Category Manager

American Electric Power • Columbus, OH

2d • $116,255 - $151,133

About The Position

Act as lead for assigned Procurement projects and sourcing categories. Oversee the entire spend lifecycle for assigned categories, providing leadership to team members in a variety of strategic areas including sourcing, procurement, contracts, supplier relationship management, inventory management and material standardization. Highly advanced level of knowledge and responsibility for developing, negotiating, executing and maintaining strategic sourcing agreements for specific categories for the procurement of materials, equipment and/or services used by AEP internal customers. This position will identify cost reduction opportunities and capture real Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) savings (direct or indirect) by aggregating sourcing volumes. This position’s primary responsibility is to develop and execute strategic project-driven sourcing activities for a variety of market baskets that are normally associated with high-spend, high-impact, and often complex categories across multiple business unit stakeholders. Develop and implement strategies to achieve corporate savings goals. Establish effective relationships and work collaboratively with Business Unit customers, and suppliers to maintain customer satisfaction. Interface with Business Unit leadership to report ongoing progress to goals. Champion new initiatives that will support shared business objectives, support the business unit partner's needs, and enable the company to efficiently operate in a competitive and changing environment. Strategies will be developed in a collaborative effort between Supply Chain, Procurement, and the various Business Units and Operating Companies impacted by the program. Ensure corporate spend and savings goals are incorporated into the sourcing strategy and contracts. Develop and manage metrics/measurements to record the progress and actions related to the program processes.

Requirements

• Bachelor Degree in Supply Management/Logistics, Business Administration, Engineering or related fields of study.
• 5 years in Supply Chain / Fleet or related experience.
• Project management skills, investigative nature and process-oriented mind set are needed for this role.

Nice To Haves

• MBA or Purchasing certification is preferred but not required.
• Experience of lean manufacture, kaizen, continuous improvement or similar production tools preferred.
• In addition to the minimum requirements, the ideal candidate will have 8 years of Supply Chain or related experience; also, experience in utilities or operations/manufacturing settings.

Responsibilities

• Develop and manage the company’s overall strategy with the aim of controlling costs within budgetary limits, generating savings, rationalizing inventory and maximizing available working capital.
• Manage implementation and ongoing activities of the Company's strategy by establishing implementation timing, support resources (analysis, bench marking, contract development and maintenance, etc.), standardization events and developing communication tools to introduce programs.
• Perform supplier relationship management (SRM) function and contract administration functions for the various programs.
• Work with Supply Chain teams to ensure buying strategies and contracts align with inventory strategies and Operating Company needs.
• Leverage technology to create internal process efficiencies.
• Communicate program performance metrics to the appropriate levels of management.
• Work with Business Units and Supply Chain on demand management strategies.
• Assist in optimization of logistics processes; works closely with other supply chain members to develop innovative solutions to ongoing operating problems.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior