Category Lead

Pay Rate: Bay Area Minimum: $126,000; MIDPOINT: $163K; Bay Area Maximum: $200,000

Location: San Ramon or Oakland, CA

Work Mode: Hybrid

Perm Position

• Act as subject matter expert for particular categories or services.
• Develop and implement category plans and sourcing strategies for medium complexity categories that optimize cost, mitigate risk, and ensure supply continuity.
• Lead competitive bidding processes including RFPs, RFIs, and negotiations to secure best-value agreements.
• Negotiate, draft, and manage contracts to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements, corporate policies, and industry standards.
• Develop and sustain mutually beneficial strategic relationships with category suppliers, conducting regular performance reviews, fostering collaboration on innovation and continuous improvement, and ensuring alignment with the companys safety, reliability, and sustainability goals.
• Partner with and influence cross-functional stakeholders and teams in developing sourcing and negotiation strategies for medium complexity spend categories.
• Maintain awareness of industry and market trends, supplier landscapes, and regulatory changes to drive informed decision-making and strategic sourcing initiatives.
• Conduct and document market research and supplier risk analysis to verify the financial health of existing and potential suppliers.

• Bachelors Degree in Business Administration, Supply Chain Management or job-related discipline or equivalent experience.
• 6 years of experience in sourcing.

• 8 years of work experience in procurement, sourcing, or supply chain management, preferably in the utility, energy, or infrastructure sectors.
• Experience sourcing in Consulting / Professional Services, Construction / Related Services, or Materials.
• Proven ability to lead high-value negotiations, develop contract structures, and drive favorable outcomes.
• Strong analytical skills with experience leveraging spend analytics, cost modeling, and digital procurement tools to optimize category strategies.
• Competency in building partnerships and working collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives.
• Competency in developing strategic supplier partnerships, managing performance scorecards, and fostering supplier-driven innovation.
• Competency in engaging and influencing senior stakeholders, operations leaders, and legal teams, to align procurement strategies with business priorities.
• Competency in building and leading strong-identity teams that apply their diverse skills and perspectives to achieve common goals.
• Competency in applying project management theories, concepts, methods, best practices, and techniques as needed to perform at the job level.
• Knowledge of database and information systems e.g., ARIBA, SAP, etc. as needed to perform at the job level.
• Competency in leading cross-functional teams and to drive projects of medium complexity.
• Strong written and verbal skills.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office.
• Masters Degree in Business Administration or job-related discipline or equivalent experience.
• LSS-Lean Six Sigma Certification.
• PMP-Project Management Professional certification.
• ISM-Institute for Supply Management CPSM-Certified Professional in Supply Management certification, or similar certification(s).