacation
• (Paid sick leave)
• Wellness Program, Employee Assistance Program, Parental Leave
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan
• Community Involvement & Sustainable Solutions
• Click here to learn more about our benefits

James Hardie will comply with any applicable state and local laws regarding employee leave benefits, including, but not limited to providing time off pursuant to the Colorado Healthy Families and Workplaces Act, in accordance with its plans and policies.

Applications are being accepted on an ongoing basis.

Apply now and come “home” to Hardie!

#LI-DW1

James Hardie Building Products Inc. is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, gender, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, genetic information, veteran's status, marital status, pregnancy, disability, or any other basis protected by law.