Category Manager Electrical & Power in , us

Category Manager - Electrical & Power GenerationJob DescriptionDepartment: Supply ChainJob Status: Full TimeFLSA Status: Salary ExemptReports To: VP of Supply ChainLocation: The Woodlands, TexasAmount of Travel Required: Up to 50%Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PMPositions Supervised: NoneAIP Level: 5POSITION SUMMARY: The Category Manager, Electrical & Power is responsible for the strategic sourcing, procurement, lifecycle management, and optimization of electrical components and power equipment across the organization's operations. This role owns vendor relationships for medium and high voltage systems, variable frequency drives, transformers, circuit breakers, protection relays, generators, and related power distribution assets, while managing pricing agreements, warranty recovery, and inventory strategy to ensure operations are fully. The Category Manager enables operational performance through strong financial stewardship, rigorous vendor performance management, and proactive forecasting of long-lead equipment, and collaborates closely with Engineering, Operations, Quality, Legal, Finance, and Mobilization teams to ensure assets meet company standards for availability, reliability, and cost effectiveness.ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: (The following duties and responsibilities are all essential job functions, as defined by the ADA, except for those that begin with the word "may.")Strategic Sourcing & Vendor ManagementOwn vendor relationships, negotiations, and KPI tracking for electrical components and power assets, ensuring performance, cost discipline, and reliability.Develop and execute sourcing strategies for backup generators, prime power systems, microgrids, battery storage, voltage sag protection, and grid services.Own a portfolio of long-lead, high-value equipment, including transformers, switchgear, breakers, control systems, and instrumentation.Maintain extensive knowledge of the vendor landscape and product catalogs for key industry players.Identify and vet niche vendors capable of supporting specialized medium voltage equipment and mobile genset configurations.Conduct market analysis, should-cost modeling, and trend forecasting to inform procurement decisions.Build and maintain a best-in-class supplier ecosystem with strong technical, quality, and delivery performance.Financial Stewardship & Commercial NegotiationManage multi-million dollar maintenance and repair budgets, ensuring cost-efficiency without compromising part quality or safety.Liaison negotiations focused on long-term service level agreements (SLAs) and warranty management for high-value electrical and power assets.Warranty Process OwnershipDevelop and manage the end-to-end warranty process, tracking all claims through investigation, submission, vendor engagement, and resolution to maximize recovery.Inventory & PlanningPlan and manage power equipment and electrical component inventory levels to support operational uptime and performance targets.Develop and implement forecasting models for long-lead items, such as transformers and breakers, to prevent supply chain bottlenecks in a high-demand environment.Track daily actions and deliverables with electrical components and power vendors to ensure alignment with performance and cost targets.Cross-Functional Collaboration & Technical OversightWork directly with manufacturing and engineering teams to align procurement strategies with new-build equipment schedules and technical requirements.Translate complex technical specifications from the field or manufacturing floor into actionable sourcing plans and vendor RFPs.Partner with Engineering, Project Management, Construction, Legal, Finance, Expediting, Logistics, and Operations to ensure equipment is sourced competitively, delivered on schedule, and aligned with project needs.Act as the primary liaison between internal stakeholders and external OEMs or third-party repair shops.Perform other duties as assigned to support successful operations.POSITION REQUIREMENTSMust be legally authorized to work in the United States without the need for sponsorship.Must be at least 18 years of or older.Successfully passes all applicable general pre-employment testing including but not limited to: background check, pre-employment drug screening, pre-employment fit tests, pre-employment aptitude and/or competency assessment(s).Daily overtime required and in person, predictable attendance in The Woodlands, TX.Valid U.S. Driver’s License required. Most employment is contingent upon meeting company driving standards, including 3-year U.S. driving history and an acceptable Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) in accordance with Company policy.EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE LEVELBachelor's degree in engineering, energy, procurement, or a related field, or 7+ years of experience in lieu of degree; advanced degrees or certifications in power systems or supply chain management are .Proven experience in category management or strategic sourcing within the electrical equipment sector, with a deep understanding of medium voltage (MV) or high voltage systems.Proven experience in power , renewable energy, or industrial procurement.Demonstrated expertise managing the lifecycle of critical components such as variable frequency drives (VFDs), medium voltage transformers, circuit breakers, and protection relays.Knowledge of inspection, rebuild, and asset lifecycle management processes.QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS, COMPETENCIES, AND ABILITIESWhile an Electrical Engineering degree is not required, must possess a high level of technical competency and “field-sense” regarding how electrical components function within a larger power distribution system.Strong financial acumen with a track record of managing multi-million dollar maintenance and repair budgets.Strong negotiation and contract management skills, with a focus on long-term SLAs and warranty management for high-value assets.Ability to manage complex, multi-year contracts and long lead times.Ability to analyze data, identify trends, and make data-driven decisions.Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to act as primary liaison between internal teams and external OEMs.High attention to detail and accuracy.Strong problem-solving skills and proactive approach to issue resolution.Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and prioritize effectively.Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel.Proficiency in ERP systems (Oracle Fusion).PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS/WORK ENVIRONMENTThe physical demands and work environment described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.The Category Manager may work in a warehouse/shop and field environment that makes them susceptible to common hazards such as physical strain, moving machinery, loading, unloading, falling objects, slips, trips, and falls. They will be required to walk, sit, climb, bend, reach and squat/kneel. They will also need to speak clearly and audibly, as well as have the ability to hear, understand, and distinguish speech and/or other sounds (e.g., building alarms) deriving from in person speech, telephone, or other remote speech.Must be able to access and navigate each department at the organization's facilities. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to stand; walk, stoop, kneel, sit, climb, crouch and/or crawl.The employee must regularly lift and/or move objects up to 25 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move objects that weigh more than 100 pounds with a team lift. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.Work hours may include early morning, late evenings, and weekends, depending on business necessity.AAP /EEO STATEMENTThe Company is committed to the cause of equal employment opportunity for all employees and applicants, thus abiding by all applicable state and federal laws. Our practices regarding employment, job promotion, compensation, training, and termination do not discriminate on the basis of , , creed, , , , veteran's status, , , genetic information, or any other legally protected status. It is expected that all employees, both management and staff, will fully support these nondiscriminatory policies.*All field and shop employees and potential employees performing or assuming roles that require exposure to industrial activities, including, but not limited to, roles in shop or field operations environments, must be able to effectively communicate and comprehend the English . This provision does not purport to require employees to always speak only English in the workplace or otherwise prevent employees from speaking non-English , provided that such employees are able to effectively communicate and comprehend English to satisfy the company’s expectations and business objectives.English comprehension is necessary to ensure employees:Understand all health and safety communications.Possess a sufficient level of relevant equipment knowledge.Comprehend verbal and written communications from the company and other employees.Comprehend all operational and safety procedures.Understand alerts and emergency notifications, including Responses to Alerts, Warnings and Emergencies.Understand the contents of announcements and/or radio communications.Are able to effectively and independently communicate with customers, supervisors, and colleagues.Are able to prevent workplace accidents and/or injuries through effective communication.The company has reviewed this job description to ensure essential functions and duties have been included. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all functions, responsibilities, skills, and abilities.Last Revised 08/2026
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