JobsMotorola Solutions

Procurement Category Manager - Hardware

Motorola Solutions · Chicago, IL

Posted Jul 17, 2025 · We last checked this listing on Sep 20, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

Behavioral

Walk me through a hardware category you owned end to end, from spend analysis to signed agreement. What did the sourcing strategy look like and what results did it produce?

whether the candidate has actually run full category management cycles rather than just executing individual RFPs

Tell me about a time you led a negotiation on a strategic hardware contract with minimal support from legal. How did you handle the commercial and risk terms yourself?

comfort operating independently on contract risk, which the posting flags as a requirement

Describe a supplier relationship you inherited or built that started rocky. How did you turn it into something productive, and what did you use to track it, like scorecards or business reviews?

practical experience with supplier segmentation and structured relationship management, not just informal rapport

Tell me about a presentation or business case you had to bring to a director or VP level audience where the recommendation wasn't an easy sell. How did you make your case?

executive communication skill and ability to influence senior stakeholders, which the posting explicitly calls out

Tell me about a time your sourcing recommendation was rejected or pushed back on by a business partner. How did you respond?

resilience and whether they treat stakeholders as partners rather than just pushing procurement authority

Technical

How do you approach spend analysis to decide which hardware categories are worth a strategic sourcing push versus ones you leave alone?

whether they have a real analytical framework for prioritization, not just intuition

What's an example of a cost reduction or value creation initiative you drove in a hardware category, and how did you actually measure the savings?

rigor around savings methodology, since finance and leadership will scrutinize reported numbers

Walk me through how you'd structure a long-term agreement for a hardware supplier when you expect volume and technology needs to shift significantly over the contract term.

depth of contracting knowledge around flexibility clauses, pricing mechanisms, and risk mitigation in multi-year deals

What's your process for running a supplier business review, and what do you actually change afterward based on what comes out of it?

whether supplier reviews are a real management tool for them or just a checkbox exercise

Situational

Say you're asked to launch an RFx for a major hardware component and two key stakeholders in engineering and operations disagree on requirements before you even go to market. What do you do?

ability to manage cross-functional conflict early in the sourcing process without stalling the timeline

A key hardware supplier comes to you mid-contract asking for a price increase, citing component shortages. How do you evaluate whether that's legitimate and what's your next move?

judgment under supplier pressure and knowledge of how to validate cost claims rather than just accept or reject them

If you found out partway through an RFx that one supplier had significantly more insight into the requirements than the others, what would you do?

integrity and process discipline around fair competitive sourcing

Given you'd be covering hardware spend across a company with global operations and public safety customers, how would you think about supply risk, like single-source dependency or geopolitical exposure?

awareness of the stakes involved in hardware supply for mission-critical products, not just cost focus

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The full job description

As published by Motorola Solutions.

Company Overview ​ At Motorola Solutions, we believe that everything starts with our people. We’re a global close-knit community, united by the relentless pursuit to help keep people safer everywhere. Our critical communications, video security and command center technologies support public safety agencies and enterprises alike, enabling the coordination that’s critical for safer communities, safer schools, safer hospitals and safer businesses. Connect with a career that matters, and help us build a safer future. Department Overview Our Supply Chain and Procurement organization operates in a fast-paced, dynamic environment, delivering best-in-class communications equipment and solutions to customers worldwide. We strive to be a trusted advisor to our business partners, providing innovative solutions that maximize value for their sourcing needs. This role requires a procurement and supplier expert with strong commercial and contractual experience in strategic sourcing and category management. You will implement high-quality, innovative, and cost-effective methodologies to support company and departmental objectives. This position involves collaborating with cross-functional teams, fostering a cooperative environment. Exceptional verbal and written communication, strong organizational skills, and effective time management are essential. Job Description Motorola Solutions is building talent pipelines to meet future hiring demands. This is a pipeline role, while there is not an immediate opening, we want to build relationships with prospective candidates like you. If your background is a match to our requirements, we’ll follow up with an exploratory conversation. NOTE: This is a hybrid role - Candidate must reside in the Chicagoland area with the ability to work from the office as needed. About the Role: We are seeking a highly motivated and experienced Procurement Category Manager to join our team in Chicago. This hybrid role provides essential procurement and supplier expertise in the areas of strategic sourcing and category management, with a focus on Hardware related spend. The ideal candidate will possess strong commercial and contractual experience, delivering high-quality, innovative, and cost-effective methodologies to support company and department objectives. This role requires exceptional verbal and written communication skills, strong organizational and time management abilities, and the ability to interface and foster a collaborative environment with cross-functional teams. Responsibilities: • Lead and execute long-term agreements through formal RFx methodologies. • Analyze spend data and industry dynamics to identify, prioritize, and launch strategic sourcing initiatives for hardware categories. • Identify value/savings opportunities, process improvements, and best practices within the hardware category. • Establish positive relationships across business units to ensure active and early participation in supplier-related matters. • Lead negotiations in both financial and business matters, including commercial terms and risk mitigation for strategic contracts. • Collaborate with business stakeholders to understand requirements, budgets, and current gaps and challenges to develop the best strategic sourcing strategies for hardware. • Support strategic sourcing best practices, including driving supplier segmentation, scorecards, and facilitating strategic business reviews in collaboration with business partners. • Lead supplier contract renewals and leverage competitive pricing, quality, and customer service. • Develop strategic relationships with existing or new key suppliers and ensure appropriate engagement levels exist to drive partnership objectives. • Identify process improvements to increase efficiencies and maximize spend opportunity within the hardware category. • Provide guidance to internal stakeholders on business initiatives and procurement strategies related to hardware. • Develop relationships with senior leadership. • Provide subject matter expertise on complex purchasing, legal, and contractual issues. • Perform supplier relationship management and reviews. Skills & Qualifications: • Proven experience in budget planning and cost reduction strategies. • Demonstrated ability in contract negotiations, operating effectively with minimal legal guidance. • 8+ years of progressive procurement experience, with a focus on **Hardware** categories preferred. • Experience contributing to large/complex supplier deals, including services, integrated solutions, and more. • Ability to communicate effectively and facilitate presentations for Director/VP levels. • Preferred certifications: Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM), Certified member of the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (MCIPS), Certified Purchasing Manager (CPM) from the Institute of Supply Chain Management (ISM), Project Management Professional (PMP) from the Project Management Institute. • Ability to travel up to 25% (minimal travel required).   LI-#AB1 LI-#HYBRD Target Base Salary Range: $80,000.00 - $180,000.00 Consistent with Motorola Solutions values and applicable law, we provide the following information to promote pay transparency and equity. Pay within this range varies and depends on job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. The actual offer will be based on the individual candidate. Basic Requirements • Bachelor's Degree in business, finance or similar business discipline • 2+ years of procurement or supply chain experience • Legal authorization to work in the U.S. indefinitely is required. Employer work permit sponsorship is not available for this position Travel Requirements Under 25% Relocation Provided None Position Type Experienced Referral Payment Plan No Our U.S. Benefits include: • Incentive Bonus Plans • Medical, Dental, Vision benefits • 401K • 10 Paid Holidays • Generous Paid Time Off Packages • Employee Stock Purchase Plan • Paid Parental & Family Leave • and more! EEO Statement Motorola Solutions is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status or any other legally-protected characteristic.  We are proud of our people-first and community-focused culture, empowering every Motorolan to be their most authentic self and to do their best work to deliver on the promise of a safer world. If you’d like to join our team but feel that you don’t quite meet all of the preferred skills, we’d still love to hear why you think you’d be a great addition to our team. We’re committed to providing an inclusive and accessible recruiting experience for candidates with disabilities, or other physical or mental health conditions. To request an accommodation, please complete this  Reasonable Accommodations Form  so we can assist you.

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