Director, Category Management

NiSource · Columbus, OH · 1 wk ago

Marketing$160k–$240k/yrFull-time

Job Summary

The Director Category Management leads the design, development and execution of the NiSource Supply Chain Category Management strategy and all associated category-level strategies. The Director manages a team of professionals to support the supply chain needs of NiSource stakeholders in a high-quality, consistent and cost-effective manner.

Essential Functions

Owns overall accountability for strategic sourcing and category management strategy to support the business partner goals and objectives
Promotes Economic Inclusion strategies and reinforces their value in category management strategies
Led diverse team of qualified individuals with authority to hire, terminate, promote, demote, coach, develop and performance manage
Leads the collaboration with Strategic Sourcing & Procurement and Economic Inclusion teams to execute on ongoing Supplier Relationship Management programs across all categories and facilitate desired outcomes including supplier sourcing and contract negotiation activities
Engages with Category Management leaders in other industries to explore the applicability of strategies and tactics
Collaborates with Supply Chain leaders and key business partners to gain a comprehensive understanding of business requirements and Supply Chain’s role in to effectively assess risk levels, manage supply continuity, develop contingency plans and establish risk management strategies to mitigate risk
Defines the standard for business knowledge for the Category Management team and supports team member engagement with the business via experiential learning, local engagement and close partnership
Continuously identifies and implements strategies and improvement initiatives to reduce cost, improve quality and result in a lower total cost of ownership
Owns Category Management KPIs and reports performance to leadership (e.g., TCO, category spend under management, purchase price variance, on-time delivery, etc.)
Develops forecasts and implementation plans to ensure category strategy goals are achieved
Continuously evaluates supplier performance and creates and leads teams to improve supplier performance as necessary
Conducts external research to stay abreast of the supply market trends and their potential application at NiSource
Analyzes category spend management opportunities and deploys appropriate strategic plans
Explores ways to leverage advanced analytics/AI to identify performance improvement opportunities and optimize strategies

Required Qualifications

Bachelor level degree from an accredited institution required (Supply Chain Management, Business, Engineering, Finance, Technology preferred)
10+ years supply chain and category management experience
5+ years of experience leading category management teams
Experience managing critical suppliers and associated contractual agreements
Proven track record of delivering results and achieving goals in a collaborative/matrixed environment
Current knowledge of leading supply chain practices and benchmarks
Ability to build and maintain trusted relationships with leaders within and outside the company
Highly developed strategic thinking, decision-making, conflict resolution and relationship building
Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, including experience delivering presentations and recommendations to Executive Leadership
Demonstrated leadership and ability to build support and consensus
Proven cost management skills and financial acumen
Experience assessing business risks and ability to identify, problem solve and drive innovative solutions
Experience with supply chain and/or ERP applications (e.g., Ariba, Coupa, SAP, etc.)
Proficiency in Microsoft Office

Preferred Additional Qualifications

MBACategory Management experience in the Utilities or Telecommunications industries
Experience/certification in performance improvement methods (e.g., Lean and/or Six Sigma)
Advanced certifications: Portfolio Management Professional (PMP), CIMP/CSCP, CPA

Physical Demands

Standing - Occasionally
Walking - Occasionally
Sitting - Constantly
Lifting - Rarely
Carrying - Rarely
Pushing - Rarely
Pulling - Rarely
Climbing - Rarely
Balancing - Rarely
Stooping - Rarely
Kneeling - Rarely
Crouching - Rarely
Crawling - Rarely
Reaching - Rarely
Handling - Occasionally
Grasping - Occasionally
Feeling - Rarely
Talking - Constantly
Hearing - Constantly
Repetitive Motions - Frequently
Eye/Hand/Foot Coordination - Frequently

Workplace Connection

Value inclusion within your day to day responsibilities by respecting others perspectives/convictions, engaging others opinions, creating a safe environment where people, ideas, and opinions are valued within your Team/Customers and external partners. Respect the unique lived experiences within your Team/Customers and external work partners by valuing different world views, challenges, and cultures that represents all walks of life and all backgrounds. Treat others with respect and consideration. Actively participate in creating and contributing to a positive work environment.

Equal Employment Opportunity

NiSource is committed to providing equal employment opportunities in each of its companies to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, veteran status, disability, gender, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, sex (including pregnancy, lactation, childbirth or related medical conditions), genetic information, citizenship status, or any protected group status as defined by law. Each employee is expected to abide by this principle.

ADA Accommodations

If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate in any part of the hiring process or to perform the essential functions of the position, please contact OneHR at OneHR@nisource.com or 1-888-640-3320

Safety Statement

Promote a safe work environment by actively participating in all aspects of our employee safety program. Report any unsafe conditions and take actions to prevent personal injuries. Support our interdependent safety culture by ensuring the safety of your co-workers. Stay focused on the task at hand and promote productivity through good work habits.

Posting Information

Posting Start Date: 2026-07-28

Posting End Date (if applicable): 2026-08-07