Category Lead

Enhanced Drilling; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Enhanced Drilling is seeking a Supply Chain Category Lead for their Houston location. This role requires end-to-end ownership of procurement strategies and governance, ensuring alignment with business objectives while managing supplier performance.

The ideal candidate will have a degree in Supply Chain or a related field and significant experience in procurement within the oil & gas sector. The position involves direct interface with suppliers and internal stakeholders to ensure compliance with contractual and operational standards.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in supply chain / procurement within oil & gas or industrial environments.
• Strong understanding of contracts, commercial risk, and regulatory frameworks.
• Proven capability in category ownership and commercial governance.

Responsibilities

• Define and maintain category strategy including supplier segmentation.
• Own and enforce commercial frameworks and manage supplier performance.
• Ensure procurement activity aligns with business objectives.

Skills

Category ownership

Supplier management

Contract governance

Communication skills

Proactive approach

Stakeholder management

Education

Degree in Supply Chain, Engineering, Business, or related discipline

Job description

The Supply Chain Category Lead holds end‑to‑end ownership of an assigned procurement category, with responsibility for strategy, governance, commercial performance, and execution oversight.

The role is accountable for ensuring that procurement activity within the category:

• Aligns with business objectives and operational priorities
• Comply with API Q2, ISO, contractual, and internal governance requirements
• Delivers value through cost control, risk management, and supplier performance
• Is executed consistently across regions, projects, and operations

The Category Lead provides direction and governance to transactional procurement roles, interfaces closely with Operations, Engineering, Projects, Finance, and Quality, and acts as the single point of accountability for category performance.

It is expected that each Supply Chain Category Lead will personally perform Buyer execution activities within their assigned category until transaction volume, complexity, or risk justify the separation of a dedicated Buyer role. End‑to‑end accountability for both commercial ownership and execution remain with the Category Lead during this period (Refer to Area of Responsibility 4 & 5)

There is no separation of Buyer execution at the beginning of the role. Category Leads will execute Buyer tasks themselves until transaction volume explicitly justifies additional resourcing.

Area of Responsibility

• Category Strategy & Ownership
• Define and maintain a category strategy, including scope, supplier segmentation, sourcing models, and risk profile.
• Act as the single accountable owner for all expenses, suppliers, and performance within the assigned category.
• Ensure procurement approaches are fit for purpose across operational, project, and regional needs.

2. Commercial & Contractual Governance

• Own and enforce commercial frameworks, including:
• Contract structures
• Terms & Conditions
• Non-Disclosure Agreements
• Change management and deviations
• Ensure contracts are applied correctly and consistently.
• Escalate and resolve commercial risks and ambiguities proactively.
• Oversee supplier onboarding, qualification, and revalidation in line with API Q2 / ISO requirements.
• Ensure suppliers are approved, competent, and fit for use.
• Monitor and manage:
• Delivery reliability
• Quality issues

4. Execution Oversight (Non‑Transactional - Mature Role)

(Aplies once Buyer execution has been formally separated based on transaction volume, complexity, or risk)

• Provide oversight of procurement execution without performing day‑to‑day buying (once Buyer execution has been separated)
• Ensure that:
• Purchase orders, invoices, and recharges align with approved category strategies, agreements, and commercial intent
• Delivery and supplier performance are managed against contractual commitments
• Act as the single point of escalation where execution deviates from governance requirements, commercial expectations, or defined risk tolerance.
• Maintain ownership and accountability for:
• Category strategy and sourcing approach
• Supplier relationships and performance
• Commercial frameworks, including contracts, Terms & Conditions, and NDAs
• Ensure Buyers operate in full alignment with category governance, commercial intent, and compliance requirements.
• Interface with Operations, Projects, Engineering, Finance, and Quality to resolve escalated execution, delivery, or supplier issues.

5. Transactional Version (Role Inception / Low Volume)

At role inception, there is no separation between Category ownership and Buyer execution. The Category Lead is responsible for both commercial ownership and day‑to‑day procurement execution.

Competence

• This transactional execution model remains in place until transaction volume, complexity, or risk explicitly justifies additional resourcing and functional separation. At that point, Buyer execution is formally separated and the role transitions to the
• Degree in Supply Chain, Engineering, Business, or related discipline.
• Significant experience in supply chain / procurement within oil & gas or industrial environments.
• Proven capability in category ownership, commercial governance, and supplier management.
• Strong understanding of contracts, commercial risk, and regulatory frameworks.
• Experience operating in matrix, multi‑regional organizations.
• Strong judgement, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
• High level of accountability and ownership.
• Good communication skills/ good ability to communicate information
• Team oriented and inclusive
• Proactive
• Flexible and independent
• High ability to cope with stress
• Solutions oriented and ability to work with both practical and administrative tasks

HSE Responsibilities

• Comply with all Enhanced Drilling HSE policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements.
• Actively participate in HSE training, safety meetings, and audits.
• Immediately report unsafe conditions, incidents, and near misses.
• Support Enhanced Drilling’s “Zero Harm” culture and demonstrate safety leadership.
• Stop any work that appears unsafe and escalate as necessary.
• Ensure suppliers and contractors within assigned categories meet applicable HSE, Quality, and compliance requirements.
• Incorporate HSE risk considerations into supplier selection, sourcing strategies, and commercial decisions.
• Support supplier qualification, monitoring, and revalidation processes in alignment with API Q2 and ISO management system requirements.
• Coordinate with HSE, Quality, Operations, and Engineering to address supplier risks, audits, nonconformances, and corrective actions.
• Promote the use of approved and fit-for-purpose suppliers that support safe and reliable operations.

Other

(travel (onshore/offshore), cooperation requirements/matrix org. etc.)

• Local Houston offices
• Travel as needed to vendor offices and other locations

General Authorization and Terms (RACI)

• Understanding of authorization process and ability to report up to proper management if errors and corrections occur, as needed. Authority per Enhanced Drilling Authorization Matrix