Principal Category Leader

Principal Category Leader

Duration: 3 month contract Location: Oakland, CA - onsite 3-5 days per month Pay range: $100.00/hour - $127.00/hour

Top three qualifications:

• Sourcing life cycle management experience
• Strong negotiation skills with demonstrated cost savings
• Experience managing software, hardware, and/or Telecom Ariba experience

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 review 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. 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.

Skills:

• 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 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.
• 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.

Education:

Minimum Bachelors Degree or equivalent experience. Education Desired Masters Degree in Business Administration or job-related discipline or equivalent experience.

License/Certification Desired:

• ISM-Institute for Supply Management CPSM-Certified Professional in Supply Management certification
• LSS-Lean Six Sigma Certification

Experience:

Minimum Experience in supply chain, or related, 10 years. Experience Desired Experience in procurement, or related Utility industry experience Job-related experience, 10 years.

Benefits:

Health insurance Health savings account Dental insurance Vision insurance Flexible spending accounts Life insurance Retirement plan

We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. Pursuant to applicable state and municipal Fair Chance Laws and Ordinances, we will consider for employment-qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records. For Los Angeles, CA applicants: Qualified applications with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act.