Category Lead - Strategic Sourcing (Contract to Hire)

About the role

We are seeking an experienced Category Lead to support strategic sourcing, category management, and supplier relationship management activities within a large enterprise environment. This role will be responsible for independently leading multiple strategic sourcing initiatives, partnering with cross-functional stakeholders, managing supplier agreements, and identifying opportunities to reduce cost, improve quality, increase value, and support business performance goals.

Responsibilities

• Establish, lead, and support cross-functional category management teams to develop and maintain category plans.
• Develop deep knowledge of assigned spend areas, suppliers, business requirements, market dynamics, and performance drivers.
• Define category requirements in collaboration with internal stakeholder groups and business partners.
• Develop and maintain category strategies that support cost savings, quality improvement, supplier diversity, performance improvement, and total cost of ownership goals.
• Manage category-related projects from initiation through implementation, applying project management principles to deliver results on time and within scope.
• Independently lead strategic enterprise sourcing initiatives from planning through execution.
• Conduct spend analysis, supplier analysis, market research, and external benchmarking to identify sourcing opportunities.
• Develop cost models, savings forecasts, and performance improvement forecasts to monitor progress against goals.
• Lead sourcing and performance improvement initiatives identified through category plans.
• Facilitate cross-functional sourcing teams to evaluate options, align priorities, and drive decisions.
• Lead supplier negotiations as needed to secure favorable commercial terms, improve service levels, and support business objectives.
• Maintain and manage critical supplier agreements, including renewals, issue resolution, term negotiations, and performance tracking.
• Develop and maintain supplier criticality ratings and manage resulting supplier relationship strategies.
• Track supplier performance metrics and identify opportunities to improve supplier quality, service, cost, and overall value.
• Conduct Quarterly Business Reviews with critical suppliers and internal executive sponsors.
• Support supplier issue identification, escalation, tracking, and resolution.
• Lead sourcing and category strategy meetings with internal stakeholders.
• Analyze spend data, supplier performance, pricing models, and market conditions.
• Develop sourcing strategies, category plans, cost models, and savings forecasts.
• Facilitate cross-functional team discussions and drive alignment on category priorities.
• Lead supplier negotiations and support contract renewals or amendments.
• Track supplier performance, issues, risks, and improvement actions.
• Prepare leadership updates, sourcing recommendations, business cases, and category performance reports.
• Cook up with procurement, legal, finance, business units, and suppliers to move sourcing and contracting activities forward.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or equivalent work-related experience.
• Proven track record of delivering results and achieving business goals.
• Demonstrated ability to develop effective working relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Experience leading cross-functional teams.
• Ability to build support, alignment, and consensus across stakeholder groups.
• Proven financial acumen and strong analytical abilities.
• Experience analyzing data, developing cost models, drawing conclusions, and presenting recommendations.
• Strong negotiation, communication, organization, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to manage multiple sourcing initiatives and priorities in a fast-paced environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience managing large supplier agreements.
• Experience working in a shared services organization.
• Supply chain experience in the utility industry.
• Knowledge of category management and strategic sourcing practices.
• Experience with supplier relationship management and supplier performance metrics.
• Experience conducting Quarterly Business Reviews or similar supplier governance activities.
• Familiarity with total cost of ownership analysis, supplier diversity goals, and performance improvement initiatives.