Sr. Manager – Steel & Castings Procurement

Role: Sr. Manager – Steel & Castings Procurement

Location: Carrier Innovation Technologies GmbH, Luzern, Switzerland

Contract type: full time

About Carrier

At Carrier we make modern life possible by delivering innovative and sustainable ground-breaking systems and services that matter for people and our planet. We exceed the expectations of our customers by anticipating industry trends, working tirelessly to master and revolutionize them. This is why we come to work every day. And we do it The Carrier Way.

Join us and we can make a difference together.

Benefits

We are committed to offering competitive benefits programs for all of our employees and enhancing our programs when necessary.

Among the many benefits, Carrier offers Exciting innovative environment, possibility for further development and international career opportunities, high-profile team, daily use of English and other foreign languages, language courses, Competitive remuneration and other benefits (meal vouchers, contribution to life or pension insurance, holidays etc.), Flexible working hours, possibility for home office, personal days off.

About the role

The Sr. Manager – Steel & Castings Procurement is responsible for developing and executing a global category strategy that optimizes cost, availability, agility, and innovation. This role leads a team to deliver cost optimization, supplier performance, and strategic alignment with Carrier’s long-term product and technology roadmap.

The leader will drive supplier relationship management, costed BOM development, and cross-functional collaboration with engineering, quality, product management, and operations to ensure sourcing strategies enable business growth, risk mitigation, and sustainability goals.

Key Responsibilities

Category Strategy & Execution

• Develop and implement a comprehensive category strategy aligned with Carrier’s global supply chain, product, and manufacturing strategies.
• Optimize total cost of ownership (TCO) through cost modeling, value engineering, and sourcing innovation.
• Lead costed BOM development and ensure alignment with product lifecycle and technology roadmaps.
• Drive dual sourcing, re-sourcing, and supplier qualification to ensure supply continuity and competitiveness.

2) Supplier Relationship & Performance Management

• Manage strategic relationships with key suppliers; negotiate long-term agreements focusing on cost, quality, delivery, and ESG compliance.
• Own vendor performance data and report metrics (OTD, quality, cost savings) to leadership.
• Identify and mitigate supply chain risks, including single-sourcing, geopolitical exposure, and capacity constraints.

3) Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Establish a cross-functional network with engineering, quality, product management, and operations to align sourcing strategies with business objectives.
• Partner with NPI and engineering teams to ensure early supplier involvement in new product development and design-to-cost initiatives.
• Collaborate with sustainability teams to ensure responsible sourcing and ESG compliance.

4) Market Intelligence & Innovation

• Maintain expert knowledge of global supply markets, cost drivers, and emerging technologies.
• Continuously monitor market trends, commodity indices, and competitive benchmarks to inform sourcing decisions.
• Identify and implement VA/VE opportunities and innovation initiatives with suppliers.

5) Leadership & Team Development

• Lead category, fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Build organizational capability in strategic sourcing, negotiation, and supplier development.
• Champion digital procurement tools and analytics for data-driven decision-making.

Success Metrics

• Cost Optimization: Annual cost savings, VA/VE initiatives, TCO improvements.
• Supplier Performance: OTD, quality metrics, risk mitigation effectiveness.
• Category Strategy Execution: Adoption of sourcing strategies across regions and factories.
• Innovation & ESG: Supplier-driven innovation and compliance with sustainability goals.
• Team Development: Capability growth and retention of category managers.

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s in Supply Chain, Business, or Engineering; Master’s or MBA preferred.
• Experience:
  • 8+ years in strategic sourcing, procurement, or supply chain, with global category management experience.
  • Proven track record in cost optimization, supplier negotiations, and risk management.
  • Experience in industrial, HVAC, or manufacturing sectors preferred.
• Technical Skills:
  • Proficiency in procurement systems (SAP, Ariba) and analytics tools.
  • Strong understanding of cost modeling, commodity markets, and sourcing best practices.
• Soft Skills:
  • Strong commercial acumen and negotiation skills.
  • Ability to influence across functions and cultures in a matrixed organization.
• Language: English required; additional languages (German, French, Spanish) a plus.
• Travel: ~15–20% globally.

Core Competencies

• Strategic thinking with strong execution focus
• Data-driven decision-making and analytical rigor
• Leadership and talent development
• Supplier relationship management and collaboration
• Continuous improvement and innovation mindset

Our commitment to you

Our greatest assets are the expertise, creativity and passion of our employees. We strive to provide a great place to work that attracts, develops and retains the best talent, promotes employee engagement, fosters teamwork and ultimately drives innovation for the benefit of our customers. We strive to create an environment where you feel that you belong, with diversity and inclusion as the engine to growth and innovation. We develop and deploy best-in-class programs and practices, providing enriching career opportunities, listening to employee feedback and always challenging ourselves to do better. This is The Carrier Way.

Join us and make a difference.

Apply Now!

Carrier is An Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status, age or any other federally protected class.

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