Category Lead

The Category Lead is responsible for helping drive value through the strategic sourcing and the supplier relationship management processes by independently leading and managing multiple strategic enterprise sourcing initiatives. The applicant must be highly analytical and self-driven with a proven ability leverage their category expertise to negotiate contractual agreements, collect and analyze data, build out cost models, draw conclusions, present findings to drive decisions, and track and manage supplier performance metrics. The Category Lead must possess an ability to work in a fast-paced, changing environment and still meet business performance measures, including timelines for sourcing and contracting activities and planning for future sourcing needs of the business units. The Category Lead reports to the Manager, Category Management.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities:

• Establishing, leading/facilitating, and supporting cross functional category management teams to develop and maintain category plans and ongoing category performance

• Developing deep knowledge and experience within assigned spend management responsibilities

• Developing spend/performance and external market analyses to monitor category performance and identify performance improvement opportunities

• Developing spend and savings/performance improvement forecasts to monitor progress and ensure goals are achieved

• Developing plans to capture identified opportunities

• Defining category requirements through collaborative efforts with respective stakeholder groups

• Collaborating with stakeholder groups to develop consensus on the appropriate category plans and priorities

• Leading performance improvement initiatives defined by the category plan including strategic sourcing and other performance improvement initiatives

• Establishing, leading/facilitating, and supporting cross functional strategic sourcing/performance improvement teams as needed/prescribed by category plans to achieve savings and performance targets (e.g. reduce cost, improve quality and result in a lower total cost of ownership, meeting supplier diversity goals)

• Leading negotiations with suppliers as needed

• Maintaining critical supplier agreements including renewals, negotiation of terms, issue identification, tracking and resolution

• Supplier Management responsibilities include: o Developing and maintaining supplier criticality ratings and managing resulting critical supplier relationships o Managing supplier relationships including conducting Quarterly Business Reviews with critical suppliers and NiSource Executive Sponsors

• Stakeholder Management responsibilities include: o Developing successful partnerships with key stakeholders / business partners to achieve desired results o Developing and managing cross-functional category management and strategic sourcing teams as needed o Collaborating with stakeholders to drive needed decisions to achieve desired results

Required Qualifications for Position:

• Bachelorâ s degree from an accredited college or equivalent work related experience

• Proven track record to deliver results and achieve goals

• Demonstrated ability to develop effective working relationships with others

• Experience leading cross-functional teams

• Ability to build support and consensus

• Proven financial acumen and analytical abilities

Preferred Additional Qualifications for Position:

• MBA

• Certified Procurement Manager (CPM)

• Three years of leadership experience

• Experience managing large supplier agreements

• Experience working in a Shared Services organization

• Supply Chain experience in the utility industry

• Knowledgeable in category management and strategic sourcing practices

HKA Enterprises is a global workforce solutions firm. If you're seeking a new career opportunity or project experience, our recruiters will work to understand your qualifications, experience, and personal goals. At HKA, we recognize the importance of matching employee goals with those of the employer. We strive to seek credibility, satisfaction, and endorsement from all of our applicants. We invite you to take time and search for your next career experience with us! HKA is an EEO Employer who participates in the US Citizenship and Immigration Services E-Verify Program.