Senior Category Manager

Xcel Energy (NASDAQ: XEL) is a leading energy provider and Fortune 500 company, dedicated to serving millions of electricity and natural gas customers across eight states: Minnesota, Colorado, Wisconsin, Michigan, North Dakota, South Dakota, New Mexico and Texas. We make energy work better for our customers, helping them thrive every day. That means always raising the bar - delivering better service and providing more reliable, resilient, and sustainable energy.

Xcel Energy is a place where you'll have opportunities to grow, expand your skills, and help lead the clean energy transition. We offer meaningful rewards, recognition, and support to help you build your career and make an impact - both on the job and beyond. Most importantly, it means you'll be joining a company that knows employees are the driving force behind its success and is committed to helping you be your best.

Xcel Energy supports a hybrid work model to enable collaboration and flexibility. Many roles are expected to work onsite three days per week (Tuesday-Thursday); however, work location expectations vary based on role, team, and business needs.

Senior Category Manager

Position Summary

Develop and execute sourcing category, supplier, and risk management strategies that align with business stakeholder priorities for key categories. Lead cross functional teams from the business and Supply Chain to drive successful project and category outcomes/results. Plan and lead competitive sourcing events using an enterprise-wide approach, incorporating external factors intelligence in support of category strategies. Develop effective negotiation strategies, plan, and conduct negotiations of commercial terms with suppliers to achieve category objectives. Lead on-going supplier performance, relationship, and development activities to ensure category strategy adherence. Develop and execute contracts with key suppliers.

Direct Sourcing and Contracting support for third party contractor services including but not limited electric, gas and engineering functions.

Essential Responsibilities

• Develop and implement enterprise-wide category strategies to optimize cost and improve operations in line with sourcing best practices. Collaborate with business stakeholders to align business demands, category/contract strategy, and execution. Perform spend and cost analysis (e.g. total cost of ownership and should cost models) and develop category strategies to achieve maximum value capture. Complete supplier research and risk profiles while monitoring industry information, external factors, and trends to ensure category strategies are aligned with current best practices. In conjunction with logistics personnel, implement optimal inventory strategies.
• Lead multiple strategic supplier performance, relationship and development management efforts focused on improving total cost of ownership, quality, delivery, and continuous improvement. Develop plans with suppliers that support business goals and strategies, while driving continuous improvement and collaboration to strengthen partnerships that bring value to the company and the supplier. Develop performance-based supplier scorecards. Monitor, document, and evaluate supplier performance. Lead the resolution of disputes with suppliers.
• Lead negotiations of commercial terms to establish contracts that support category strategies while meeting business requirements, including limits of liability and general terms & conditions. Review, analyze, verify, and negotiate contract changes or additional work orders. Monitor compliance across buying channel, supplier, and contract purchasing execution. Manage contractor claims to resolution and successfully minimize overall impact to cost and schedule. Ensure suppliers comply with contract terms and meet all commitments. Develop and communicate contract summary and implementation plans.
• Develop risk management strategies and in conjunction with Legal and Security teams, apply understanding of underlying principles of contract law to administer all category contract agreements. In collaboration with business area management, manage and define the risk elements of the contract
• Lead cross functional teams from the business and Supply Chain to drive successful project and category outcomes/results. Create and manage project plans to implement category strategies. Interacts with business leadership to integrate sourcing and business project plans. Manage Supply Chain, business, and supplier continuous improvement efforts. Lead change management efforts

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, business, or related technical/analytical field.
• Equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.
• Requires five years of supply chain experience with focus in sourcing.
• Three years of contract formation knowledge and experience.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and significant experience with purchasing and sourcing systems is required.
• Demonstrated customer service skills.
• Strong interpersonal and relationship skills are required.
• Required to attend meetings in various locations, up to 20% travel; driver's license required.

Preferred Requirements

• MBA as well as Certified Professional in Supply Chain Management (CPSM) or other supply chain certification preferred.
• Negotiation and project management skills preferred.
• Previous experience managing categories with annual spend exceeding $100 million.

Our culture is grounded in shared values and employee commitments that guide how we work, support one another, and grow together.

Our Values

Connected, Committed, Trustworthy, Safe

Our Employee Commitments

• Work that makes a difference
• A team you can count of
• Opportunities to grow
• Rewards that help you thrive

Xcel Energy provides job applicants reasonable accommodations for disabilities throughout the application process. If you are in need of an accommodation to complete the application process, now or at any time in the future, please complete the Applicant Accommodation Request Form.

Non-Bargaining

The anticipated starting base pay for this position is: $97,600.00 to $138,600.00 per year

This position is eligible for the following benefits: Annual Incentive Program, Medical/Pharmacy Plan, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, Dependent Care Reimbursement Account, Health Care Reimbursement Account, Health Savings Account (HSA) (if enrolled in eligible health plan), Limited-Purpose FSA (if enrolled in eligible health plan and HSA), Transportation Reimbursement Account, Short-term disability (STD), Long-term disability (LTD), Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Fitness Center Reimbursement (if enrolled in eligible health plan), Tuition reimbursement, Transit programs, Employee recognition program, Pension, 401(k) plan, Paid time off (PTO), Holidays, Volunteer Paid Time Off (VPTO), Parental Leave

Benefit plans are subject to change and Xcel Energy has the right to end, suspend, or amend any of its plans, at any time, in whole or in part.

In any materials you submit, you may redact or remove age-identifying information including but not limited to dates of school attendance and graduation. You will not be penalized for redacting or removing this information.

Deadline to Apply: 10/02/26

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Accessibility Statement

Xcel Energy endeavors to make https://www.xcelenergy.com and https://jobs.xcelenergy.com accessible to any and all users. If you are in need of an accommodation to complete the application process, now or at any time in the future, please complete the Applicant Accommodation Request Form. For any other application related questions, including application follow-ups or technical issues, please use our Recruiting Assistance, Electra, for assistance. Electra can be found in the lower right-hand corner of our Xcel Energy Careers site.