Transportation Category Manager

: At Trane TechnologiesTM and through our businesses including Trane® and Thermo King®, we create innovative climate solutions for buildings, homes, and transportation that challenge what's possible for a sustainable world. We're a team that dares to look at the world's challenges and see impactful possibilities. We believe in a better future when we uplift others and enable our people to thrive at work and at home. We boldly go. Job Summary??? The Ground Transportation Category Manager is an individual contributor role responsible for leading the deployment and operational execution of ground transportation in North America within the Less-Than-Truckload procurement category. This position will be a key member of the Domestic Transportation team and will have main responsibility to lead and implement supplier rationalization, lead and execute bid activities, ensure compliance to our Preferred Supplier Program metrics, and identify and implement cost reduction projects. This person will manage execution and compliance of detailed category strategy; deliver productivity through price negotiation, capacity management, continuous improvement initiatives; drive sustainable transportation solutions for the logistics network; and foster positive business relationships across Trane Technologies Strategic Business Units (SBUs) and the logistics supplier network. This position is hybrid and based in Davidson, North Carolina. Responsibilities:

• Lead the execution of sourcing activities within assigned mode(s) including improvements to bid schedule, continuous improvement initiatives, supply base rationalization, etc.
• Lead Quarterly Business Reviews (QBRs) with selected partners and evaluate business needs against supplier performance.
• Develop category and carrier strategies. Implement transportation initiatives aligned with said strategies to secure capacity, improve on-time service and damage claims, deliver cost reduction, and create drive sustainability solutions.
• Work with cross-functional teams to build and execute project implementation plans for productivity and continuous improvement projects within committed timelines.
• Responsible for managing active projects, updating status, eliminating roadblocks, and escalating issues as appropriate, as well as investigating, coordinating, and communicating project changes. Create and conduct presentations for project approvals and recuring status updates.
• Partner with Transportation Planning & Freight Bill Pay teams to track performance of operations and transportation execution of suppliers, timely resolves performance problems, proactively develop contingency plans and manages crisis situations.
• Perform constant analysis of modal/carrier cost and performance to benchmark service standards and applicable trends to ensure contracted service level agreements and budgeted operating costs are being met; decisively develops plans for any gaps in performance; execute cost forecasting activities for owned category; and reconcile discrepancies between cost plan and actuals.
• Manage capacity commitments for the service providers allowing them the proper lead-time to develop surge capacity plans, particularly in peak season. Partner with the SBUs to review planned forecast and manage exceptions.
Qualifications:
• BA/BS/ME degree in Logistics, Supply Chain, or Business
• Minimum 7 years in the transportation industry with exposure to carrier management, carrier negotiation, and carrier operations for Less-Than-Truckload. Additional experience with flatbed, Dry Van, intermodal, and expedited service offerings preferred.
• Demonstrated success with transformation change management, structured problem solving, and process thinking.
• Must be a strategic thinker and have demonstrated experience driving strategies.
• Demonstrated experience managing / supervising suppliers or vendors.
• Expertise with suite of Microsoft Office tools.
• Experience running large complex cross functional projects.
• Ability to travel up to 5% (COVID restrictions to be considered).
Key Competencies:
• Oracle experience in a global environment desired
• Ability to perform data analysis using MS Excel
• Possess a strong customer service orientation
• Be a proactive change agent and demonstrate leadership skills to thrive in a team-oriented environment
• Have robust interpersonal skills with the ability to interact and influence various departments throughout the organization
• Utilize exceptional problem-solving skills to work through difficult challenges
• Be a flexible, decisive, and proactive problem solver
• Be a strong communicator and possess strong organizational skills, with ability to work on multiple priorities at once
• Be comfortable managing in an ambiguous environment, capable of smart risk taking with ability to close
• Be able to work well in high pressure, fast-paced environment and be proficient at conflict resolution
Have strong business/financial acumen, deep analytical skills, and ability to lead, inspire, motivate, and lay out clear expectations with suppliers and vendors

• What's in it for you:

  • Benefits kick in day one!
  • 6% 401K match, plus an additional 2% of eligible pay in core contributions
  • 3 weeks of vacation per calendar year, plus paid holidays
  • Benefits*:

  Salary: $95,000 - $125,000 base salary. Total compensation will include an incentive.

  Disclaimer: This "range" could be a result of seniority, merit, geographic location where the work is performed, education, experience, travel requirements for the job, or because of a system the employer uses to measure earnings by quantity or quality of production (so, for example, positions that may not have traditional salary ranges).

  We offer competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits and programs. We are an equal opportunity employer; all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, pregnancy, age, marital status, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any legally protected status.