Supply Chain Category Specialist - Akron, OH

Supply Chain Category Management Specialist Responsibilities

• Strategic Sourcing & Category Optimization
• Designing and executing multi-year category roadmaps, cost-reduction initiatives, and strategic supplier strategies.
• Developing Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) strategies to improve service levels and unlock value beyond price.
• Building and deploying category strategies that incorporate market trends, risk modeling, value-engineering, demand forecasting, and supplier innovation.
• Leveraging technology platforms, spend analytics, supplier performance management, and market intelligence tools to drive data-driven decisions.
• Applying analytics to supplier spend, evaluating market dynamics, and benchmarking pricing to identify value opportunities.
• Leading supplier selection events, including RFP development, proposal assessments, and score carding.
• Monitoring and tracking supplier performance KPIs to ensure continuous improvement and compliance.
• Building robust supplier partnerships that support innovation and reliability.
• Guiding contracting strategy, negotiate commercial terms, and support value-based contract optimization.
• Partnering with technical stakeholders to evaluate proposals and ensure sourcing alignment with business needs.
• Tracking category-specific market trends, economic drivers, price movements, and supply risks.
• Defining cost benchmarks, analyze supplier landscape shifts, and contribute insights to enterprise category strategy.
• Serving as a strategic advisor to business partners, ensuring alignment of sourcing strategy with operational and financial objectives.
• Ensuring user satisfaction through transparent communication and high-quality execution.

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Business, Engineering, or related discipline and 47 years of relevant work experience.
• OR High school diploma and 710 years' relevant work experience. Relevant work experience includes sourcing / supply chain experience.
• Preferred experience in utility, engineering, construction, energized equipment, IT software/hardware, professional/consulting services, and related utility level procurement.
• Demonstrated success driving category improvements, cost optimization, and supplier performance enhancements.
• Knowledge of procurement policies, sourcing governance, terms and conditions (MSA) review, and compliance requirements.
• Experience with Coupa sourcing platform a plus.

At First Energy, employees are key to our success. We depend on their talents to meet the challenges of our changing business environment. We are committed to rewarding individual and team efforts through our total rewards philosophy which includes competitive pay plus incentive compensation, a company-sponsored pension plan, 401(k) savings plan with matching employer contribution, a choice of medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, and life insurance programs, as well as skills development training with tuition reimbursement.

First Energy proudly supports workforce diversity.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, status as a protected veteran, or status as a qualified individual with a disability. No recruiters or agencies without a previously signed contract. Unable to sponsor or transfer H-1B visas at this time.