Supply Chain Category Specialist - Akron, OH

FirstEnergy • Akron, OH

6h • Onsite

About The Position

This is for three open positions with the FirstEnergy Service Company, a
subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corp.

Role Overview

We are expanding our Strategic Sourcing and Category Management organization and
seeking multiple Supply Chain Category Management Specialists to support
high‑impact sourcing initiatives across enterprise‑critical spend categories.

This role partners with cross-functional stakeholders and suppliers to drive
cost optimization, supplier performance, market intelligence, and digital
procurement transformation. You will help execute strategic category plans that
align with enterprise goals for risk mitigation, sustainability, operational
excellence, and value creation.

This position will be a full time onsite position located at either Akron, OH or
Greensburg, PA.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Business, Engineering, or related discipline and 4–7 years of relevant experience OR High school diploma and 7–10 years’ sourcing/supply chain experience.
• Demonstrated success driving category improvements, cost optimization, and supplier performance enhancements.
• Knowledge of procurement policies, sourcing governance, terms and conditions (MSA) review, and compliance requirements.

Nice To Haves

• Preferred experience in utility, engineering, construction, energized equipment, IT software/hardware, professional/consulting services, and related utility level procurement.
• Experience with Coupa sourcing platform a plus.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Sourcing & Category Optimization
• Design and execute multi‑year category roadmaps, cost‑reduction initiatives, and strategic supplier strategies.
• Develop Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) strategies to improve service levels and unlock value beyond price.
• Build and deploy category strategies that incorporate market trends, risk modeling, value-engineering, demand forecasting, and supplier innovation.
• Digital Procurement Enablement
• Leverage technology platforms, spend analytics, supplier performance management, and market intelligence tools to drive data‑driven decisions.
• Apply analytics to supplier spend, evaluate market dynamics, and benchmark pricing to identify value opportunities.
• Supplier Relationship Management (SRM)
• Lead supplier selection events, including RFP development, proposal assessments, and scorecarding.
• Monitor and track supplier performance KPIs to ensure continuous improvement and compliance.
• Build robust supplier partnerships that support innovation and reliability.
• Contracting & Negotiations
• Guide contracting strategy, negotiate commercial terms, and support value‑based contract optimization.
• Partner with technical stakeholders to evaluate proposals and ensure sourcing alignment with business needs.
• Category Intelligence & Market Analysis
• Track category‑specific market trends, economic drivers, price movements, and supply risks.
• Define cost benchmarks, analyze supplier landscape shifts, and contribute insights to enterprise category strategy.
• Stakeholder Engagement & Change Enablement
• Serve as a strategic advisor to business partners, ensuring alignment of sourcing strategy with operational and financial objectives.
• Ensure user satisfaction through transparent communication and high‑quality execution.

Benefits

• competitive pay plus incentive compensation
• a company-sponsored pension plan
• 401(k) savings plan with matching employer contribution
• a choice of medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, and life insurance programs
• skills development training with tuition reimbursement

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level