Category Manager I/II - Cable

Mortenson•Robbinsdale, MN

2h•$102,000 - $165,500

About The Position

Mortenson is hiring a Category Manager I or II responsible for developing, implementing, and managing sourcing strategies for low-voltage, photovoltaic, and medium-voltage cable categories and other assigned categories. The role aims to optimize cost, quality, and delivery, improve supply chain efficiency, and maintain supplier relationships. It evaluates capacity needs, negotiates agreements to provide capacity certainty, evaluates supplier diversity across markets and groups, and works with stakeholders in supported operating groups. Candidates may be considered at either level based on their experience and qualifications; compensation depends on factors including experience and location. The position develops category and sourcing strategies, engages internal stakeholders to identify requirements and forecast demand, assesses category opportunities and supply markets, and adapts strategies as business and market conditions change. It maintains senior supplier relationships, negotiates agreements and commercial terms, monitors supplier performance, and supports buyers with expedites. The Category Manager is accountable for category financial results, pricing strategies, financial reviews, cost reductions, negotiations, commodity inflation management, and ongoing market intelligence. The role requires travel up to 30%. Its office environment is indoors and climate-controlled. The work requires sitting, seeing, hearing, and using a computer and office equipment, with or without accommodation. The position is eligible for Mortenson’s incentive plan. The job posting states that visa sponsorship is not offered and applicants must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. without employment visa sponsorship.

Requirements

Knowledge of construction processes, equipment and materials, and purchasing processes and procedures.
Negotiation, organization, planning, verbal, and communication skills.
Strong strategic thinking, business acumen, and negotiation skills.
Effective communication and presentation skills.
Strong organization, planning, and decision-making skills.
Ability to influence without authority.
Active listening and effective communication, including openness to diverse input and feedback.
Ability to travel up to 30%.
Bachelor’s degree in business, supply chain management, construction management, or an equivalent combination of technical training and/or related experience.
At least 8 years of experience.
Current driver’s license.
Must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. without employment visa sponsorship.

Responsibilities

Develop and implement category strategies for cable categories.
Engage engineering and operations stakeholders to capture requirements and develop forecasts across product lines and businesses.
Assess category opportunities, including spend segmentation, category maturity, cost drivers, demand forecasts, and supply market analysis.
Develop sourcing strategies for cable categories, including projects, sourcing levers, timing, resources, expected benefits, and early award strategies.
Adapt strategies to changing business, market, and economic conditions and build stakeholder alignment on early awards.
Support annual category reviews, including updates to projects, metrics, strategy, and risk mitigation strategies.
Evaluate supplier diversity across markets and groups and develop sourcing plans to reduce single-source and concentration risk.
Maintain supplier relationships at the leadership level.
Evaluate capacity needs and negotiate binding or non-binding agreements covering lead times, volume commitments, capacity certainty, and commercial terms.
Monitor supplier quality and delivery performance, awards, volume, and spend across projects and suppliers.
Use supplier relationships to assist buyers with expedites as needed.
Manage financial results for cable and other assigned categories and develop strategies to achieve financial and category initiative goals.
Develop pricing strategies for project proposals and support estimating and project teams with market and early pricing.
Lead monthly and annual category financial reviews, including project information, metrics, forecasts, and strategy as applicable.
Initiate and conduct supplier contract negotiations for binding and non-binding agreements.
Define negotiation strategies, including supplier profiles, commercial targets, switching costs, total cost of ownership, and key commercial levers and requirements.
Monitor market drivers affecting categories, including raw material pricing and availability, supplier capacity, industry disruptions, new products, supply and demand, key suppliers, commodities, and market trends.
Forecast, report, mitigate, and recover commodity inflation and monitor market and contract pricing.
Understand supply and demand requirements for current and future project and operating group needs.
Maintain market intelligence and update category strategies as market conditions evolve.
Work effectively and build relationships with people of diverse backgrounds and organizational levels.
Lead team members by example, provide coaching and feedback, and manage performance.
Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

Medical and prescription drug plans, including no-additional-cost vision coverage
Dental plan
401(k) retirement plan with a Mortenson match
Paid time off, holidays, and other paid leaves
Employer-paid life, AD&D, and disability insurance
No-cost mental health tool and concierge with work-life resources
Tuition reimbursement
Adoption assistance
Gym membership discount program
Incentive plan