Senior Category Buyer - Energy & Strategic Categories

Vallourec - North America•Houston, TX

10d

About The Position

The Senior Category Buyer strategically sources and manages energy (electricity and natural gas), thread protectors, and other assigned strategic categories for Vallourec North America facilities. The role supports immediate operational needs while creating long-term value through category strategy, supplier relationship management, risk mitigation, market intelligence, and total cost of ownership initiatives. The position develops and executes energy procurement strategies, monitors markets and regulatory developments, evaluates risk-management alternatives, and leads Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) and other energy-transition initiatives. It coordinates cross-functional feasibility studies and manages projects from opportunity identification through negotiation, approval, and operational deployment, while monitoring performance against cost and emissions objectives. The Senior Category Buyer also leads sourcing events and negotiations, manages supplier relationships and contracts, collaborates with stakeholders across the business, and develops market intelligence, dashboards, benchmarks, and performance metrics. The role requires strong analytical, commercial, negotiation, and stakeholder-management capabilities, as well as a commitment to ethical sourcing, compliance, and continuous improvement.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Procurement, Business, Engineering, Finance, or a related field; alternatively, 10 or more years of relevant experience in lieu of a degree.
At least 5 years of experience in strategic sourcing, category management, procurement, or supply chain roles.
Ability to understand technically specified products and evaluate supplier performance using total-cost and productivity metrics, particularly for thread protectors and strategic commodities.
Strong analytical capability with energy pricing, indexation, tariffs, consumption data, budgeting, and commercial scenario modeling.
Strong knowledge of strategic sourcing, supplier negotiations, contract management, and supplier performance management.
Proficiency with ERP systems and Microsoft Office tools, including Excel, Word, and PowerPoint; SAP is preferred.
Ability to manage multiple priorities and operate effectively in a matrix organization.
Demonstrated leadership, ownership mindset, and ability to influence stakeholders without direct authority.
Commitment to compliance, ethical sourcing practices, and continuous improvement.
Strong analytical, negotiation, financial, and contract-management skills.
Skills in strategic sourcing and category management, energy procurement and risk management, supplier relationship management, contract negotiation and commercial management, market analysis and forecasting, and stakeholder management and cross-functional collaboration.

Nice To Haves

At least 3 years of experience sourcing energy, industrial consumables, thread protectors, technical materials, industrial services, or other strategic categories.
Working knowledge of electricity and natural-gas procurement concepts, utility and supplier billing structures, and commodity-market risk.
Experience sourcing electricity and/or natural gas, industrial consumables, tooling, thread protectors, or technically specified materials.
Experience with SAP.

Responsibilities

Develop, implement, and maintain category strategies for electricity, natural gas, thread protectors, and other assigned strategic categories.
Identify and execute cost-reduction, value-creation, process-improvement, and supply-chain-optimization initiatives.
Lead competitive sourcing events, RFIs, RFQs, contract negotiations, and supplier selection.
Evaluate sourcing opportunities based on total cost of ownership, market conditions, operational requirements, and long-term business objectives.
Support the integration and strategic management of additional categories assigned by management.
Develop and execute electricity and natural-gas procurement strategies.
Monitor energy markets, price trends, regulatory developments, and supply-demand fundamentals.
Analyze fixed-price, index-based, and risk-management alternatives.
Lead evaluation, development, and execution of PPA opportunities and other energy-transition initiatives across Vallourec North America operations.
Conduct market assessments, financial analysis, risk evaluations, and business-case development for renewable energy solutions.
Coordinate cross-functional feasibility studies with Operations, Finance, Sustainability, Legal, and external stakeholders.
Develop implementation strategies and manage project execution from opportunity identification through contract negotiation, approval, and operational deployment.
Monitor performance and value realization of PPA and sustainability projects against emissions-reduction goals, energy-cost targets, and long-term strategy.
Establish and maintain strategic relationships with key suppliers and conduct supplier performance reviews.
Lead supplier development initiatives and mitigate supplier risks.
Negotiate commercial agreements and contract terms; ensure compliance with contractual obligations and procurement policies; manage renewals, amendments, and commercial negotiations.
Collaborate with Operations, Manufacturing, Engineering, Finance, Quality, Supply Chain, Sustainability, and Legal stakeholders, providing procurement expertise and market insights.
Monitor market trends, supplier developments, technological advancements, and regulatory changes.
Develop category dashboards and performance metrics, and benchmark suppliers and industry practices.