Job Details

Job Category: Procurement/Supply Chain

Job Level: Individual Contributor

Business Unit: Engineering, Planning & Strategy

Work Type: Hybrid

Job Location: Oakland; San Ramon

Position Summary

As a Category Lead, you will play a critical role in optimizing the sourcing and procurement strategy for one of the nation's largest gas and electric utilities, ensuring cost efficiency, supplier performance, and risk mitigation. You will lead strategic category planning, supplier negotiations, and contract management to drive value, resilience, and sustainability across the supply chain. Partnering with and influencing key internal stakeholders and leveraging market intelligence, you will develop and execute category strategies that align with business objectives, regulatory requirements, and industry best practices. This high-impact role requires a balance of analytical expertise, relationship management, and strategic vision to enhance operational excellence and support client's commitment to safe, reliable, and sustainable energy.

This position is hybrid, working from your remote office and your assigned work location based on business need. Preferred work location is Oakland, CA, but other locations may be considered. The assigned work location will be within the client Service Territory. Final work location will be determined between the hiring leader and successful candidate.

Job Responsibilities

• Conducts and documents market research and supplier risk analysis to verify the financial health of existing and potential suppliers.
• Maintains awareness of industry and market trends, supplier landscapes, and regulatory changes to drive informed decision-making and strategic sourcing initiatives.
• Accesses, records and tracks procurement requests during the course of the Sourcing process.
• Supports Functional Areas in decisions regarding types and levels of insurance required for 3rd party vendors.
• Ensures all procurement requests and contract documents comply with all sourcing processes and policies.
• Reviews new contracts assigned through contract review process, coordinating with stakeholder departments.
• Supports development of less complex category plans.
• Leads competitive bidding processes including RFPs, RFIs, and negotiations to secure best-value agreements.
• Negotiates, drafts, and manages contracts to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements, corporate policies, and industry standards.
• Acts as a liaison between various departments and cross functional teams.

Qualifications

Minimum:

• Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration, Supply Chain Management or job-related discipline or equivalent experience
• 2 years of experience in sourcing

Desired:

• 4 years of work experience in procurement, sourcing, or supply chain management, preferably in the utility, energy, or infrastructure sectors
• Competency in relating openly and comfortably with diverse groups of people.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office products – e.g., Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Access – as needed to perform at the job level
• Competency in building strong-identity teams that apply their diverse skills and perspectives to achieve common goals
• Competency in building partnerships and working collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives
• Knowledge of the technical/functional aspects of Strategic Sourcing as needed to perform at the job level
• Ability to analyze and combine information from different sources and use logic to develop recommendations
• Ability to lead lower complexity negotiations, develop contract structures, and drive favorable outcomes
• Ability to apply contract processes and procedures
• Ability to work independently with limited oversight
• Ability to lead cross-functional teams and to drive projects of lowcomplexity
• Strong written and verbal skills
• Master's 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)