Senior Category Manager
Principal Category Lead
Location: Oakland or San Ramon, CA (Hybrid)
Pay Range: $155,000 - $160,000
About the Role
As a Principal Category Lead, you will play a critical role in optimizing the sourcing and procurement strategy for one of the nation’s largest gas and electric utilities, ensuring cost efficiency, supplier performance, and risk mitigation. You will lead strategic category planning, supplier negotiations, and contract management to drive value, resilience, and sustainability across the supply chain.
Partnering with and influencing key internal stakeholders and leveraging market intelligence, you will develop and execute category strategies that align with business objectives, regulatory requirements, and industry best practices. This high-impact role requires a balance of analytical expertise, relationship management, and strategic vision to enhance operational excellence
What You’ll Do
Develops and implements category plans and sourcing strategies for high complexity categories that optimize cost, mitigate risk, and ensure supply continuity.
Leads competitive bidding processes, including RFPs, RFIs, and negotiations to secure best-value agreements.
Negotiates, drafts, and manages contracts to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements, corporate policies, and industry standards.
Develops and sustains mutually beneficial strategic relationships with category and cross-portfolio suppliers, conducting regular performance reviews, fostering collaboration on innovation and continuous improvement, and ensuring alignment with the company’s safety, reliability, and sustainability goals.
Partners with and influences cross-functional stakeholders and teams in developing sourcing and negotiation strategies for high complexity spend categories
Maintains awareness of industry and market trends, supplier landscapes, and regulatory changes to drive informed decision-making and strategic sourcing initiatives.
Conducts and documents market research and supplier risk analysis to verify the financial health of existing and potential suppliers.
Works with senior management to support strategic planning and decision-making at the officer level.
What We’re Looking For
10 years of work experience in procurement, sourcing, or supply chain management, preferably in the utility, energy, or infrastructure sectors
Experience sourcing in IT, Consulting / Professional Services, Construction / Related Services, or MaterialsProven ability to lead high-value negotiations, develop complex contract structures, and drive favorable outcomes
Strong analytical skills with experience leveraging spend analytics, cost modeling, and digital procurement tools to optimize category strategies
Competency in building partnerships and working collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives
Expertise in developing strategic supplier partnerships, managing performance scorecards, and fostering supplier-driven innovation
Strong ability to engage and influence senior stakeholders, including executives, operations leaders, and legal teams, to align procurement strategies with business priorities
Competency in building and leading strong-identity teams that apply their diverse skills and perspectives to achieve common goals
Competency in applying project management theories, concepts, methods, best practices, and techniques as needed to perform at the job level
Knowledge of database and information systems – e.g., ARIBA, SAP, etc. – as needed to perform at the job level.
Competency in leading cross-functional teams and to drive projects of high complexityExcellent written and verbal skills
Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office
Master’s Degree in Business Administration or job-related discipline or equivalent experience
Minimum Qualifications
Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, Supply Chain Management or job-related discipline or equivalent experience
8 years of experience in sourcing