Category Manager

American Electric Power; Columbus (OH); On-site; USD 117,000 - 127,000; Full time

Job summary

American Electric Power in Columbus, Ohio seeks a lead for procurement projects overseeing spend lifecycle across categories. You will guide sourcing, contracts, supplier relationships, inventory management and standardization for internal customers.

Develop and execute strategic sourcing strategies for high-spend, complex categories, partnering with business units to report progress and drive savings. Ideal candidate has 5+ years in procurement with a focus on TCO and continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• Bachelor degree in supply chain related field is required or equivalent experience.
• Minimum 5 years in supply chain or fleet related roles.
• Strong project management, investigative mindset and process orientation.
• MBA or purchasing certification is preferred but not required.
• Experience in lean, kaizen or continuous improvement a plus.

Responsibilities

• Develop and manage company-wide procurement strategy to control costs within budget.
• Oversee spend lifecycle for assigned categories and drive SRM activities.
• Lead contract development, administration and compliance.
• Coordinate with Supply Chain and Operating Company teams to align strategies.
• Use technology to improve internal processes and reporting.
• Communicate program performance metrics to leadership.
• Collaborate with business units to meet demand management goals.
• Identify and capture TCO savings across high-spend categories.

Skills

Strategic sourcing

Category management

Contract administration

Supplier relationship management

Cost savings / TCO

Project management

Education

Bachelor Degree in Supply Management/Logistics, Business Administration, Engineering or related fields of study

MBA or Purchasing certification

Job description

Job Posting End Date

09-29-2026. Please note the job posting will close on the day before the posting end date.

Job Summary

Act as lead for assigned Procurement projects and sourcing categories. Oversee the entire spend lifecycle for assigned categories, providing leadership to team members in a variety of strategic areas including sourcing, procurement, contracts, supplier relationship management, inventory management and material standardization.

Highly advanced level of knowledge and responsibility for developing, negotiating, executing and maintaining strategic sourcing agreements for specific categories for the procurement of materials, equipment and/or services used by AEP internal customers.

This position will identify cost reduction opportunities and capture real Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) savings (direct or indirect) by aggregating sourcing volumes. This position’s primary responsibility is to develop and execute strategic project-driven sourcing activities for a variety of market baskets that are normally associated with high-spend, high-impact, and often complex categories across multiple business unit stakeholders.

Develop and implement strategies to achieve corporate savings goals. Establish effective relationships and work collaboratively with Business Unit customers, and suppliers to maintain customer satisfaction. Interface with Business Unit leadership to report ongoing progress to goals. Champion new initiatives that will support shared business objectives, support the business unit partner’s needs, and enable the company to efficiently operate in a competitive and changing environment. Strategies will be developed in a collaborative effort between Supply Chain, Procurement, and the various Business Units and Operating Companies impacted by the program. Ensure corporate spend and savings goals are incorporated into the sourcing strategy and contracts. Develop and manage metrics/measurements to record the progress and actions related to the program processes.

Job Description

Where Putting the Customer First Powers Everything We Do!

What You’ll Do

• Develop and manage the company’s overall strategy with the aim of controlling costs within budgetary limits, generating savings, rationalizing inventory and maximizing available working capital.
• Manage implementation and ongoing activities of the Company’s strategy by establishing implementation timing, support resources (analysis, bench marking, contract development and maintenance, etc.), standardization events and developing communication tools to introduce programs.
• Perform supplier relationship management (SRM) function and contract administration functions for the various programs.
• Work with Supply Chain teams to ensure buying strategies and contracts align with inventory strategies and Operating Company needs.
• Leverage technology to create internal process efficiencies.
• Communicate program performance metrics to the appropriate levels of management.
• Work with Business Units and Supply Chain on demand management strategies.
• Assist in optimization of logistics processes; works closely with other supply chain members to develop innovative solutions to ongoing operating problems.

What We’re Looking For

• Education: Bachelor Degree in Supply Management/Logistics, Business Administration, Engineering or related fields of study.
• Experience: 5 years in Supply Chain / Fleet or related experience.
• Additional Expectations: Project management skills, investigative nature and process-oriented mind set are needed for this role.
• MBA or Purchasing certification is preferred but not required.
• Experience of lean manufacture, kaizen, continuous improvement or similar production tools preferred.
• IDEAL CANDIDATE (preferred not required): In addition to the minimum requirements, the ideal candidate will have 8 years of Supply Chain or related experience; also, experience in utilities or operations/manufacturing settings.

What You’ll Get

5 openings are expected to be filled.

Expected Salary Range: $117,000.00-$127,000.00/Yr. (USD)

Compensation DataCompensation Grade: SP20-009Compensation Range: $116,255.00 - $151,132.50

Physical Demand Level for this job is

S - Sedentary Work: Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally (Occasionally: activity or condition exists up to 1/3 of the time) and/or a negligible amount of force frequently. (Frequently: activity or condition exists from 1/3 to 2/3 of the time) to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time but may involve walking or standing for brief periods of time. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally, and all other sedentary criteria are met.

Equal Employment Opportunity

It is hereby reaffirmed that it is the policy of American Electric Power (AEP) to provide Equal Employment Opportunity in all respects of the employer-employee relationship including recruiting, hiring, upgrading and promotion, conditions and privileges of employment, company sponsored training programs, educational assistance, social and recreational programs, compensation, benefits, transfers, discipline, layoffs and termination of employment to all employees and applicants without discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), national origin, age, veteran or military status, disability, genetic information, or any other basis prohibited by applicable law.

When required by law, we might record certain information or applicants for employment may be invited to voluntarily disclose protected characteristics.

Company Culture

At American Electric Power, we provide more than electricity to our millions of customers - we energize possibilities. We are redefining the future of energy by reducing our carbon footprint, empowering the communities we serve and building an engaged, talented workforce. All while delivering the reliable service our customers expect. It's an exciting time in the energy industry. Are you ready to be part of it? We are looking for team members to help create the grid of the future. Learn more about our commitment to creating a supportive, inclusive work culture that values different experiences.