Category Manager I

EPRI; Charlotte (NC); On-site; USD 60,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual incentive program

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401k

Paid time off

Job summary

EPRI in Charlotte, NC is seeking a Category Manager I to lead Meetings, Events & Corporate Travel procurement. You will partner with stakeholders and suppliers to deliver cost-effective, compliant travel and event solutions, manage category strategy, supplier selection, contract negotiations, and supplier performance.

This role supports spend analysis, continuous improvement, and vendor management, with relevant sourcing experience. SAP, Concur, Cvent familiarity is a plus.

Qualifications

• Two+ years in corporate travel management, meetings and events or procurement.
• Undergraduate degree or equivalent education/experience.
• Ability to negotiate terms with commercial judgment and manage risk.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Knowledge of travel programs and meetings management preferred.

Responsibilities

• Acquire terms negotiation with contracts and risk considerations.
• Manage vendor relationships and performance outputs.
• Conduct market analysis and identify best sources of supply.
• Develop and monitor category strategies and progress reports.
• Collaborate with internal clients and adapt to changing requirements.

Skills

Self-starter

Diplomatic

Organizational skills

Data analysis

AI tools knowledge

Education

Undergraduate degree

Tools

SAP

Concur

Cvent

Online booking tools

Job description

Position Title: Category Manager I

Requisition ID: REQ-4147

Position Type: Full time

About Us

Together Shaping the Future of Energy

EPRI provides thought leadership, industry expertise, and collaborative value to help the electricity sector identify issues, technology gaps, and broader needs that can be addressed through effective research and development programs for the benefit of society.

Job Title:

Category Manager I

Location:

Charlotte, NC, North Carolina Home Office

Job Summary and Description:

Summary

The Category Lead I, Meetings, Events & Corporate Travel, manages EPRI's corporate travel and meetings and events categories. This role partners with internal stakeholders and external suppliers to deliver cost-effective, compliant, safe, and high-quality travel and event solutions. The position supports category strategy, supplier selection, contract negotiations, supplier performance, demand management, traveler and meeting-planner experience, and continuous improvement. The successful candidate may bring experience from sourcing and procurement, corporate travel management, meetings and events management, hospitality, travel operations, or supplier account management. Formal sourcing experience is preferred but is not required when the candidate demonstrates strong commercial judgment, supplier-management capabilities, analytical skills, and the ability to learn EPRI's sourcing and contracting processes.

Under the direct supervision of the Sourcing and Procurement Manager, manages the Meetings and Events and Corporate Travel categories and negotiates agreements with domestic and international suppliers, including hotels, venues, travel management companies, airlines, ground transportation providers, event-service providers, and travel-technology suppliers. The Category Lead I negotiates pricing, discounts, rebates, concessions, service levels, implementation support, reporting, credits, and appropriate allocation of commercial and operational risk.

Key Responsibilities

Acquisition Terms Negotiation:

• Under guidance, negotiates sourcing agreements and acquisition terms with an understanding of contract risk; drafts agreement terms that ensure business needs and compliance are met while accurately reflecting the arrangement between the parties
• Negotiates favorable economic value with a "total cost" perspective, and tracks and reports cost savings and avoidance; evaluates financial proposals, brings to manager's attention sources with poor financial performance
• Supports in the development of a risk analysis matrix for moderate and high-risk arrangements and presents cases for, and documents business decisions

Vendor Management:

• Identifies strategic vendors, and assists in the development of a continuity-of-business plan with alternate sources of supply
• Identifies, and aids in the selection of, sources of supply
• Monitors vendor performance; engages with strategic vendors by developing collaborative relationships and under guidance works to align EPRI-vendor objectives; conducts routine review of the account/relationship
• With guidance, works to (1) identify opportunities for consolidation of supply base, and (2) identify RFX opportunities; with manager or designee support, (a) conducts RFX events and ensures objective, documented contract awards, and (b) formulates business cases with objective information/data
• Resolves vendor non-compliance, brings to manager's attention cases requiring dispute resolution, and performs agreement cancellations and terminations unrelated to performance issues

Market Analysis:

• Keeps updated on trends in industries related to assigned category, remains informed about developments in other parts of the organization that have impact on acquisitions/procurement
• Surveys market conditions; identifies, makes recommendations and aids in the selection of, best sources of supply

Spend Category Strategy Development:

• With guidance, develops category acquisition strategies, monitors, and reports progress
• Helps manage organizational change that results from implementation of category-based acquisition strategies

Internal Dynamics, Collaboration and Communication:

• Develops and maintains collaborative relationships with internal clients and stakeholders, is aware of category budgets, client needs and departmental strategies, understands overall company objectives (raises conflicting objectives to the attention of manager); reviews acquisition scopes for value and compliance
• Develops ideas and strategies to improve operational efficiency to add value for stakeholders and the Sourcing Team
• Participates in special projects and assumes other duties which may be assigned to support the department as designated by the Manager of Sourcing and Procurement and/or the Director of the Sourcing Team

Education and Experience

Two or more years of relevant experience in corporate travel management, meetings and events management, hotel or hospitality management, travel management company operations or account management, strategic sourcing or procurement, or supplier/category management

Undergraduate degree or an equivalent combination of education and relevant professional experience.

Some understanding of, and experience negotiating commercial acquisition terms and conditions with the ability to use/draft basic agreement prose

Basic understanding of the generic procure-to-pay process

Outstanding listening, and oral and written communication skills

Ability to apply sound commercial judgment and work within applicable internal controls, fraud-prevention requirements, travel policies, supplier-risk processes, and acquisition procedures

Knowledge of a corporate travel program and meetings and evens program and/or experience managing a corporate travel program, meetings and events program, hospitality operation, or related supplier portfolio is preferred

Experience with SAP or comparable enterprise systems is preferred; familiarity with Concur, Cvent, online booking tools, travel management company platforms, global distribution systems, and/or meetings-management technology is a plus

Ability to manage projects, prioritize and delegate work

Utilize emerging artificial intelligence (AI) tools and technologies to enhance productivity, streamline workflows, improve decision-making, and support business objectives.

Skills and Attributes

• Self-starter capable of working independently, managing deadlines and competing workloads, making informed decisions and seeking advice/decisions from others when needed
• Diplomatic, collaborative relationship builder
• Strong organizational, problem solving and interpersonal skills
• Experience working with data (analysis, clean-up, presentation)
• Utilize emerging artificial intelligence (AI) tools and technologies to enhance productivity, streamline workflows, improve decision-making, and support business objectives.

The salary range for this position is $60,000 USD to $70,000 USD annually.This salary range is an estimate, and the actual salary may vary based on various factors, including without limitation applicant's education, experience, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data. The salary may also be adjusted based on applicant's geographic location.This role is eligible to participate in EPRI's annual incentive program. The amount of incentive varies and is subject to the terms and conditions of the plan.This role is eligible to participate in EPRI's standard employee benefit programs, which currently include the following: medical, dental, vision, 401k, STD/LTD and paid family leave, life and accident insurance, paid time off (flexible vacation, sick leave, and holiday pay).EPRI participates in E-Verify, an online system operated jointly by the Department of Homeland Security and the Social Security Administration (SSA). EPRI uses the system to check the work status of new hires by comparing information from the employee's I-9 form against SSA and Department of Homeland Security databases.EPRI is an equal opportunity employer. EEO/AA/M/F/VETS/DisabledTogether . . . Shaping the Future of Energy.www.epri.com