Position Summary

The Global Category Manager (GCM) – Conveyance will own the strategic sourcing and management of all conveyance systems used in Fortna’s project-based automated distribution solutions. This includes gravity conveyors, motor-driven roller (MDR) conveyors, belted conveyors (welded or bolted), pallet handling conveyors, belted curves, singulators, and sorters for both parcel and warehousing applications.

This role is responsible for developing and executing comprehensive category strategies, selecting and developing suppliers, managing commercial agreements, and ensuring supply capacity aligns with Fortna’s project pipeline. The GCM serves as the primary liaison between Engineering, Sales, Estimating, and Procurement to ensure accurate, timely, and cost-effective supplier engagement during the design, bid, and pre-execution phases of projects.

The GCM does not manage day-to-day purchase order execution but instead defines the procurement playbook, trains buyers, and acts as an escalation point for supplier issues that impact strategic or systemic performance.

Key Responsibilities

Category Strategy & Planning

• Develop, implement, and maintain a global category strategy for conveyance systems, aligned with Fortna’s business objectives, project pipeline, and cost targets.
• Analyze spend, market trends, and supplier capabilities to identify cost savings, innovation, and risk mitigation opportunities.
• Define supplier segmentation and capacity planning to ensure readiness for current and future project volumes.
• Monitor conveyor industry developments and market conditions to inform sourcing strategies.

Supplier Selection, Development & Management

• Identify, qualify, and contract with strategic suppliers such as Hytrol, Interroll, Talos, TGW, Itoh Denki, Transnorm, Flowturn, Portec, and Fives.
• Lead RFPs/RFQs for category suppliers; negotiate commercial terms, payment terms, and annual agreements.
• Establish and manage Master Service Agreements (MSAs), NDAs, and Statements of Work (SOWs).
• Drive supplier performance management through KPIs, scorecards, and regular business reviews.
• Foster supplier innovation, ensuring technical capabilities and manufacturing capacity meet Fortna’s evolving needs.

Stakeholder Collaboration

• Partner with Engineering to review and interpret technical drawings, specifications, and functional requirements for conveyance systems.
• Serve as liaison during supplier design submissions and bid phases, ensuring compliance with Fortna’s technical and quality standards.
• Work closely with Sales and Estimating to ensure supplier readiness for quoting and capacity commitments.
• Provide category expertise to internal stakeholders, influencing design-for-cost and value-engineering opportunities.

Quality, Compliance, and Technical Expertise

• Apply knowledge of conveyor technologies, mechanical and electrical systems, and parcel/warehouse handling processes to assess supplier proposals.
• Ensure suppliers meet regulatory, safety, and contractual requirements for all project sites.
• Partner with quality teams to address systemic supplier performance or compliance issues.

Process & Playbook Development

• Define procurement processes, negotiation guidelines, and sourcing “playbooks” for buyers to execute during project delivery.
• Train procurement teams on category-specific sourcing strategies, supplier engagement, and technical considerations.
• Act as escalation point for strategic supplier issues impacting multiple projects or long-term performance.

Qualifications

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Business, or related field; Engineering degree a plus.
• Minimum 2+ years in strategic sourcing, category management, or supply chain management in a project-based, engineered-to-order environment.
• Strong understanding of conveyance systems including gravity, MDR, belted conveyors, pallet handling conveyors, singulators, sorters, and belted curves.
• Proven negotiation, contract management, and supplier development skills.
• Ability to read and interpret technical/engineering drawings and specifications.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement abilities.

Preferred:

• Experience in material handling automation, parcel/warehouse operations, or conveyor system manufacturing.
• Familiarity with conveyor controls, drives, and system integration.
• Experience managing suppliers in a global or multi-regional supply chain.

Key Performance Metrics

• Cost savings achieved vs. baseline.
• Supplier on-time quoting and performance to commitments.
• Payment term improvements and working capital impact.
• Successful implementation of category strategy and supplier capacity plans.
• Stakeholder satisfaction with supplier engagement and sourcing process.

Why Join Fortna?

• Be part of an industry leader driving innovation in supply chain automation.
• Influence multi-million-dollar sourcing strategies with global impact.
• Collaborate with top-tier suppliers and industry experts.
• Competitive compensation, relocation assistance, and professional development opportunities.

The base salary range for this role is $100,700 to $151,100.  This base salary range represents the low and high end of the base salary range for this position. Actual base salary offered will vary based on various factors including but not limited to location, level, job-related knowledge, skills, experience, and performance.

This job description describes the general nature and level of work expected of a person assigned to this position. All job requirements listed indicate the minimum level of knowledge, skills and/or ability deemed necessary to perform the job proficiently. Employees may be required to perform any other job-related duties as requested by their supervisor.

It is the policy of FORTNA and its affiliated companies to provide equal employment opportunity (EEO) to all persons regardless of age, color, national origin, physical or mental disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, pregnancy or pregnancy-related condition, status with regard to public assistance, veteran status, citizenship status (if authorized to work in the U.S.), or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. In addition, FORTNA will provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities.