Category Manager Associate II

Overview:

When you are part of the team at Duquesne Light Company, you’ll do important work, like helping to deliver safe and reliable electricity to nearly 600,000 customers every single day. We’re creating a dynamic and sustainable future by unleashing the boundless potential of the grid. In other words, we don’t just keep your lights on, we keep your life on. Your work will have real-world impact, and you’ll be supported in achieving your career goals.

Position Summary:

The Category Manager as directed by the Manger, Procurement will be responsible for developing and executing category plans for the strategic sourcing of various spend categories, primarily Engineering and Construction Services but may also include Information Technology, Corporate Services, and MRO. Responsible for cross functional sourcing and contracting activities to leverage Duquesne Light Company’s services and materials spend.

Key Responsibilities:

• Creates, implements, and manages multi-year category sourcing strategy(ies) for assigned categories to generate value for the company.
• Leads cross-functional strategic sourcing teams that include representation from the end user community
• Analyzes spend data and identify opportunities to increase spend opportunities with diverse suppliers (including local and regional)
• Partners with internal stakeholders to understand current and future business needs, as well as external resource requirements, in order to create and execute project pipeline
• Influences key internal stakeholders to engage sourcing as a key partner in order to drive cost out of their 3rd party suppliers
• Drives a measurable reduction in year over year total cost of ownership for assigned categories
• Manages supplier qualification, RFP, supplier selection, contract development, implementation, purchase or blanket orders, compliance, and ongoing supply management processes
• Conducts regular reviews of supplier scorecards and operational metrics to drive continuous improvement of suppliers
• Leverages e-sourcing and spend analysis tools to drive incremental year over year cost savings
• Provides external industry benchmarking to better assess strategy and solutions within procurement
• Drives process improvements to create efficiencies in sourcing procedures

Scope

Primary focus is on daily deliverables, outputs and reporting. Typically accountable for managing one’s own time and work flow. Responsible for using prescribed guidelines to analyze situations and solve problems. Work is typically of moderate complexity requiring the incumbent to draw on previous knowledge to perform role. Continues to build knowledge base and develop capabilities by partnering with more experienced staff as needed.

Decision Impact

Problems and issues faced are vague but may be recognizable based on past experience. Accountable for some direct level of reasoning and decision making in straightforward situations based on precedents.

Education/Experience Requirements:

• A minimum of a bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain Management, Engineering or Finance; Master’s degree preferred
• A minimum two years’ experience in sourcing various materials or services.

Preferred:

• Advanced knowledge of contract terms and conditions
• Exceptional ability to engage cross functional teams and influence decision making process.
• Must be able to navigate a complex organization structure to solve problems
• Advanced contract negotiation skills
• Demonstrated experience with successfully developing and executing multi-year sourcing category strategies
• Strong analytical skills required
• Strong knowledge of the strategic sourcing process and practical application of the process to sourcing projects
• Strong influencing, project management and change management skills
• Excellent teamwork skills
• Must be able to work within all functions and levels of an organization.
• Experience in increasing supplier diversity spend
• ERP system experience: Maximo experience strongly preferred.
• Familiarity with the Power Advocate Energy Intelligence Platform a plus or web-based tools, such as e-Sourcing, Spend Analytics, Contract Management.

Duquesne Light Company