Senior Category Manager

NineDot Energy • New York, NY

9h • Hybrid

About The Position

NineDot Energy is a leading community-scale, clean energy developer focused on creating innovative energy solutions for a more resilient electric grid, delivering economic savings, addressing environmental justice, and reducing carbon emissions. The company plans to develop, build, and operate over 400 MW of clean energy systems by 2026 to strengthen New York's power grid and provide clean, reliable power, supporting New York State’s mission for 100% clean energy by 2040. Backed by Manulife Investment Management and The Carlyle Group, NineDot is expanding its battery energy storage pipeline, enhancing products, exploring new regions, and considering acquisitions to advance grid decarbonization. The company is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion. NineDot Energy is seeking a strategic and detail-oriented Senior Category Manager to help shape and execute its procurement strategy, initially focusing on BESS equipment, engineering services, and origination support. This role involves partnering with the Vice President of Supply Chain and internal stakeholders to lead sourcing activities, supplier management, and contract negotiations within key spend categories, aiming to improve procurement processes, enhance supplier performance, and drive long-term value across the supply chain.

Requirements

• Equipment, engineering services, or other significant contract negotiation experience, including drafting new agreements, redlining, and vendor engagement.
• Experience managing RFPs and supplier evaluations.
• Solid understanding of procurement principles, supplier relationship management, and cost optimization techniques.
• Strong project management skills.
• Lean / Six Sigma experience or certification.
• Effective collaboration, teambuilding, and mentoring skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Familiarity with procurement tools / ERP systems.
• No less than five (5) years experience working in a supply chain role.

Nice To Haves

• Previous renewables or other energy work history.
• Experience with SAP.
• Experience or interest in a sustainability-focused environment.

Responsibilities

• Take lead responsibility on equipment and engineering to support batteries and design build projects bids, contracting, and post-contracting follow-up. Assume responsibility for ad hoc contracting across fleet requirements, for a variety of products and services.
• Assist with transition to and working within a P2P platform currently being implemented (SAP).
• Conduct market research and supplier analysis to develop sourcing strategies aligned with business needs and cost goals.
• Manage end-to-end supplier selection, including RFP development, bid evaluation, and contract negotiation.
• Partner with cross-functional teams including Origination, Engineering, Construction, and Legal to align procurement strategies with project timelines, technical requirements, and regulatory standards.
• Maintain and analyze category-level spend data to identify trends, savings opportunities, and performance gaps.
• Drive supplier performance through KPIs, relationship management, and regular performance reviews.
• Contribute to supplier diversity initiatives by engaging with minority and women-owned business enterprises (MWBEs), as well as participating in diversity tracking and reporting.
• Provide mentorship for the team’s Category Specialist(s).
• Other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Medical, dental and vision coverage
• 5% employer match on your 401k retirement account
• 20 paid vacation days off, plus 7 sick days, 9 federal holidays and 3 personal floating holidays
• 12 weeks of 100% paid parental leave for both the primary and secondary caregiver within the first year of birth or adoption
• Wellness initiatives including a $1,000 stipend
• 16 volunteer hours plus two planned company-wide volunteer outings per year

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: No Education Listed