Senior Global Category Manager - 26-03028

Senior Global Category Manager

Seeking an experienced Senior Global Category Manager within our Infrastructure Supply Chain organization. In this role, you will lead the end-to-end commercial management and procurement governance for critical electrical substation equipment, specifically medium-to-low voltage transformers supporting operations across North America, Europe, and Asia. You will manage key commercial relationships with 56 tier-one global suppliers, oversee purchase order (PO) lifecycles, drive cost negotiations, and uphold supplier governance to ensure business continuity and uninterrupted project delivery.

Key Responsibilities Category & Supplier Management

• Serve as the primary commercial owner for 56 strategic global suppliers providing electrical substation gear, medium/low-voltage transformers, and related equipment.
• Manage supplier performance, contract adherence, quarterly governance cadences, and day-to-day vendor communications across North American and Asian time zones.
• Mitigate supply continuity risks by identifying early operational bottlenecks, tracking supplier lead times, and coordinating escalations.

Contract & Commercial Governance

• Administer, negotiate, and execute supplier agreements, statements of work (SOWs), contract amendments, and master services/purchasing agreements.
• Oversee category cost models, monitor indexation/material pricing (copper, steel, electrical components), and evaluate total cost of ownership (TCO).
• Manage purchase orders (POs) from creation through reconciliation, ensuring alignment with milestone deliverables, project schedules, and budget allocations.
• Partner with Finance, Legal, and Compliance to maintain audit-ready procurement governance standards.

Cross-Functional Partnership

• Partner closely with Electrical Engineering, Data Center / Substation Construction, Planning, Logistics, and Quality teams to translate technical equipment specifications into commercial commitments.
• Maintain regular alignment with regional field operations teams in North America and APAC to forecast volume requirements and schedule equipment deliveries.

Minimum Qualifications

• Experience: 5+ years of progressive experience in strategic sourcing, global category management, or technical procurement within complex global supply chains.
• Domain Knowledge: Strong procurement background in heavy electrical infrastructure, substations, power distribution, or medium/low-voltage equipment (transformers, switchgear).
• Commercial & Contracts: Demonstrated track record negotiating supplier contracts, terms and conditions, commercial pricing structures, and managing purchase order lifecycles.
• Global Exposure: Experience managing multi-regional supplier bases across North America and Asia (APAC).
• Systems: Proficiency in enterprise ERP/procurement platforms (e.g., SAP, Coupa, Oracle) and procurement workflows.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior experience supporting hyperscale data center infrastructure, industrial utility-scale projects, or large-scale EPC power programs.
• Proven ability to step into an inflight category, establish quick rapport with internal engineering stakeholders, and maintain supplier accountability with minimal ramp-up time.
• Excellent stakeholder management, cross-cultural communication, and structured problem-solving skills.