Sr Category Mgr

Consumers Energy•Jackson, MI

20h•Hybrid

About The Position

Consumers Energy is Michigan’s largest energy provider, providing natural gas and/or electricity to 6.8 million of the state’s 10 million residents in all 68 Lower Peninsula counties. Consumers Energy knows job number one is to keep the lights on for customers. We are committed to delivering reliable, clean, and affordable energy to our customers 24/7. This position is not eligible for immigration sponsorship, e.g., H-1B, TN, etc. Please do not apply if you will need immigration sponsorship for a work visa now or in the future, including sponsorship for H-1B, TN, etc., now or in the future. We are unable to hire individuals with CPT, OPT, or STEM OPT for this position as the position is not eligible for participation in the H-1B lottery program and is not eligible for current or future immigration sponsorship for a work visa. Location : This is a hybrid (virtual/onsite) position with required onsite days on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday assigned to the Saginaw Service Center located in Saginaw, Michigan or One Energy Plaza, located in Jackson, Michigan.  The selected candidate must be within a commutable distance or willing to relocate (relocation package is available for those that qualify). GENERAL SUMMARY OF JOB RESPONSIBILITIES The Senior Category Manager of Development is responsible for leading, defining, developing, and executing strategic sourcing and commercial management activities in support of regulated utility and clean energy capital programs. This role serves as a strategic commercial leader accountable for maximizing value across complex spend categories and large‑scale generation, transmission, and infrastructure projects. The incumbent independently manages high‑risk, high‑capital initiatives; oversees major supply, construction, and service contracts; and serves as a trusted commercial advisor to internal stakeholders, suppliers, developers, and executive leadership. Responsibilities span the full lifecycle from business case development and regulatory‑aware market analysis through sourcing strategy, contract execution, and ongoing supplier and project performance management.

Requirements

Utility category management and capital procurement expertise
Strong strategic procurement knowledge and implementation experience
Contract development, negotiation, management, and administration
Development project, construction, and EPC contract experience
Financial modeling, business case development, and investment evaluation
Strong stakeholder, relationship, and supplier management skills
Ability to synthesize complex market and spend data into effective sourcing strategies
Excellent communication skills with the ability to influence across all organizational levels
Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Engineering, Business, or Accounting/Finance field with four (4) years of experience in Project Management, Utility Supply Chain o (OR) Associate’s degree with six (6) years of experience in Project Management, Utility Supply Chain o (OR) High School Diploma/GED with eight (8) years of experience in Project Management, Utility Supply Chain

Responsibilities

Lead and execute category strategies supporting utility capital projects, clean energy development, and operations, managing $100M+ in annual spend
Develop sourcing strategies aligned with Development Department objectives, internal supply chain requirements, and overall company strategies
Optimize total cost of ownership across capital and operations & maintenance (O&M) spend
Conduct complex market, financial, and spend analyses considering regulatory, supply chain, and market impacts
Collaborate with Legal, Risk, Regulatory, Engineering, Construction, Finance, and Operations teams to structure contracts and manage commercial risk
Lead the full contract lifecycle for utility and clean energy agreements, including EPC, construction, and service contracts
Negotiate high‑value, technically complex contracts to achieve optimal commercial outcomes
Provide contract administration, governance, and performance oversight through execution and operations
Build and maintain strong professional relationships with strategic suppliers, constructors, and consultants; serve as the primary commercial interface for assigned categories
Implement supplier performance frameworks, key performance indicators (KPIs), and continuous improvement initiatives
Foster competition and innovation to deliver improved performance at reduced cost; follow prescribed sourcing methodologies and teach the organization by explaining the rationale behind each step during competitive bidding events
Lead development of business cases and due diligence efforts for capital projects ranging from $50M to $1B+
Support clean energy and utility projects from concept through execution, coordinating across cross‑functional teams
Initiate and apply leading practices within strategic procurement to achieve a high level of process excellence; stay abreast of industry innovations and continuously improve sourcing processes and outcomes