Position Title: Category Lead I
Requisition ID: REQ-4147
Position Type: Full time
About Us: About Us
Together Shaping the Future of Energy
EPRI provides thought leadership, industry expertise, and collaborative value to help the electricity sector identify issues, technology gaps, and broader needs that can be addressed through effective research and development programs for the benefit of society.
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Category Lead ILocation:
Charlotte, NC, North Carolina Home OfficeJob Summary and Description:
Key Responsibilities
Acquisition Terms Negotiation:
- Under guidance, negotiates sourcing agreements and acquisition terms with an understanding of contract risk; drafts agreement terms that ensure business needs and compliance are met while accurately reflecting the arrangement between the parties
- Negotiates favorable economic value with a “total cost” perspective, and tracks and reports cost savings and avoidance; evaluates financial proposals, brings to manager’s attention sources with poor financial performance
- Supports in the development of a risk analysis matrix for moderate and high-risk arrangements and presents cases for, and documents business decisions
Vendor Management:
- Identifies strategic vendors, and assists in the development of a continuity-of-business plan with alternate sources of supply
- Identifies, and aids in the selection of, sources of supply
- Monitors vendor performance; engages with strategic vendors by developing collaborative relationships and under guidance works to align EPRI-vendor objectives; conducts routine review of the account/relationship
- With guidance, works to (1) identify opportunities for consolidation of supply base, and (2) identify RFX opportunities; with manager or designee support, (a) conducts RFX events and ensures objective, documented contract awards, and (b) formulates business cases with objective information/data
- Resolves vendor non-compliance, brings to manager’s attention cases requiring dispute resolution, and performs agreement cancellations and terminations unrelated to performance issues
Market Analysis:
- Keeps updated on trends in industries related to assigned category, remains informed about developments in other parts of the organization that have impact on acquisitions/procurement
- Surveys market conditions; identifies, makes recommendations and aids in the selection of, best sources of supply
Spend Category Strategy Development:
- With guidance, develops category acquisition strategies, monitors, and reports progress
- Helps manage organizational change that results from implementation of category-based acquisition strategies
Internal Dynamics, Collaboration and Communication:
- Develops and maintains collaborative relationships with internal clients and stakeholders, is aware of category budgets, client needs and departmental strategies, understands overall company objectives (raises conflicting objectives to the attention of manager); reviews acquisition scopes for value and compliance
- Develops ideas and strategies to improve operational efficiency to add value for stakeholders and the Sourcing Team
- Participates in special projects and assumes other duties which may be assigned to support the department as designated by the Manager of Sourcing and Procurement and/or the Director of the Sourcing Team
Education and Experience
- 2+ years of relevant experience in supply chain, vendor administration, 3rd party contract negotiations or supplier diversity
- Undergraduate degree or commensurate experience, preferably in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration Paralegal, or a related field. Certified Purchasing Professional Designation a plus
- Some understanding of, and experience negotiating commercial acquisition terms and conditions – with the ability to use/draft basic agreement prose
- Basic understanding of the generic procure-to-pay process
- Outstanding listening, and oral and written communication skills
- Familiar with applicable rules, regulations and norms as they apply to acquisitions (i.e., independent contractor status classifications, internal controls and fraud prevention, etc.)
- Knowledge of a category industry is a plus
- Experience working with an ERP system (SAP MM, SRM are desirable, but familiarity with other systems is also a plus)
- Ability to manage projects, prioritize and delegate work
Skills and Attributes
- Self-starter capable of working independently, managing deadlines and competing workloads, making informed decisions and seeking advice/decisions from others when needed
- Diplomatic, collaborative relationship builder
- Strong organizational, problem solving and interpersonal skills
- Experience working with data (analysis, clean-up, presentation)
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