Principal Category Leader

Principal Category Leader, Capital Equipment

Location: Michigan (Hybrid)

50% Travel

Compensation: $140,000 - $160,000

Overview

We're partnering with a leading global manufacturer undergoing significant business transformation. This is a highly visible role designed for a strategic procurement leader who wants to influence the future direction of a growing organization. Reporting into Finance and partnering closely with Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, Project Management, and Executive Leadership, this individual will serve as the enterprise expert for capital equipment sourcing, supplier strategy, and commercial decision-making.

Uniquely, this role is focused on shaping long-term procurement strategy, driving supplier innovation, influencing equipment selection decisions, and developing executive-level business cases for some of the company's most important capital investments.

What You'll Be Doing

• Lead sourcing strategies for major capital equipment, engineered systems, automation solutions, material handling assets, and manufacturing technologies.
• Drive complex RFIs, RFQs, and RFPs involving high-value and business-critical spend.
• Build & present business cases, TCO models, commercial recommendations to sr. leadership.
• Develop executive-level supplier partnerships with major OEMs and strategic vendors.
• Influence equipment standardization, supplier consolidation, long-term category roadmaps.
• Partner directly with Engineering, Operations, Finance, Legal, and Executive stakeholders on strategic initiatives.
• Identify opportunities to reduce risk, improve lifecycle economics, enhance supplier performance, and increase enterprise value.
• Serve as a trusted advisor on procurement strategy, market intelligence, technology trends, and long-range planning.

What We're Looking For

• 10+ years of experience in strategic sourcing, procurement, category management, capital projects, or related commercial leadership roles
• Significant experience with capital equipment, industrial manufacturing, automation, engineered systems, plant operations, or large-scale infrastructure projects
• Strong negotiation background involving complex commercial agreements and supplier relationships
• Proven ability to develop business cases, financial models, and executive presentations
• Experience managing high-visibility initiatives with executive stakeholders
• Ability to influence without authority and operate effectively in an entrepreneurial, fast-paced environment
• Demonstrated success leading transformation initiatives, building processes, or creating category strategies from the ground up

We're especially interested in professionals with experience in:

• Manufacturing
• Automotive
• Packaging
• Food & Beverage
• Chemical Processing
• Industrial Products
• Energy / Oil & Gas
• Heavy Equipment
• Advanced Manufacturing

Determining compensation for this role (and others) at Vaco/Highspring depends upon a wide array of factors including but not limited to the individual's skill sets, experience and training, licensure and certifications, office location and other geographic considerations, as well as other business and organizational needs. With that said, as required by local law in geographies that require salary range disclosure, Vaco/Highspring notes the salary range for the role is noted in this job posting. The individual may also be eligible for discretionary bonuses, and can participate in medical, dental, and vision benefits as well as the company's 401(k) retirement plan.

Additional disclaimer:

Unless otherwise noted in the job description, the position Vaco/Highspring is filing for is occupied. Please note, however, that Vaco/Highspring is regularly asked to provide talent to other organizations. By submitting to this position, you are agreeing to be included in our talent pool for future hiring for similarly qualified positions. Submissions to this position are subject to the use of AI to perform preliminary candidate screenings, focused on ensuring minimum job requirements noted in the position are satisfied. Further assessment of candidates beyond this initial phase within Vaco/Highspring will be otherwise assessed by recruiters and hiring managers. Vaco/Highspring does not have knowledge of the tools used by its clients in making final hiring decisions and cannot opine on their use of AI products.

Equal Opportunity Notice

Highspring LLC (d/b/a Vaco by Highspring) and its parents, affiliates, and subsidiaries ("we," "our," or "Vaco by Highspring") are committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race (including but not limited to traits historically associated with race such as hair texture and hair style), color, sex (includes pregnancy or related conditions), religion or creed, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, status as a veteran, union membership, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, political affiliation, or any other protected characteristics as required by applicable law. The company is also committed to ensuring that persons who need them are provided with reasonable accommodations; if an accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, please contact View email address on click.appcast.io .

Vaco by Highspring also wants all applicants to know their rights that .

Representation Notice

By submitting to this position, you agree that you will be giving Vaco by Highspring the exclusive right to present your as a candidate for the foregoing employment opportunity. Additionally, you agree to be included in our talent pool for future hiring for similarly qualified positions. You further agree that you have represented information about yourself accurately and have not affirmatively misrepresented your qualifications. Lastly, you agree to maintain as confidential, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any information you learn from Vaco by Highspring about the position and you will limit disclosure of information about the position only to the extent necessary to perform any obligations in furtherance of your application. In exchange, Vaco by Highspring agrees to exercise reasonable efforts to represent you through all solicitation, job screening and resume dispersal.

For residents of Ontario, Canada only: to the extent the position for employment is not with Highspring or not otherwise noted as vacant above, candidate should be informed that this role is to replace a presently employed person at Vaco by Highspring's client.

Privacy Notice

Vaco by Highspring respects your privacy and are committed to providing transparent notice of our policies.

• California residents may access Vaco by Highspring HR Notice at Collection for California Applicants and Employees .
• Virginia residents may access our state specific policies .
• Residents of all other states may access our policies .
• Canadian residents may access our policies in English and in French .
• Residents of countries governed by GDPR and UK GDPR may access our policies .

Additionally, submissions to this position are subject to the use of AI to perform preliminary candidate screenings, focused on ensuring minimum job requirements noted in the position are satisfied. More details about Vaco by Highspring's use of AI can be found here (). Further assessment of candidates beyond this initial phase will be conducted by recruiters and hiring managers. Vaco by Highspring does not know and cannot opine on if its client's use of AI products in hiring.

Pay Transparency Notice

Determining compensation for this role (and others) at Vaco by Highspring depends upon a wide array of factors including but not limited to:

· the individual's skill sets, experience and training;

· licensure and certification requirements;

· office location and other geographic considerations; and

· other business and organizational needs.

With that said, as required by local law, Vaco by Highspring believes that the following salary range referenced above reasonably estimates the base compensation for an individual hired into this position in geographies that require salary range disclosure. The individual may also be eligible for discretionary bonuses and/or participation in medical, dental, and vision benefits as well as the company's retirement plan (or similar retirement benefits).