Strategic Sourcing Specialist Principal – International Ocean, Air & Customs Brokerage
Charlotte, VT - USA
Department:
Job Summary
The Senior Category Manager International Ocean Air & Customs Brokerage is responsible for the global sourcing category strategy and supplier management of international ocean freight air freight and customs brokerage services supporting Honeywell Intelligrateds global project execution and aftermarket operations.
This role leads endtoend category ownership ensuring transportation and brokerage strategies optimize total landed cost delivery reliability regulatory compliance and risk mitigation across a complex projectdriven supply chain. The position requires deep expertise in global logistics markets customs brokerage operations international trade compliance and strategic sourcing with the ability to influence across a matrixed Honeywell enterprise.
The Senior Category Manager partners closely with Logistics Trade Compliance Engineering Project Management Finance and Operations to ensure global transportation and brokerage capabilities support customer commitments installation schedules and business growth.
Responsibilities
Key Responsibilities
Category Strategy & Ownership
- Develop and execute global category strategies for international ocean freight air freight and customs brokerage services aligned with Honeywell Intelligrated business and project delivery objectives.
- Own category roadmaps that balance cost competitiveness service performance regulatory compliance capacity assurance and supply chain resilience.
- Drive standardization where appropriate while allowing flexibility for projectspecific and customerdriven requirements.
Strategic Sourcing & Contract Management
- Lead global sourcing initiatives including RFPs/RFQs supplier evaluations negotiations and awards for international carriers freight forwarders and customs brokers.
- Negotiate and manage master service agreements (MSAs) rate structures SLAs and compliance requirements across transportation and brokerage providers.
- Ensure contracts reflect Honeywell standards for risk liability compliance cybersecurity and sustainability.
Customs Brokerage & Trade Enablement
- Own the customs brokerage category including broker selection governance performance management and continuous improvement.
- Partner closely with Trade Compliance to ensure brokerage strategies align with global customs regulations Free Trade Agreements HTS classifications and countryspecific requirements.
- Ensure effective broker support for project cargo complex machinery timecritical shipments and customerspecific delivery constraints.
- Drive consistency in customs processes documentation quality clearance cycle times and audit readiness.
Market Intelligence & Analytics
- Monitor global freight and brokerage market trends capacity dynamics regulatory changes and geopolitical risks.
- Leverage data indices and performance metrics to inform sourcing strategies and proactively mitigate disruption risk.
- Develop and maintain category KPIs tied to cost service compliance and schedule adherence.
Stakeholder Partnership
- Collaborate with Logistics Project Management Engineering Operations Finance Trade Compliance and Sourcing leadership to align category strategies with execution needs.
- Act as the primary subjectmatter expert for international transportation and brokerage sourcing within Honeywell Intelligrated.
- Support project planning activities where logistics and customs requirements materially impact cost timing or feasibility.
Supplier Performance & Continuous Improvement
- Manage supplier performance through scorecards QBRs corrective action plans and continuous improvement initiatives.
- Drive accountability for ontime performance clearance efficiency issue resolution cost transparency and compliance adherence.
- Identify opportunities to improve service reliability reduce dwell time and optimize total landed cost.
Risk Compliance & Resilience
- Identify and mitigate risks related to capacity constraints port congestion regulatory changes geopolitical disruption and customs delays.
- Ensure adherence to Incoterms international shipping regulations customs laws and Honeywell compliance standards.
- Support internal and external audits related to transportation and customs brokerage activities.
Value Creation & Sustainability
- Deliver measurable cost savings productivity gains and service improvements across transportation and brokerage categories.
- Support Honeywell Intelligrated sustainability goals through emissions reduction initiatives modal optimization and responsible supplier practices.
Qualifications
YOU MUST HAVE
- 8 or more years of experience in international logistics strategic sourcing category management or trade operations with ownership of ocean air and/or brokerage categories.
- Strong knowledge of global ocean and air freight markets customs brokerage operations and freight forwarding models.
- Proven experience negotiating complex global contracts and managing strategic supplier relationships.
- Solid understanding of customs regulations import/export processes and international shipping documentation.
- Strong analytical skills with proficiency in Excel Power BI and sourcing platforms (e.g. Coupa Ariba).
- Excellent communication stakeholder influence and project management skills in a matrixed environment.
WE VALUE
- Bachelors degree in Supply Chain Business International Trade Logistics or related field (Masters degree or MBA preferred).
- Familiarity with Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) HTS classification valuation and global trade compliance programs.
- Experience supporting projectbased engineeredtoorder or capital equipment supply chains.
- Exposure to project cargo oversized freight or timecritical customer deliveries.
- Multilingual capabilities or international work experience.
Additional Information
- This role operates within a global matrixed Honeywell environment and requires strong influence without direct authority.
- Periodic domestic and international travel may be required to support supplier engagement and business needs.
ABOUT HONEYWELL
Honeywell International Inc. (Nasdaq: HON) invents and commercializes technologies that address some of the worlds most critical challenges around energy safety security air travel productivity and global urbanization. We are a leading software-industrial company committed to introducing state-of-the-art technology solutions to improve efficiency productivity sustainability and safety in high growth businesses in broad-based attractive industrial end markets. Our products and solutions enable a safer more comfortable and more productive world enhancing the quality of life of people around the globe. Learn more about Honeywell: click here
THE BUSINESS UNIT
Honeywell Industrial Automation enables process industry operations creates world-class sensor technologies automates supply chains makes warehouses smarter and improves worker safety. This combination builds on our core strengths in controls and automation technologies which in turn allows us to deliver better commercial outcomes for our customers. We enable customers to enhance the safety sustainability resiliency and productivity of their people plants and assets.
BENEFITS OF WORKING FOR HONEYWELL
In addition to a competitive salary leading-edge work and developing solutions side-by-side with dedicated experts in their fields Honeywell employees are eligible for a comprehensive benefits package. This package includes employer-subsidized Medical Dental Vision and Life Insurance; Short-Term and Long-Term Disability; 401(k) match Flexible Spending Accounts Health Savings Accounts EAP and Educational Assistance; Parental Leave Paid Time Off (for vacation personal business sick time and parental leave) and 12 Paid Holidays.
The application period for the job is estimated to be 40 days from the job posting date; however this may be shortened or extended depending on business needs and the availability of qualified candidates.
Honeywell is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will be considered without regard to age race creed color national origin ancestry marital status affectional or sexual orientation gender identity or expression disability nationality sex religion or veteran status.
Honeywell recently announced plans to sell its Intelligrated (IGS) business to American Industrial Partners (AIP). At this time we anticipate that the deal will close in the second half of 2026 subject to customary closing conditions. We expect this role dedicated to the IGS business will be part of this future transaction when it closes.
Required Experience:
Staff IC
About Company
Honeywell helps organizations solve the world's most complex challenges in automation, the future of aviation and energy transition. As a trusted partner, we provide actionable solutions and innovation through our Aerospace Technologies, Building Automation, Energy and Sustainability ... View more