Category Lead - Intermediate - VF

Category Lead – Strategic Sourcing & Supplier Management

Employment Type: Contract-to-Hire

Location: Hybrid (Onsite Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday) Columbus Ohio 43215

Work Schedule: Hybrid – 3 days onsite per week

Compensation: Contract $53.00 – $63.31 hour w2

We are seeking an experienced Category Lead to drive enterprise-wide strategic sourcing initiatives and supplier relationship management. This individual will independently lead multiple sourcing initiatives, develop category strategies, negotiate supplier agreements, analyze spend and market data, build cost models, and identify opportunities to improve supplier performance and reduce costs.

The ideal candidate is highly analytical, self-driven, and comfortable leading cross‑functional teams while partnering with business leaders to develop sourcing strategies that support organizational goals. This role requires excellent communication, financial analysis, negotiation, and project management skills.

• Strategic sourcing and category management experience, including enterprise sourcing initiatives, supplier negotiations, and category strategy development.
• Strong analytical and financial skills with experience performing spend analysis, building cost models, forecasting savings, and developing data‑driven recommendations.
• Experience leading cross‑functional teams while managing supplier relationships, contract negotiations, supplier performance metrics, and stakeholder engagement.

• Utility industry supply chain or procurement experience.
• Experience managing large enterprise supplier agreements.
• Shared Services procurement experience.
• Knowledge of category management and strategic sourcing best practices.

• Lead enterprise strategic sourcing initiatives from planning through contract execution.
• Develop and maintain category management strategies and sourcing roadmaps.
• Analyze spend data, supplier performance, market trends, and cost drivers.
• Build cost models and savings forecasts to support sourcing decisions.
• Identify and execute cost reduction and supplier performance improvement opportunities.
• Negotiate supplier contracts, pricing, renewals, and commercial terms.
• Maintain critical supplier agreements and resolve contract‑related issues.
• Manage supplier relationships, including supplier criticality assessments and Quarterly Business Reviews (QBRs).
• Develop supplier performance metrics and monitor ongoing performance.
• Lead cross‑functional sourcing and category management teams.
• Partner with Finance, Operations, Business Units, and Executive Leadership to define category requirements.
• Build stakeholder consensus and drive strategic sourcing initiatives.
• Manage category projects from initiation through implementation while ensuring timelines, budgets, and objectives are met.
• Track project milestones and implement continuous improvement initiatives.
• Develop forecasts for spend, savings, and supplier performance improvements.

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience.
• Proven experience in strategic sourcing, procurement, or category management.
• Demonstrated success negotiating supplier contracts and managing supplier relationships.
• Strong financial acumen with experience analyzing spend, building cost models, and forecasting savings.
• Experience leading cross‑functional teams and influencing stakeholders without direct authority.
• Excellent analytical, negotiation, communication, and presentation skills.
• Strong project management skills with the ability to manage multiple initiatives simultaneously.
• Proven ability to deliver measurable business results and achieve organizational goals.

• Utility industry procurement or supply chain experience.
• Experience working within a Shared Services organization.
• Experience managing large enterprise supplier agreements.
• Knowledge of category management methodologies and strategic sourcing best practices.

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