Category Manager I - Trackers

Mortenson; Minneapolis (MN); Hybrid; USD 102,000 - 153,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical coverage

Dental plan

401k with match

Paid time off

Life/AD&D insurance

Mental health resources

Tuition reimbursement

Adoption assistance

Gym discount

Job summary

Mortenson is seeking a Category Manager I to develop, implement, and manage sourcing strategies for Tracker and Fixed Tilt categories on large scale solar projects. The role focuses on optimizing cost, quality, and delivery while strengthening supplier relationships and delivering measurable supply chain improvements.

You will partner with engineering and operations, build category plans, lead supplier negotiations, monitor market drivers, and drive cost reductions while ensuring alignment with

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in business, supply chain management, construction management or equivalent.
• Minimum 8 years of experience.
• Current driver’s license.
• Strong negotiating and communication skills.
• Ability to travel up to 30%.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement Category Strategy for Assigned Categories.
• Identify and engage with internal stakeholders across engineering and operations to capture category requirements.
• Assess opportunities including spend segmentation, category maturity, cost drivers, and supply market analysis.
• Develop Sourcing Strategy detailing projects, levers, timing, resources, and benefits.
• Adapt strategy as business, market, and economic conditions change.
• Support Annual Category Reviews with updated projects, metrics, strategy, and risk mitigation.
• Manage relationships with key suppliers and leadership-level contacts.
• Conduct supplier reviews and monitor quality and delivery performance.
• Lead negotiations strategy, including supplier profiles and Total Cost of Ownership (TCO).
• Forecast, report, mitigate, and recover from commodity inflation.

Skills

Category management

Strategic sourcing

Negotiation

Stakeholder engagement

Cost optimization

Communication

Travel up to 30%

Education

Bachelor's degree in business

Supply chain management

Construction management

Job description

Category Manager I - Trackers

SUMMARY

Mortenson is currently seekinga CategoryManager I who will be responsible for developing, implementing, and managing sourcing strategies for Tracker & Fixed Tilt categories for large scale Solar projects. This role will focus on optimizing costs, quality, and delivery while improving Supply Chain efficiencies and maintaining supplier relationships.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Develop and implement Category Strategy for Assigned Categories
• Identify and engage with internal stakeholders across engineering and operations to capture category requirements
• Assess potential opportunities for categories including spend segmentation, category maturity, cost drivers, and supply market analysis
• Develop Sourcing Strategy for categories detailing projects, sourcing levers, timing, resources, and expected benefits
• Adapt the strategy as business, market, and economic environments change
• Support Annual Category Reviews including updated projects, metrics, strategy, and risk mitigation strategies
• Manage Relationships with Key Suppliers
• Maintain relationship with suppliers at the Leadership level
• Conducts supplier business reviews
• Monitor supplier’s quality and delivery performance
• Leverage supplier relationship to assist buyers with expedites as needed
• Manage Financial Success of Category
• Responsible for category financial results for assigned categories. Develop strategies to achieve financial and category initiative goals
• Develop pricing strategies for project proposals
• Lead monthly and annual category financial reviews with project information, metrics, forecast and strategy, if applicable
• Achieve Material Cost Reductions for Assigned Categories
• Initiate and conduct supplier contract negotiations
• Responsible for defining negotiations strategy including supplier profiles, commercial negotiations targets, defining switching costs, and building Total Cost of Ownership (TCO)
• Closely monitor market drivers affecting the category including raw material pricing and availability, supplier capacity, industry disruptions and new products.
• Responsible for forecasting, reporting, mitigating, and recovery of commodity inflation
• Effectively work and build relationships with those of diverse backgrounds and organizational levels
• Lead team members by example, offer effective coaching and feedback, and effectively manage performance
• Other duties as assigned

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in business, supply chain management, construction management or equivalent combinations of technical training and/or related experience
• Minimum 8 years of experience
• Current driver’s license
• Knowledge of construction processes, equipment and materials, purchasing processes and procedures
• Negotiating, organizing, planning, verbal and communication skills
• Strong strategic thinking, business acumen, and negotiations skills
• Effective communication and presentation skills
• Strong organization, planning and decision-making skills
• Ability to influence without authority
• Active listening skills and effective communication including an openness to diverse input and feedback
• Ability to travel up to 30%

A few benefits offered include:

• Medical and prescription drug plans thatincludesnoadditionalcost vision coverage
• Dental plan
• 401k retirement plan with a generous Mortenson match
• Paid time off, holidays, and other paid leaves
• Employer paid Life, AD&D, and disability insurance
• No-Cost mental health tool and conciergewith extensive work-life resources
• Tuition reimbursement
• Adoption Assistance
• Gym Membership Discount Program

The base pay range for this role is $102,000- $153,000.(Actual range is higher for the following office locations: Denver, CO and Chicago, IL – 5%, Seattle, WA, and Portland, OR – 10%, Washington, D.C. – 12.5%).

Base pay is positioned within the range based on several factors including an individual’s knowledge, skills, and experience, with consideration given to internal equity.This position is eligible for Mortenson’s incentive plan.

#LI-GC1 #LI-hybrid

Please make note:

• Visa sponsorship is not offered for this position.
• Ourpostingsare typicallyopena minimum of 5 days and an average of44 days.

ABOUT MORTENSON

As a top builder, developer, and EPC (Engineering, Procurement, and Construction), ourexpertisespans markets like sports, renewable energy, data centers, healthcare, and more. We are builders at heart, working to ensure the built environment has a lasting positive impact.

Let’sRedefine Possible

Equal Employment Opportunity

Your uniqueness brings new and creative perspectives to the team. Mortenson is committed toprovidingequal opportunitiesofemployment (EOE) to all individuals, regardless of your race, religion, gender, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, maritalstatusor any other legally protected category.

Other Items to Note

• Mortenson reserves the right to hire any individual without legal or financial obligation on unwanted solicitations. No agency emails, calls, or solicitations are accepted without a valid agreement.
• Must be currently legally authorized to work in the U.S. without sponsorship for employment visa status (e.g., H1B status, 0-1, TN, CPT, OPT, etc.). We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visaat this time.