Automotive Electrical Sourcing & Category Manager

About the role

Rexel is a world leader in the electrical distribution market, operating in 18 Countries and leveraging a network of 1950 branches and 27000 employees. We provide electrical solutions and equipment for the industrial, residential and commercial sectors. As energy evolves, our business is transforming alongside it. This change is driven by you—our fresh thinkers, innovators and groundbreakers. By collaborating closely with our customers and partners, Rexel is dedicated to delivering value to our employees, customers and stakeholders alike. Together we are building sustainable performance and shaping a better future.

Rexel Canada operates under eight distinct banners: Rexel Atlantic, Rexel Utility, Westburne, Nedco, LTL, Talley, Jacmar and TC360.

Westburne is much more than electrical products. We are Canada’s market leader in energy solutions, renewables, lighting, wire & cable, automation and connected network solutions. We have access to partners in the industry and help our customers and partners grow.

We are seeking an experienced Automotive Electrical Sourcing & Category Manager based in Winnipeg, MB, to lead strategic sourcing, supplier development, category management, and supply-chain initiatives for automotive electrical products and materials.

This role is responsible for developing and implementing category and sourcing strategies that strengthen product availability, cost competitiveness, quality, profitability, and supply continuity. The successful candidate will work closely with suppliers, customers, sales teams, procurement, operations, engineering, marketing, and business leaders to identify opportunities, manage supply risks, and support growth in the automotive electrical market.

An understanding of electrical products, automotive manufacturing environments, and material-market dynamics is essential. An educational background in Electrical Engineering is considered a strong asset.

• Employment type: Full-time
• Experience level: Experienced Professional
• Contract type: Permanent
• Job family: Sales

Responsibilities

Supply Chain Strategy and Risk Management

• Assess and mitigate risks related to supply continuity, supplier capacity, lead times, commodity pricing, raw-material availability, geopolitical events, and manufacturing-cycle changes.
• Monitor market conditions, material pricing, and commodity trends affecting automotive electrical supply chains.
• Support and improve inventory-replenishment practices, including Kanban, Just-in-Time (JIT), and other demand-driven inventory models where appropriate.
• Work with suppliers and internal stakeholders to establish contingency plans for critical materials, products, and suppliers.

Strategic Sourcing and Category Management

• Develop and implement strategic sourcing and category plans for automotive electrical products, components, and materials.
• Maintain a clear product-category structure, product nomenclature, and supplier portfolio to support accurate reporting, analysis, and decision-making.
• Review product demand, inventory levels, sales performance, margin performance, stock packages, and product life-cycle requirements, including phase-in and phase-out activities.
• Establish short- and long-term category development strategies aligned with sales, profitability, quality, service, and inventory objectives.
• Identify opportunities for product standardization, supplier consolidation, value engineering, and cost reduction.

Cross-Functional Collaboration and Communication

• Act as a key point of contact between suppliers and internal teams, including procurement, branches, sales, operations, accounts payable, pricing, marketing, quality, and engineering.
• Communicate product updates, supplier changes, sourcing initiatives, market conditions, and key category information to internal stakeholders.
• Lead or participate in supplier business reviews and performance discussions with management and cross-functional teams.
• Support sales and marketing teams with product knowledge, supplier information, promotional plans, and customer-specific sourcing opportunities.
• Ensure internal teams have the information and direction required to effectively support assigned categories and sourcing programs.

Requirements

• Post-secondary education in Supply Chain Management, Business, Procurement, Engineering, Product Management, or a related discipline.
• Electrical Engineering education, certification, or relevant technical experience is considered a strong asset.
• Minimum 3 to 10 years of experience in procurement, purchasing, strategic sourcing, category management, or commodity management.
• Experience in the automotive electrical industry, electrical distribution, automotive manufacturing, or a related electrical-product environment is preferred.
• Knowledge of automotive electrical components, material markets, manufacturing cycles, raw-material pricing dynamics, and supplier networks.
• Experience with Kanban, JIT, inventory planning, and supply-chain risk-management practices is preferred.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including PivotTables, VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, and data-analysis tools.
• Strong written, verbal, negotiation, presentation, and stakeholder-management skills.
• Proven ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and maintain a high degree of accuracy in a fast-paced environment.

Benefits

Our employees enjoy a positive work-life balance while thriving in an environment that is dynamic and motivated by new and exciting challenges.

We provide competitive compensation, comprehensive benefits plans, and pension plans, along with a remarkable range of career opportunities—whether advancing in your current field or exploring something entirely new. If you’re motivated, we’ll help you find the career path that suits you.