Category Manager III, Sr

Williams-Sonoma; Houston (TX); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work

Medical coverage

Dental coverage

Vision coverage

401(k) match

Paid time off

Parental leave

Tuition reimbursement

Stock purchase plan

Life insurance

Disability coverage

Volunteer time

Wellness program

Employee groups

Job summary

Williams Companies in Houston seeks a Category Manager to drive category and supplier strategies for PVF and MRO spend. You will lead cross-functional qualification, develop KPIs, and negotiate contract terms to optimize costs and risk across a highly transactional supplier base.

The role requires a strong background in supply chain management, stakeholder collaboration, and strategic sourcing, with travel and a heavy focus on cost savings and standardization opportunities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a related field and a minimum seven years of diversified supply chain experience.
• Preferred ISM or APICS certification; nine years of diversified supply chain experience is desirable.
• Experience collaborating across functions to develop supplier and category strategies.

Responsibilities

• Interprets business challenges and recommends standard methods to improve category, processes or services.
• Collaborates with business partners to develop comprehensive supplier and category strategies.
• Develops and leads cross-functional supplier qualification and management processes.
• Builds KPIs for supplier performance reviews.
• Identifies and establishes strategic supplier partnerships to optimize costs.
• Develops and maintains category and subcategory structures.
• Negotiates and implements contract terms and conditions.
• Conducts spend analysis and develops supplier management and risk mitigation processes.
• Other duties as assigned.

Skills

Cross-functional collaboration

Supplier management

Category management

Spend analysis

Negotiation

Education

Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Finance, Business, Economics, Mathematics, Engineering or technology field

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

At Williams, we're powering a cleaner, more connected future, and that starts with you. Here, your work fuels communities, drives innovation, and helps deliver reliable energy the world depends on. Join a Fortune 500 team that invests in your growth, values your contributions, and challenges you to make a lasting impact every day.

The Category Manager is responsible for driving teamwork across our organization to develop supply chain solutions. This role will lead cost savings projects, demonstrate market conditions and price dislocations, lead contract disputes with suppliers, and bring forward value propositions for our business. The ability to think beyond the status quo to develop solutions to sophisticated problems that improve performance, efficiency and safety and make decisions that impact business and project objectives are keys to success in this role!

This role represents ownership of the spend within Pipe, Valves, and Fittings (PVF) and Maintenance, Repair and Operations (MRO). These responsibilities cover significant spend, operational risk, and value creation opportunities that warrant dedicated strategic ownership. PVF and MRO support nearly every field operation, maintenance activity, and capital project across Williams. The category is highly transactional, fragmented, and dependent on distributor relationships, creating opportunities for supplier consolidation, standardization, inventory optimization, and improved sourcing discipline. Existing category strategies identify substantial savings opportunities through agreement optimization, spend visibility, and enterprise standardization initiatives.

Responsibilities/Expectations:

• Interprets business challenges and recommends standard methodologies/strategies to improve category, processes or services
• Collaborates with business partners to develop comprehensive supplier and category strategies
• Develops and leads cross-functional supplier qualification and management processes
• Builds Key Performance Indicators for supplier performance reviews
• Identifies and establishes strategic supplier partnerships to handle costs and optimize resources
• Develops and maintains category and subcategory structures
• Negotiates and implements contract terms and conditions
• Conducts spend analysis and develops measurable supplier management and risk mitigation processes
• Other duties as assigned

Education/Years of Experience:

• Required: Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Finance, Business, Economics, Mathematics, Engineering or technology field; minimum of seven (7) year's experience handling a diversified supply chain environment
• Preferred: Certification from Institute of Supplier Management (ISM) or American Production and Inventory Control Society (APICS); minimum of nine (9) year's experience handling a diversified supply chain environment

Other Requirements:

• Demonstrates excellent organizational/interpersonal skills and safety as the utmost priority
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Application and PC skills
• Experience working in a cross-functional environment
• Demonstrates conceptual and practical expertise in category and supplier management
• Demonstrates materials planning experience

Travel Requirements:

• Estimated travel is 10%-30%
• #LI-KM2

Why Houston?

Big career opportunities in one of the world's energy capitals, endless food spots and a diverse vibe-all without paying NYC or LA prices. Work hard, live better. Check out Houston.org to learn more.

We invest in our people in ways that actually show up in your day-to-day, not just on paper. Our Total Rewards are built to support how you work, live, and plan for what's next.

Here’s a look at what that means:

• Strong pay plus an annual incentive program
• Hybrid work for most office roles, plus real flexibility in many field positions
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage with options that fit your life, not the other way around
• 401(k) with company match and an annual company contribution
• Paid time off, including company and floating holidays
• Paid parental leave (up to six weeks per parent), plus fertility and adoption support
• Advanced AI tools and resources to help level up and work smarter
• Clear paths to grow your career, with a strong culture of promoting from within
• Tuition reimbursement and support for continuing education
• HSA and FSA options
• Company-paid life insurance and disability coverage
• Employee stock purchase plan
• Domestic partner benefits
• Employee resource groups, wellness support, paid volunteer time, and company matching for causes you care about

Eligibility and benefits are governed by the terms of the applicable plan or program document which can be amended or terminated at any time.

For more information, please visit Total Rewards | Williams Companies .

Williams is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual