Category Manager; Metals

Overview

The Category Manager is responsible for leading and managing the sourcing, supplier management, and procurement strategy for assigned commodities, driving cost-effective solutions and supply continuity. This role develops and executes category strategies informed by market intelligence, financial trends, and long-term demand forecasts. The manager evaluates, segments, and maintains key supplier relationships, negotiates agreements and project-specific terms, and monitors performance using vendor scorecards and KPIs.

Serving as subject-matter expert, they provide market insights, support budgeting and project procurement, and coordinate cross‑functional teams to optimize sourcing decisions. This role focuses on optimizing costs, quality and delivery while improving Supply Chain efficiency and maintaining supplier relationships.

Location:

This position can be located at any of our office locations:
Phoenix, AZ;
Clinton, IN;
Indianapolis, IN;
Centennial, CO;
Irving, TX; or Fargo, ND. Based on the experience and skillset of the individual identified, we are open to a remote‑based role with ability to travel to our office and field site locations to support events or department activities.

• Develop and execute multi‑year commodity procurement strategy supporting the renewable energy project pipeline
• Identify and engage internal stakeholders across the business to capture category requirements
• Develop, document, and execute category sourcing strategies using best‑cost approaches informed by market intelligence, financial trends, and global economic factors
• Monitor market technology trends, policy developments and regulatory changes, and adjust procurement strategies accordingly
• Incorporate market intelligence, analytics, and supplier insights into procurement and contracting strategies
• Develop and maintain should‑cost models to identify cost drivers, and sourcing opportunities to drive competitive advantage
• Forecast material demand and build capacity models to drive strategies and actions
• Define negotiation strategy including supplier profiles, commercial negotiations targets, defining switching costs and building Total Cost of Ownership
• Evaluate and segment suppliers based on capabilities, capacity, quality, safety, material sources, and strategic value to the organization
• Monitor supplier performance and resolve issues related to pricing, quality, delivery, and product condition while mitigating supply chain risks
• Lead supplier relationship management for your commodity, including establishing vendor scorecards, addressing and improving performance and conducting Quarterly Business Reviews with key supplier/Partner
• Collaborate with internal technical teams and suppliers to optimize specifications and solutions
• Support project management during both early‑stage project development and late‑stage execution
• Develop specific review guidelines for each key vendor in the category. They shall include cadence of reviews, locations, spend, forecasting, facility visits, quality visits, and managing tradeshow meetings
• Lead and support contract negotiations, including scope, pricing, terms and conditions, delivery schedules and change management. Lead negotiations of Master Vendor Agreements (MVAs) and project‑specific commercial terms while coordinating with legal, finance, permitting, and insurance teams
• Apply strong contracting and commercial skills, including scope development, contract editing and monitoring commercial changes from award through delivery
• Lead and manage sourcing activities including Requests for Proposal (RFP) reviews, primary bid requests, supplier quoting and evaluation of bids, proposals, and supplier capabilities
• Coordinate closely with estimating, engineering, legal and construction teams on all supply matters
• Ensure procurement agreements meet objectives related to safety, cost, schedule, quality and delivery performance
• Provide procurement market insights and subject‑matter expertise (SME) to estimating, project management, and internal teams to support budgeting, pricing validation, and strategic decisions
• Support project procurement from estimate to…