Category Manager, Engines

Position Title
: CATEGORY MANAGER, ENGINES
Location
: HOUSTON, TX
FLSA Class
: EXEMPT
Reports To
: MANAGER OF SUPPLY CHAIN

Position Summary
:
The Category Manager is responsible for total cost of ownership in managing the sourcing and lifecycle of generator sets, engines, alternators, and critical spare parts, ensuring cost-effective and reliable supply. This role works closely with Engineering and Maintenance teams to align technical specifications and operational requirements, oversees OEM and service provider contracts, and supports capital expenditure projects, major overhauls, and maintenance initiatives.

A key focus is maintaining availability of critical spares to support operational continuity and asset reliability.

Serving as a key change agent, the Category Manager partners closely with engineering, project, and operational teams to qualify suppliers, manage long-lead and complex equipment, and negotiate commercial terms that support capital and energy initiatives. Reporting to Supply Chain Leadership, the role drives sourcing excellence, strengthens strategic supplier relationships, mitigates supply and operational risk, and influences global sourcing outcomes while supporting sustainability and long-term business growth.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Build successful business partnerships with supplier base in support of creative strategies across product service lines.
• Drive process improvement initiatives to enhance efficiency, quality, and cost effectiveness across supply chain.
• Proactively engage and collaborate with key stakeholders across functions and regions to ensure alignment and buy-in for sourcing strategies and initiatives.
• Develop a network of subject matter experts within our functional groups for direct and indirect categories.
• Lead supplier segmentation, selection, and development, ensuring high-quality supplier relationships and operational management.
• Leverage market intelligence and spend analysis to reduce costs and increase value.
• Leads end-to-end commercial negotiations from sourcing strategy through contract execution and implementation. Ensures contracts are commercially sound, risk-balanced, and aligned with business, legal, and operational requirements
• Drives spend analysis, including counter measures for projects that fall short of plan and makes decisions to remedy the issues to get the teams back on track to meet or exceed plan.
• Develop and execute recovery plans for suppliers that fall short of expectations.
• Ensure compliance with internal policies, quality systems, and legal requirements.
• Provide leadership and mentorship to team members or direct reports.
• Travel to job sites and vendor locations to support operations and support supplier oversight.

Other Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university/college or equivalent industry experience with at least 8 years of experience in Supply Chain for consideration including ASCM, CPSM or other accredited Supply Chain Certifications.
• Strong leadership and influencing skills and experience working in diverse cultural environments and understanding cross-cultural dynamics.
• Proven ability to collaborate effectively both independently and within cross-functional teams, fostering strong, trusting relationships with stakeholders.
• Ability to build and maintain strong relationships with suppliers, ensuring compliance and performance.
• Sound strategic, problem solving and critical thinking capabilities. Including the ability to assess and mitigate risks in the global supply chain.
• Proficiency in sourcing tools and systems.
• Willingness to travel up to 20% as needed.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees assigned to this classification. All personnel may be required to perform duties outside of their normal responsibilities from time to time, as needed.

Volta Grid is an Equal Opportunity Employer that does not discriminate on the basis of actual or perceived race, creed, color, religion, alienage or national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, disability or handicap, sex, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, genetic information, arrest record, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws.

Our management team is dedicated to this policy with respect to recruitment, hiring, placement, promotion, transfer, training, compensation, benefits, employee activities, and general treatment during employment #GC

Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.

For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.