Senior Category Specialist - New Product Introduction

About Pierce, an Oshkosh company

At Pierce Manufacturing, we build trucks that protect people and communities around the world. To our team, there is no room for anything less than providing the absolute best. Since 1913, building truck bodies on Model T Ford chassis in an old converted church has evolved to creating highly customized, carefully designed and engineering pumpers, aerials, tankers and rescue units that have no equal. Today, you'll find more than 30,000 Pierce apparatuses on the road that are making a difference in people's lives, every day. To us, every step in the process of building our trucks is personal. From innovation and expertise, to the customization and service. Our trucks are designed to perform under the toughest conditions.

JOB SUMMARY

The Senior Category Specialist is a senior-level role within the Supply Chain New Product Introduction (NPI) team supporting specialty truck manufacturing programs. This role functions as a working project leader responsible for ensuring supply chain readiness for new product launches, with a focus on cost, timing, and risk management.   The role partners with Category Leaders and cross-functional teams to execute sourcing strategies, validate supplier readiness, and ensure alignment with program budgets and build milestones. While not a direct owner of category management, this position plays a key execution role in driving sourcing plans through to successful launch.  This role uses data analysis, supply market intelligence, and supplier engagement to identify risks, resolve constraints, and support on-time, on-budget launches. It also provides monthly reporting to senior leadership on program status, risks, milestones, and supply chain readiness.

YOUR IMPACT

• Lead supply chain readiness activities for NPI and product launch programs.

• Serve as project lead for supply chain deliverables across assigned vehicle or product programs.

• Partner with Category Leaders to execute sourcing strategies aligned with cost, timing, and technical requirements.

• Coordinate cross-functional teams including Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, Finance, Sales, and Materials.

• Track supply chain milestones to ensure alignment with program schedules and launch targets.

• Provide monthly leadership updates on program status, risks, milestones, and mitigation actions.

• Identify and mitigate supply chain risks impacting cost, quality, or timing.

• Support sourcing execution, including supplier selection support and RFx coordination.

• Assess supplier capability, capacity, and readiness for new product launches.

• Manage escalation and resolution of supplier-related risks and constraints.

• Support pricing validation and total cost of ownership (TCO) analysis with Category Leaders.

• Interpret engineering drawings and technical requirements to support sourcing decisions.

• Maintain part and program-level data integrity and taxonomy.

• Support supplier engagement activities including onboarding and launch readiness reviews.

• Ensure alignment between program budgets, sourcing decisions, and execution plans.

• Lead supply chain workstreams from concept through production launch.

• Participate in governance meetings and cross-functional launch reviews.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:  

• Bachelor’s degree and five (5) or more years of experience in Supply Chain Management or a related field.

• OR an equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Ability to travel 10-20%.

STANDOUT QUALIFICATIONS: 

• Category strategy experience within the manufacturing industry.

• Ability to effectively communicate.

• Ability to work in a team environment.

• Strong organizational skills with exceptional follow through and attention to detail.

• Strong time-management and prioritization skills, able to multi-task and prioritize competing requirements and meet deadlines.

• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment where requirements are constantly changing.

• Experience and proficiency with various web-based software applications including Microsoft Office Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint, etc.
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Pay Range:

Oshkosh is committed to working with and offering reasonable accommodation to job applicants with disabilities. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to disability for any part of the employment process, please contact us at [email protected].

Oshkosh Corporation is a merit-based Equal Opportunity Employer. Job opportunities are open for application to all qualified individuals and selection decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or other protected characteristic. To the extent that information is provided or collected regarding categories as provided by law it will in no way affect the decision regarding an employment application.

Oshkosh Corporation will not discharge or in any manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with Oshkosh Corporation's legal duty to furnish information.

Certain positions with Oshkosh Corporation require access to controlled goods and technologies subject to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations or the Export Administration Regulations. Applicants for these positions may need to be "U.S. Persons," as defined in these regulations. Generally, a "U.S. Person" is a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, or an individual who has been admitted as a refugee or granted asylum.