Senior Category Specialist

Plains All American•Houston, TX

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Senior Category Specialist owns high-value, complex spend categories across North America and delivers measurable business value through strategic sourcing, commercial negotiations, and category strategy execution. This role operates with a high degree of autonomy and partners cross-functionally to reduce total cost, manage risk, ensure compliance, and improve supplier performance across the full sourcing lifecycle. Experience supporting technical, operations-driven categories common in midstream or industrial environments is highly desirable.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Accounting, Finance, Engineering, or a related field
7+ years of experience in strategic sourcing, procurement, or supply chain management
Demonstrated success leading supplier negotiations, contract management, and category strategies
Advanced proficiency in Excel and PowerPoint
Strong analytical, communication, and stakeholder‑management skills
Proven ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver results independently
Cleared criminal history (background) and satisfactory reference checks
Compliance with the Company’s drug and alcohol policy including pre-employment D&A testing.
Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S. for the duration of their employment.

Nice To Haves

10+ years of experience in strategic sourcing, procurement, or supply chain management
Experience supporting technical, operations-driven categories common in midstream or industrial environments is highly desirable.
Experience with analytics tools (e.g., Power BI, SQL) preferred
Experience supporting one or more of the following complex, technical spend categories is strongly preferred: Integrity Services – including In-Line Inspection (ILI), Non-Destructive Examination (NDE), and leak detection services; Tank Services – including tank repair, cleaning, and inspection; Electrical & Instrumentation (E&I) – including field services, maintenance, and project based work; Chemical & Gases – including Corrosion, Drag Reducing Agents, Process Chemicals, and bulk gases

Responsibilities

Lead end‑to‑end sourcing initiatives (RFx, supplier evaluation, negotiations, and contract award) for assigned categories
Develop and execute multi‑year category strategies aligned to business priorities, market conditions, and risk profiles
Apply Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) principles to sourcing decisions and recommendations
Draft, review, and redline commercial agreements, including service contracts and long‑term supply agreements
Lead commercial negotiations to optimize pricing, terms, and risk allocation
Partner with Legal and Risk to ensure contracts meet policy, regulatory, and business requirements
Serve as the primary relationship owner for key suppliers within assigned categories
Establish performance metrics, lead supplier reviews, and drive corrective action plans
Identify opportunities for innovation, continuous improvement, and value creation with suppliers
Perform spend analysis, savings tracking, and cost modeling to support sourcing decisions
Develop clear, executive‑ready reports and dashboards to communicate results and performance
Use data to identify trends, risks, and optimization opportunities
Act as the single point of contact for assigned categories, partnering with Operations, Engineering, Finance, Legal, and Logistics
Translate stakeholder needs into sourcing strategies and executable plans
Identify and lead initiatives to streamline sourcing processes, improve efficiency, and standardize best practices
Ensure sourcing activities comply with internal policies and external regulatory requirements
Maintain accurate documentation and support audit and governance needs
Monitor market, supplier, and geopolitical risks impacting supply continuity and cost
Develop and implement mitigation strategies, including supplier diversification and contractual protections