VP - Independent Distribution

Be a part of our mission! As a world leader in creating comfortable, sustainable, and efficient climate solutions for buildings, homes and transportation, it's our responsibility to put the planet first. For us at Trane Technologies , and through our businesses including Trane®  and  Thermo King ,  sustainability is not just how we do business—it is our business.  Do you dare to look at the world's challenges and see impactful possibilities?  Do you want to contribute to making a better future?  If the answer is yes, we invite you to consider joining us in boldly challenging what's possible for a sustainable world. Learn about our benefits designed for you to Thrive at work and at home.  We boldly go. Where is the work: Prioritize engaging with customers. When not directly interacting with customers; collaborate with colleagues in your office.     The Vice President of Independent Distribution leads our North American Equipment and Supply business and. This role owns channel sales, distributor relationships, and go-to-market strategy across our flagship independent channels, with accountability for market share growth, margin optimization, and the overall health of our distribution network.  This role directly reports to our President of Residential HVAC. This key leader will create a comprehensive strategic roadmap to accelerate growth and business performance while refining and evolving the organization’s vision for the future.   Location/Travel: This role is posted in Davidson, NC ; however, for the right candidate, other U.S. locations may be considered. This position requires a minimum of 50% travel , including frequent travel to support independent distribution partners, customer engagement, field collaboration, and business meetings. What You’ll Do   Strategic Leadership & Channel Growth   Lead the multi-year growth strategy for Independent Distribution across Trane, American Standard, RunTru , and Ameristar to maximize market penetration and drive long-term profitability.   Lead our two-step distribution model, align channel performance with long-term enterprise goals, and deepen key distributor relationships.   Partner with the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) to translate enterprise vision into actionable channel programs, strategic product introductions, and proactive responses to regulatory shifts.   Own annual budgeting, long-range planning (LRP), and risk/return analysis for major channel investments in partnership with Finance.   Drive sustainable growth and market share expansion by embedding modern two-step distribution practices and growth-oriented sales models.   Commercial Execution & Distributor Operations   Monitor and evaluate monthly bookings, revenue streams, and margin performance, delivering active, transparent business reviews to executive leadership.   Build and cultivate high-trust, executive-level relationships with independent distributor principals, establishing win-win partnerships and resolving complex distribution channel dynamics.   Collaborate closely with Legal on distributor agreements, contract negotiations, terms and conditions, and strategic channel conversions.   Partner across SIOP (Sales, Inventory, & Operations Planning) and Product Phase-Gate governance reviews to align supply chain, production capacity, and product performance with market demand.   Enterprise Integration    Foster active collaboration with product management, engineering, and manufacturing teams to ensure fast, high-quality delivery of HVAC equipment and supply lines.   Ensure strict compliance with corporate policies, standard operating procedures, and trade integrity across all channel operations.   Talent, Culture & Inclusive Leadership   Build an uplifting team environment that reflects Trane Technologies’ Leadership Principles: We include and uplift one another and We make better happen .   Attract, mentor, and empower diverse, high-performing sales and operations leaders,