Global Category Manager - John Crane : Job Details

John Crane, a business of Smiths Group, is a global leader in mission-critical flow control solutions for energy and process industries that enable efficient and sustainable operations. Our products include mechanical seals and systems, couplings, bearings, filtration systems, and predictive digital monitoring technologies.

We have a global network of more than 200 sites in over 50 countries and employ more than 6,000 people worldwide. We partner with our customers to help them keep their operations safe, reduce downtime, improve efficiency, and meet the latest environmental standards.

Job Description

We are seeking a Global Category Manager – Control Systems Fabrication to lead category strategy and supplier management across the Americas. This is a high-visibility, individual contributor role that blends strategic sourcing with technical know-how in fabrication, welding, and operations. You will be responsible for developing supplier relationships, assessing workshop capabilities, and building a robust supply base that drives long-term value for John Crane.

• Develop and implement category strategies for control systems fabrication with a focus on the Americas supply base.
• Map and evaluate the existing supplier landscape in the US, Mexico, and broader LATAM, identifying capability gaps and opportunities.
• Visit suppliers regularly to assess workshop capabilities (piping, welding, fabrication, assembly, certifications) and strengthen long-term relationships.
• Re-establish connections with current suppliers, resurrect dormant accounts, and ensure open communication.
• Partner with engineering, operations, and sales to support make vs. buy decisions that align with technical and customer requirements.
• Lead supplier performance reviews, driving improvements in quality, cost, delivery, and innovation.
• Negotiate contracts, pricing, and lead times while ensuring suppliers meet compliance and certification standards.
• Provide insights to senior leadership and stakeholders, influencing decisions with data-driven recommendations (e.g., through Power BI dashboards).
• Travel (approx. once per month) across the Americas to visit suppliers and John Crane sites.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Engineering, Business, or a related field (Master's preferred).
• Strong background in strategic sourcing/category management with direct exposure to fabrication or heavy industrial suppliers.
• Technical understanding of welding, piping, fabrication, and workshop operations (experience in operations, supplier audits, or manufacturing environments strongly valued).
• Ability to balance strategic procurement with hands-on evaluation of supplier capabilities.
• Experience building supplier panels and developing supply bases in the Americas region.
• Proficiency in Power BI (for analytics and reporting); familiarity with ERP systems such as QAD is a plus.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills; proven ability to work across engineering, sales, and operations teams.
• Willingness to travel regionally (US, Mexico, LATAM).

We believe that different perspectives and backgrounds are what make a company flourish. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment regardless of color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, economic status, disability, age, or any other legally protected characteristics. We are proud to be an inclusive company with values grounded in equality and ethics, where we celebrate, support, and embrace diversity.

At no time during the hiring process will Smiths Group, nor any of our recruitment partners ever request payment to enable participation – including, but not limited to, interviews or testing. Avoid fraudulent requests by applying jobs directly through our career's website (Careers - Smiths Group plc)