HVAC Shared Services, powered by APi Group, is looking for a Category Manager to join our growing team!  

HVAC Shared Services

The Shared Services team is made up of 5 separate operating companies of APi Group; Metropolitan Mechanical Contractors (MN), NAC Mechanical & Electrical Services (MN), Grunau (WI), Tessier’s (SD) and Merit Contracting (MN).  This position will be located at our Eden Prairie, MN office.  This is an on-site position.

Position Summary 

The Category Manager is responsible for developing and executing category strategies for assigned mechanical construction spend (e.g., Pipe, valves, fittings). This role drives cost optimization, supplier performance, risk mitigation, and supply continuity across a $1B mechanical contracting enterprise supporting large, complex construction projects nationwide. 

 The Category Manager partners closely with Operations, Project Management, Engineering, Prefab, Estimating, and Finance to align sourcing strategies with project schedules, technical requirements, and long-term business objectives. 

Key Responsibilities 

Team Leadership 

• Lead and develop the supply chain team, including inspiring, mentoring, training, managing performance, and celebrating team members.  

• Foster a collaborative and efficient working environment grounded in quality business relationships in a high care factor, People First environment. 

• Drive team culture and engagement by leaning into engagement survey results, action plans and active listening for continuous improvement in engagement climate. 

• Drive Building Great Leaders culture by modeling behaviors on APi learning opportunities including but not limited to monthly learning maps, in person courses, APi Book Club, FMI, etc. 

Category Strategy & Sourcing 

• Identify and engage with internal stakeholders across Project Management, Operations and Engineering to capture category requirements  

• Develop and maintain multi-year category strategies aligned with corporate growth plans, project pipelines, and regional needs 

• Lead strategic sourcing initiatives including RFQs/RFPs, supplier negotiations, and contract awards for high-value mechanical materials and services 

• Analyze spend data to identify consolidation, standardization, and cost-reduction opportunities across regions and projects 

• Establish preferred supplier programs and national agreements where appropriate 

 Supplier Management 

• Manage strategic supplier relationships, including, distribution, OEMs, and specialty fabricators 

• Monitor supplier performance (safety, delivery, cost, quality, compliance) and lead continuous improvement initiatives 

• Mitigate supply chain risks related to capacity constraints, long lead times, market volatility, and geopolitical factors 

• Support supplier innovation, value engineering, and alternate product approvals in coordination with engineering teams 

 Cross-Functional Collaboration 

• Partner with Project Managers and Operations teams to support active projects and resolve supply issues 

• Work with Estimating to ensure pricing accuracy and market intelligence during bid phases 

• Collaborate with Prefabrication and Engineering to support standardization and modularization initiatives 

• Align with Finance on budgeting, forecasting, and working capital optimization 

• Demonstrate the ability to build strong, collaborative relationships across diverse backgrounds and all organizational levels. 

• Provide strong leadership by modeling best practices, delivering constructive coaching and feedback, and effectively managing team performance. 

 Contracting & Compliance 

• Negotiate and manage master service agreements, purchase agreements, and pricing schedules 

• Ensure compliance with contract terms, insurance requirements, safety standards, and regulatory obligations 

• Support internal governance, audit requirements, and procurement best practices 

Market Intelligence & Analytics 

• Track commodity pricing, market trends, labor constraints, and supplier capacity within the mechanical construction industry 

• Provide leadership with insights on cost drivers, risks, and opportunities impacting project profitability 

• Develop KPIs and dashboards to measure category performance and savings realization 

 Qualifications 

 Required 

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Engineering, Construction Management, Business, or related field or equivalent experience 

• 7 to 10+ years of progressive experience in strategic sourcing, procurement, or category management and 3 to 5+ years’ of team leadership experience within a Procurement/Sourcing function 

• Experience within mechanical contracting, construction, industrial services, or related industries 

• Strong negotiation skills with proven success managing high-value spend categories 

• Advanced analytical skills with experience using spend analysis and procurement tools 

• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, project-driven environment 

• Effective communication and presentation skills 

• Strong organization, planning and decision-making skills  

• Ability to influence without authority 

• Experience managing national or multi-regional supplier programs 

 Preferred Qualifications 

• Experience supporting large-scale construction projects ($50M+) 

• Experience using construction industry ERP systems (KOJO, COINS, etc) 

• MBA, CPM, CPSM, or other relevant professional certification 

• Ability to travel regionally 10-20% 

PAY RANGE:  $110,000 to $125,000 base salary (depending on experience) plus incentive.

BENEFITS:  Medical, Dental, Life Insurance, Competitive PTO/Benefits package, matching 401K, Profit Sharing, Opportunity to participate in Employee Stock Purchase Program (ESPP).

STATEMENT:  APi HVAC Shared Services. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We encourage Minorities, Women, Protected Veterans and Individuals with Disabilities to apply.  Grunau intends to make reasonable accommodations for qualified job applicants and employees with disabilities.