Principal Category Leader

Principal Category Leader

Location: Oakland, CA

Onsite Flexibility: Hybrid

This role is a Principal Category Leader supporting strategic sourcing across software, hardware, and/or telecom categories for a large energy utility organization. The position is hybrid, requiring on-site presence at the Oakland office 35 days a month depending on business needs. Local candidates in the Bay Area are required. The supplier will need to provide a laptop for the assignment and any other additional equipment needed. A personal phone is required (no reimbursement), or use of MS Teams for calls and meetings.

Key Responsibilities

• Conducts and documents market research and supplier risk analysis to verify the financial health of existing and potential suppliers
• Creates and maintains category plans
• Develops and reviews performance data with suppliers; works with suppliers to drive ongoing value discovery
• Develops and sustains mutually beneficial strategic relationships with tier 1 and cross-portfolio suppliers
• Leads cross-functional team through strategic sourcing process and development/execution of negotiation strategies for software, hardware, and telecom categories
• Leads the development of category strategies of high complexity
• Maintains awareness of industry and market trends through ongoing research
• Sets market trends on particular commodities by working with the industry on best practices
• Serves as subject matter expert for particular commodities or services in the industry
• Works with senior management to support strategic planning and decision-making at the officer level
• Develops and manages one or more sourcing spend categories and manages all Tier 1 contracts associated with the category(ies)
• Develops strategic category plans to optimize cost savings, service excellence, diversity spend, and total cost of ownership for the categories
• Effectively influences Lines of Business (LOBs), including senior leadership, to achieve understanding, acceptance, and commitment of sourcing strategies
• Works with Line of Business (LOB) to develop, source, and negotiate major contracts
• Plays a key role in Supplier Relationship Management / Scorecard process

Required Skills

• Software, hardware, and/or telecom sourcing experience
• Ariba experience
• Strong negotiation skills with demonstrated cost savings
• Sourcing life cycle management experience
• Ability to analyze and combine information from different sources and use logic to reach appropriate conclusions as needed to perform at the job level
• Ability to apply contract processes and procedures and relevant contracts and licensing for example ESC, IBEW, tort, contract law as needed to perform at the job level
• Ability to work independently with limited oversight
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office Products for example Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Access as needed to perform at the job level
• Competency in relating openly and comfortably with diverse groups of people
• Competency in building partnerships and working collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives
• Competency in building strong-identity teams that apply their diverse skills and perspectives to achieve common goals
• Knowledge of the technical/functional aspects of the trade, occupation, or role as needed to perform at the job level
• Knowledge of database and information systems for example SCADA, EMS, OMT, OIS, SAP, ERP, COSO, Teradata, COBIT, Question Mark as needed to perform at the job level

Required Experience

• Experience in supply chain, or related 10 years

Nice-to-Have Experience

• Experience in procurement, or related
• Utility industry experience
• Job-related experience 10 years

Education Requirements

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience *(required)*
• Master's degree in Business Administration or job-related discipline, or equivalent experience *(preferred)*
• ISM Institute for Supply Management CPSM (Certified Professional in Supply Management) certification *(preferred)*
• LSS Lean Six Sigma Certification *(preferred)*

Benefits

• Medical, Vision, and Dental Insurance Plans
• 401k Retirement Fund

Important Notes

• Local candidates in the Bay Area only; candidate must be able to work on-site at the Oakland office 35 days a month depending on business needs.
• Supplier is required to provide a laptop for the assignment and any other additional equipment needed.
• Personal phone is required (no reimbursement), or use of MS Teams for calls and meetings.

About the Client

This utility and energy organization is one of the largest combined natural gas and electric energy utilities in the United States, delivering energy to approximately 16 million people across a 70,000-square-mile service area spanning northern and central California. With roughly 25,000 employees operating complex energy infrastructure including transmission lines, pipelines, substations, and generation facilities the organization offers stability and scale at the heart of California's energy future. As the energy sector undergoes rapid transformation, this organization is at the center of it, managing the intersection of traditional infrastructure and emerging clean energy solutions, creating genuine opportunities for supply chain professionals, engineers, technologists, tradespeople, and business professionals alike.

About GTT

GTT is a minority-owned staffing firm and a subsidiary of Chenega Corporation, a Native American-owned company in Alaska. We highly value diverse and inclusive workplaces and support Fortune 500 organizations across banking, financial services, technology, life sciences, biotech, utilities, and retail sectors throughout the U.S. and Canada.