Sr Category Mgr

JOB TITLE: Sr. Category Manager

DEPARTMENT: Supply Chain

LOCATION: Topeka or Kansas City

PAY GRADE: 15B - min: $84,500 - mid: $112,600

Scheduled Work Hours: Monday- Friday 7:30 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. with flexibility within schedule. Job may require additional hours as required.

Position Summary:

The Category Manager is responsible for developing long term category strategies, driving strategic planning initiatives, and leading continuous improvement efforts across assigned areas of spend. The Category Manager will leverage high value opportunities to deliver innovative and sustainable value, operational efficiencies and risk mitigation to the business. The Category Manager works to continuously improve processes and ensure best total cost of operation for business partner(s) as they position Supply Chain as a trusted business partner and a high performing organization.

Summary of Primary Duties and Responsibilities:

• Leads cross‑functional teams in analyzing historical and projected spend, conducting market research, and developing cost models to identify and capitalize on high‑value opportunities that deliver innovative, sustainable value, improve operational efficiency, and mitigate business risk.
• Provide strategic leadership to key stakeholders across the organization and cultivate strong relationships that enable the Supply Chain vision and drive meaningful strategic and financial value. Build and develop collaborative relationships with key suppliers to ensure accountability of high-level service and quality, as well as joint innovation opportunities.
• Lead strategic sourcing events and apply supplier relationship management, and change management techniques, and other best practices to champion and elevate these processes across the organization.

Education and Experience Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Engineering or other business-related field is preferred. A combination of education and experience will be considered. An advanced degree or an advanced Supply Chain or Project Mgmt. certification (e.g., CPM, CPSM, CPSC, PMP) is preferred.
• A minimum of five (5) years of progressively increasing responsibility in Supply Chain Management, Finance, Engineering, or business-related operations is required. Relevant experience in utilities, energy, manufacturing, or construction industry is preferred.
• Working knowledge of category management, strategic sourcing and supplier relationship management principles and application within a center-led Supply Chain; demonstrated experience implementing, executing and maintaining these initiatives is preferred.
• Strong financial analytical skills, oral and written communication, interpersonal and influence skills, and experience in enhancing value through negotiations.
• Moderate level of understanding law of contracts, strong understanding of contracting approaches.
• Proficiency using Microsoft Office suite, particularly Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint.
• Working knowledge of PeopleSoft Financials is a plus or other supply chain management/ERP software is preferred.

Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities:

• Strategic orientation, inquisitive, comfortable with ambiguity, and self-motivated to identify trends and improvement opportunities aligned with business objectives and strategic plans.
• Strong leadership and collaboration skills with ability to build effective relationships and influence peers and key stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to organize and lead multiple dynamic and cohesive teams concurrently in a matrix organization.
• Strong project management skills with ability to plan tasks, assign resources, manage progress, remove barriers, manage change, resolve conflict, build consensus, and motivate team members across multiple projects concurrently.
• Strong problem solving and analytical skills with ability to extract key themes, determine root causes, develop creative solutions, and craft concise messages.
• Demonstrates exceptional verbal communication skills with ability to clearly articulate complex information, tailor messages to diverse audiences, and engage others through compelling delivery. Excels in written communication, change management, conflict resolution, and consensus building by using clear, concise, and audience‑appropriate messaging. Also able to prioritize, organize, and manage multiple tasks effectively in a fast‑paced, dynamic environment.

Licenses, Certifications, and/or Testing:

Successful candidate must possess and maintain a valid driver's license.

Working Conditions:

The working conditions for this position will mostly be in a standard office building location. This position is inside with temperature-controlled conditions. It requires a large amount of sitting and computer work on a daily basis. There will be occasions where meetings are held in other facilities that include energy centers, service centers, training centers, and corporate offices located in Wichita, Topeka, and Kansas City. Position may require work beyond normal working hours depending on workload, project deadlines or storm emergencies.