Category Strategist

About the Role

The Category Strategist II owns the category management and strategic sourcing process for assigned categories of goods or services of high complexity and/or critical spend to deliver financial savings. This position develops strategies in assigned categories that will maximize overall value while reducing total cost of ownership, improving productivity, and managing risk. In addition to defining sourcing strategies, the Category Strategist negotiates agreements, identifies leveraged sourcing opportunities, analyzes market intelligence, manages contracts and supplier performance. The incumbent is recognized as the subject matter technical expert in Category Management strategy, strategic sourcing, spend & cost analysis, contract & vendor management and will work in an advisory capacity with internal stakeholders to identify sourcing opportunities and manage supplier performance. This role will work throughout the spectrum of strategic sourcing/ category management and needs to be comfortable interfacing with multiple Cleco stakeholders. The incumbent will create value through the supply chain in terms of safety, cost, risk mitigation and enhanced supplier performance. Key internal stakeholders include Safety, Operations, Finance, Tax, Risk Management, Human Resources and Legal.

Responsibilities

• Champion a corporate culture that emphasizes transparency, integrity, safety, environmental responsibility, employee development, sense of belonging, customer service, and operational excellence.
• With limited assistance, develop, execute and communicate the category management strategy and goals for assigned categories, balancing internal requirements, cost and productivity considerations.
• Responsible for strategic sourcing, identification and implementation of contract initiatives in which the long-term availability of resources can be maintained at a competitive price, with appropriate quality/performance, such that operations and company business functions are supported.
• Ensure contractual support of operations. Ensure that Alliance (Strategic Sourcing) agreements are strategically established to meet the overall needs of the company. Act on behalf of Category Management, as required, and maintain awareness of Capital Project schedules and commitments (e.g. milestones) to provide support for project schedules.
• Work closely with various project management team members throughout Cleco. Responsible for full understanding of all phases of contracting (from Bid, Award, Negotiation, Contract Development, Performance Monitoring, Claims, Dispute Resolution).
• Develop and present strategies for complex, high-dollar procurements.
• Track and manage spend and market data.
• Utilize category data to deliver demand forecast to internal stakeholders.
• Clearly present category supply strategies to upper management to influence long-term operation business decisions.
• Translate specific strategies into initiatives with clear metrics (ROIs, cost savings, targets/KPIs, deliverables and workplans) in cooperation with key stakeholders.
• Present category ideas & recommendations to key stakeholders to gain support for category strategies across the organization, including executive leadership, and assist leadership team in leading supplier relationships to deliver on projects and strategy.
• Develop relationships and become an effective business partner with assigned business functions or subject matter professionals to support category strategy objectives.
• Execute go to market strategies, including opportunity evaluation, recommendations, contracting provisions.
• Collaborate with buyers to execute strategic agreements and support procure-to-pay optimization.
• Analyze and resolve problems and propose alternative solutions using company guidelines, policies and systems, technical experience, judgments, and precedents.
• Develop, execute, and communicate processes to govern commercial, operational, risk management, business continuity and ESG strategies for assigned categories.
• Develop, execute, and communicate the supplier management strategy.
• Track, manage and report supplier performance.
• Perform internal and external business reviews.
• Create and maintain robust supplier portfolio, vendor scorecards, KPIs and cost comparisons to market competitors.
• Lead negotiation of business requirements for complex contract negotiations.
• Support response to storms, outages, or emergencies, including working extended hours or at different locations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Business, Finance, Engineering, Technology or other related discipline.
• 3-5+ years of category management, strategic sourcing, project management, financial or other related operational experience.
• Previous experience with a procurement software such as SAP, Ariba or other similar product preferred.
• Strong business acumen pertaining to the Utility industry.
• Strong knowledge of leading practices for Category Management.
• Strong planning, project management, communications, writing, speaking, and listening skills.
• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills to interpret Financial and Operational KPIs/metrics and derive insights into actionable opportunities.
• Willingness and ability to learn new technologies on the job.
• Proficient at functioning effectively within a team environment, present ideas and opinions in a respective and collegial manner.
• Understanding of capital project management stage gate processes & procurement & supply chain best practices.
• Deep experience in commercial acumen; complex commercial strategy development & progression.
• Experience in end-to-end strategic sourcing for new generation and/or transmission procurement ensuring cost, schedule, and performance alignment with Cleco's needs as well as serving as a key business partner and strategic advisor to major parts of Cleco operations including Power Development, Capital Projects, Transmission and Power Generation.
• Strong strategic and analytical thinker with an ability to provide focus on service delivery.
• Experience with process optimization and continuous improvement preferred.
• Strong collaboration, relationship management, and negotiation skills and abilities.
• Strong communication, facilitation, presentation, and creative problem-solving skills.

Licenses and Certifications

• Certified Purchasing Manager (CPM), Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM) or equivalent certification preferred.
• Six Sigma or Lean certification preferred.

Key Competencies

• Behavioral: Building Organizational Talent, Building Partnerships, Leading Teams, Business Acumen, Communication, Courage, Building Self-Insight, Building Talent, Driving for Results, Energizing the Organization, Driving Execution, Building Trusting Relationships, Driving Innovation, Planning and Organizing, Safety, Establishing Strategic Direction.
• Technical: Analytical skills, Compliance.