Global Category Manager, Construction, Indirect Procurement, Global

About the Role

Vertiv is seeking an experienced and strategic Global Category Manager - Construction & Capital Projects to lead the development and execution of global procurement strategies for construction, civil engineering, architectural, facility expansion, and capital project investments across our global footprint.

This role is responsible for supporting the delivery of new manufacturing facilities, plant expansions, laboratory construction projects, office facilities, and major site infrastructure upgrades. The successful candidate will partner closely with Global Advanced Manufacturing Engineering (AME), Real Estate & Facilities, Operations, Finance and regional project teams to ensure construction projects are delivered safely, on schedule, within budget, and in accordance with Vertiv's commercial and governance requirements.

The role focuses on delivering sustainable value through strategic sourcing, robust contract management, risk mitigation, supplier performance management, and achievement of annual savings commitments while ensuring compliance with Vertiv's Procurement, CAPEX, Contracting, and Savings Policies.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement global sourcing strategies for construction, civil works, architectural, facility expansion & infrastructure including utilities, site preparation, etc.
• Lead procurement and contract negotiations for design-build, EPC, EPCM, general contracting, engineering, architectural, and project management services
• Lead sourcing activities for new manufacturing facilities, warehouse expansions, office developments, and laboratory construction projects.
• Manage procurement of civil, architectural, structural, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, fire protection, and specialist construction services.
• Drive standardisation of commercial terms, procurement processes, and contracting methodologies across regions.
• Support greenfield, brownfield, expansion, consolidation, and refurbishment projects.
• Lead sourcing for laboratory construction and fitouts, testing facilities and technical development environments.
• Collaborate with Engineering and R&D teams to ensure facilities meet technical, safety, regulatory, and operational requirements.
• Lead complex RFQs, RFPs, tendering events, commercial evaluations, and contract negotiations.
• Develop and negotiate framework agreements for construction contractors, engineering firms, architectural services, consultants, and specialist service providers.
• Manage contract execution, change orders, claims, dispute resolution, and commercial risk mitigation.
• Ensure robust governance and commercial controls are in place across all project phases.
• Develop and maintain a global network of construction contractors, civil engineering firms, design consultants, project management providers, and specialist subcontractors.
• Monitor supplier performance against cost, quality, schedule, safety, and sustainability objectives.
• Act as the commercial escalation point for critical project delivery issues.
• Deliver annual procurement savings and productivity targets.
• Apply Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) principles when evaluating capital projects
• Identify value engineering, standardisation, and optimisation opportunities throughout project lifecycles.
• Support capital planning processes through market intelligence and cost benchmarking.
• Ensure all procurement activities comply with Vertiv Procurement Policies, CAPEX Policies, Delegation of Authority requirements, and applicable contracting standards.
• Support supplier qualification, onboarding, financial due diligence, and risk assessments.
• Ensure health & safety, environmental, sustainability, and regulatory requirements are incorporated into sourcing decisions.
• Mitigate project risks associated with cost escalation, schedule delays, supplier capacity, and market volatility.

• Qualifications & Experience Required
• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Quantity Surveying, Supply Chain, Procurement, Business, or a related discipline.
• Minimum 8 years of procurement experience supporting construction, capital projects, engineering services, or industrial infrastructure projects.
• Strong understanding of construction contracting methodologies, commercial management, and project delivery models in various jurisdictions eg Mexico, US, Eastern Europe, Malaysia, China.
• Experience leading complex tendering and supplier negotiations for large-scale capital projects.
• Strong financial, commercial, negotiation, and analytical skills.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management capabilities.
• 25% Travel required

Preferred

• Experience within a manufacturing or industrial construction expansion environment.
• Familiarity with EPC, EPCM, Design-Build, General Contracting FIDIC, NEC, AIA or similar contracting structures.
• Project Management qualification (PMP, PRINCE2 or equivalent) desirable.