Senior Category Manager, Fans and Coils

Maximize your potential. Minimize your footprint.

Nortek Data Center Cooling builds the systems that keep modern data centers running — from liquid cooling to large‑scale air solutions. Our work supports some of the world’s most demanding AI and hyperscale environments, and we solve those challenges with engineering depth and practical execution.

We keep things simple here. We communicate early, stay close to the details, and follow through. When issues come up, we address them directly, not with layers of process. Customers count on us because we do what we say and we keep projects moving.

Our culture is hands‑on and collaborative. People take ownership, move quickly, and help each other. If you like working with teammates who are straightforward and accountable, you’ll feel at home.

With the backing of Madison Air, we have the scale, stability, and manufacturing footprint to support complex, high‑growth programs.

Job Summary

The Fans & Coils Category Manager is responsible for developing and executing sourcing strategies, managing suppliers, and providing category leadership for electrical and electronic components used in electrical panels and control assemblies. This role collaborates closely with Engineering, Supply Chain, Operations, and panel shops to ensure cost efficiency, quality, and supply resilience.

What You’ll Do

Category Strategy & Ownership

• Develop and implement category strategies for Fans & Coils and related components.
• Segment suppliers into Tier 1–4 classifications.
• Own performance metrics for cost, lead time, quality, and supply resilience.

Engineering Collaboration & Design Support

• Partner with Engineering & NPD Sourcing Managers on component selection for new product introductions (NPI).
• Identify alternate components and substitutions.
• Drive standardization of components across product platforms.

Supplier Identification & Management

• Identify and qualify new OEMs and distributors.
• Negotiate pricing, agreements, and stocking programs.
• Manage supplier performance through QBRs and scorecards.

Vendor & Operations Support

• Act as sourcing liaison for the assigned categories.
• Standardize components and bills of materials (BOMs)
• Support escalations, costed BOMs, and Approved Manufacturer Lists (AML).

Cost Management & Optimization-

• Develop cost-reduction initiatives and pipelines
• Build cost models and total cost of ownership (TCO) assessments.
• Develop market intelligence to asses new players, technologies and upcoming supply risks.

Lead-Time, Lifecycle & Risk Management

• Monitor global supply constraints and lead-time trends.
• Identify end-of-life (EOL) and last-time-buy (LTB) risks.
• Implement second sourcing and risk mitigation strategies.

Data Management & Compliance

• Maintain accurate ERP and PLM master data
• Ensure compliance with regulatory and customer requirements.
• Own commercial agreements and reporting processes.

What You Bring

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Supply Chain, or related field.
• 5+ years of experience in sourcing, category, or commodity management.
• Experience collaborating with Engineering, Quality and Project Management team to drive cross-functional project milestones.
• Strong negotiation and commercial skills.
• Keen to work within a fast paced & hyper-growth environment, where agility and problem solving are key.

Preferred (Not Required)

• Direct experience with Coils / Fans supply landscape.
• Global sourcing experience.

Why Join Nortek DCC

• Play an important role on a growing team
• Contribute to a company helping power the next generation of AI‑ready data centers
• Work in an environment with meaningful growth opportunities