Category Leader, Construction
Work Mode: Onsite
Location: Onsite, 4 days per week – Kohler, WI
Opportunity
The Category Leader- Construction is responsible for the strategic procurement of major Construction and Facilities capital projects across Kohler’s US sites. This key role supports large project purchasing activities while ensuring compliance with internal processes, contracts, and global procurement policies. The position holder will act as the primary procurement partner with the Construction team and will work collaboratively to ensure on time delivery of projects, cost control, and quality.
Specific Responsibilities
- Procurement Strategy & Execution:
- Develop and execute a 3–5 year category strategy that aligns with the Capital Plan, risk, and stakeholder priorities.
- Lead complex sourcing events and negotiations across different delivery models.
- Drive value creation (savings, cost avoidance, cash, contract compliance, supplier consolidation).
- Establish and govern preferred supplier/partner ecosystem and manage performance.
- Own category governance, including sourcing playbooks, approval thresholds, bid requirements, and audit readiness.
- Delivery against departmental KPIs, including cost savings and avoidance, DPO and supplier consolidation.
- Supplier & Contract Compliance:
- Lead contract framework development (templates, rate cards, escalation clauses, warranty standards) with Legal/Finance.
- Implement supplier risk management and contingency planning.
- Build and lead supplier performance management, including QBRs, KPIs, escalation management and performance governance.
- Ensure projects have reputable suppliers in place through a thorough supplier selection process and conducting appropriate due diligence.
- Ensure robust contracts are in place that protect the business from a commercial and legal perspective.
- Continuous Improvement & Innovation:
- Works alongside stakeholders in identifying procurement improvement opportunities.
- Promotes and leads value engineering exercises for Construction and Facilities Capital projects .
- Stays at the forefront of leading trends in Construction industry, particularly those that bring cost saving and/or sustainability benefit.
- Driving standardization to reduce contract cycle time and variability.
- Embedding sustainability and responsible sourcing into strategy and selection.
- Actively participates in non-sourcing purchasing projects, as required.
- Stakeholder Leadership & Governance:
- Act as strategic procurement advisor to Construction leadership.
- Lead cross-functional governance to balance cost, risk, schedule, and quality.
- Coach stakeholders on sourcing policy and supplier performance.
Success Measures
- Annualized cost savings/avoidance
- 90%+ usage of Kohler contract templates
- Supplier consolidation
- DPO improvement
- Sourcing cycle time
- Supplier performance
- Partner with stakeholders to proactively manage project timelines and budgets per requirements
Skills/Requirements
- 7+ years’ experience within Indirect Sourcing, including at least 3+ years in Construction/Capital project category management.
- A track record of significant cost saving/avoidance within complex stakeholder environments.
- Familiarity with capital project contracting models (e.g. GC, design-build, AIA etc).
- Degree in either Supply Chain, Construction, Operations, Business or Engineering.
- Able to work on site in Kohler, WI (4 days per week).
- Travel up to 5% to other Kohler sites and/or suppliers.
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Applicants must be authorized to work in the US without requiring sponsorship now or in the future.
We believe in supporting you from the moment you join us, which is why Kohler offers day 1 benefits. This means you’ll have access to your applicable benefit programs from your first day on the job, with no waiting period.
The salary range for this position is $105,000 - $162,500. The specific salary offered to a candidate may be influenced by a variety of factors including the candidate’s experience, their education, and the work location. In addition, this position is eligible for a performance bonus/variable incentive compensation.
Why Choose Kohler?
We empower each associate to #BecomeMoreAtKohler with a competitive total rewards package to support your health and wellbeing, access to career growth and development opportunities, a diverse and inclusive workplace, and a strong culture of innovation. With more than 30,000 bold leaders across the globe, we’re driving meaningful change in our mission to help people live gracious, healthy, and sustainable lives.
About Us
It is Kohler’s policy to recruit, hire, and promote qualified applicants without regard to race, creed, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, national origin, disability or status as a protected veteran. If, as an individual with a disability, you need reasonable accommodation during the recruitment process, please contact kohlerjobs@kohler.com. Kohler Co. is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.
