Job Details

Category Manager – Construction Services (Capital Projects)

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Location: Hybrid (Oakland or San Ramon, CA)

Type: Permanent

Industry: Utilities

Overview

We are seeking a strategic Construction Services Category Manager to support sourcing and procurement initiatives for a leading gas and electric utility. This role is responsible for driving category strategy, supplier performance, cost optimization, and risk mitigation across large-scale capital projects.

This is a high-impact, enterprise-level role requiring ownership of significant spend, deep experience in construction sourcing, and strong expertise supporting EPC (Engineering, Procurement & Construction) projects. You will partner with senior stakeholders across Engineering, Operations, Legal, and Finance to deliver value across complex infrastructure programs.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute category strategies for Construction Services and capital projects, ensuring cost optimization, risk mitigation, and supply continuity
• Manage and influence large-scale spend portfolios ($500M+) tied to capital project delivery
• Lead end-to-end sourcing events (RFPs, RFIs, negotiations) for construction and infrastructure services
• Structure, negotiate, and manage complex construction contracts (EPC, CMAR, Design-Build, GMP, etc.)
• Build and maintain strategic supplier and contractor relationships; drive performance, safety, and innovation
• Partner with Engineering, Project Management, Legal, and Finance teams to align sourcing strategies with project goals
• Monitor market trends, contractor landscape, and regulatory requirements impacting capital projects
• Conduct supplier risk assessments, including financial, operational, and safety evaluations

Required Qualifications (Must-Have)

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Supply Chain, Engineering, or related field (or equivalent experience)
• 8+ years of sourcing/procurement experience within enterprise-level organizations
• 5+ years of direct experience sourcing Construction Services / capital projects
• Proven experience supporting large-scale EPC (Engineering, Procurement & Construction) projects – REQUIRED
• Experience with complex contracting models: EPC, CMAR, Design-Build (DB), PDB, GMP
• Direct ownership or management of $500M+ spend portfolios
• Stable, progressive xywuqvp work history (no frequent short-term roles without clear advancement)
• Strong negotiation experience across high-value, complex construction contracts
• Advanced analytical skills (cost modeling, spend analysis, procurement tools)
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint)
• Demonstrated ability to influence senior stakeholders and drive cross-functional alignment
• Experience building and managing strategic supplier/contractor partnerships

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in utility, energy, or infrastructure sectors (highly preferred)
• Familiarity with procurement platforms (e.g., Ariba, SAP)
• Project management experience supporting large capital programs
• Certifications: PMP, CPSM, Lean Six Sigma (or similar)
• Master's degree (MBA or related)