Category Manager – Process & Mechanical

Fervo Energy Co.; Houston (TX); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Fervo Energy Co. is seeking a Category Manager for Process & Mechanical to own sourcing, supplier relationships, and commercial execution across pumps, heat exchangers, turbines, and related equipment.

You will lead strategic sourcing, contract development, and risk management partnering with Engineering, Legal, Finance, and Operations. The role requires 8+ years in energy procurement, should-cost modeling experience, and strong ERP/Excel skills to drive best-value outcomes and on-time project

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management or related field.
• 8+ years of progressive experience in strategic sourcing/category management in energy (geothermal, power generation, oil and gas).
• Expert understanding of process & mechanical equipment and related services specific to geothermal, power generation or oil and gas.
• Experience negotiating equipment supply agreements, framework agreements, warranty terms, liquidated damages, milestone payments, and change order terms.
• Proficiency in ERP systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle) and advanced Excel/analytical skills for data management and reporting.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Experience building or using should cost models, cost breakdowns, bid evaluations, benchmarks, or total cost of ownership analyses.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Sourcing and Category Management.
• Perform market analysis (including should-cost modeling) and leverage supply chain knowledge to understand and articulate market trends that may impact internal stakeholders and category strategies.
• Collaborate with key stakeholders and senior leadership to forecast demand, define scope, identify risks, and analyze supplier capabilities.
• Manage bid solicitation, evaluation, negotiation, contract execution, implementation, and post award management.
• Identify opportunities for supplier consolidation, preferred supplier agreements, framework agreements, and volume leverage across projects.
• Develop total cost of ownership models that include purchase price, spare parts, freight, duties, inspection costs, commissioning support, warranty coverage, lifecycle cost, and schedule risk.

Skills

ERP systems (SAP/Oracle)

Advanced Excel

Analytical skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management or related field

Tools

SAP

Oracle

Job description

The Category Manager – Process & Mechanical will own sourcing, supplier relationships, and commercial execution for Fervo’s process and mechanical equipment portfolio.

Fervo Energy is advancing the next generation of geothermal energy to deliver 24/7 carbon-free power at scale. We combine subsurface engineering, horizontal drilling, and real-time data systems to unlock a clean, reliable energy resource built for the demands of modern power systems.

As Fervo expands its commercial project portfolio across North America, disciplined procurement and supply chain execution are critical to delivering plants on schedule and at cost. The procurement function sits at the center of that execution: owning the sourcing, contracting, and delivery of the equipment that makes each plant possible.

Description

TheCategory Manager – Process & Mechanicalwill own sourcing, supplier relationships, and commercial execution for Fervo’s process and mechanical equipment portfolio. That scope includes long-lead, high-value equipment — ACCs, feed/injection pumps, heat exchangers, process skids, turbines, valves, and related balance of plant — from supplier selection through delivery and post-award management.

This role operates at the intersection of procurement strategy and project execution, partnering directly with Engineering, Construction, Project Management, Legal, Finance, and Operations to ensure equipment is sourced competitively, contracted effectively, and delivered on schedule. The Category Manager – Process & Mechanical reports to the Project Procurement Manager.

Responisiblities

Strategic Sourcing and Category Management

• Set the vision, craft and execute category management strategies for process & mechanical and associated services.
• Perform market analysis (including ‘should-cost modeling) and leverage supply chain knowledge to understand and articulate market trends that may impact internal stakeholders and category strategies.
• Collaborate with key stakeholders and senior leadership to forecast demand, define scope, identify risks, and analyze supplier capabilities.
• Manage bid solicitation, evaluation, negotiation, contract execution, implementation, and post award management.
• Identify opportunities for supplier consolidation, preferred supplier agreements, framework agreements, and volume leverage across projects.
• Develop total cost of ownership models that include purchase price, spare parts, freight, duties, inspection costs, commissioning support, warranty coverage, lifecycle cost, and schedule risk.

Supplier Selection and Relationship Management

• Build a best-in-class supplier ecosystem with a focus on technical expertise, quality, delivery performance, and cost competitiveness.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with key suppliers and service providers to ensure on-time delivery and support high-quality plant operations.
• Monitor supplier performance through QBRs, KPIs and manage corrective actions, continuous improvement initiatives, and supplier development programs.

Contract Development & Negotiation

• Lead commercial discussions with suppliers, ensuring clear statements of work, service-level agreements, and compliance with regulatory requirements.
• Negotiate terms and pricing to achieve best-value agreements while fostering long-term, collaborative supplier partnerships.
• Provide effective overview of supplier performance to contract. Manage supplier issues and disputes to effective resolution

Risk Management and Compliance

• Proactively identify and mitigate risks in the supply chain, including disruptions in supply, quality control issues, logistical bottlenecks, and regulatory changes.
• Ensure all procurement and sourcing activities meet company policies, industry standards, and relevant health, safety, and environmental regulations.

Cross Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with engineering, operations, finance, legal and other stakeholders to align supply chain strategies with project timelines and budgets.
• Provide guidance and mentorship to junior supply chain team members, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and knowledge sharing.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management or related field
• Minimum 8+ years of progressive experience in strategic sourcing/category management in energy (geothermal, power generation, oil and gas, etc.).
• Expert understanding of process & mechanical equipment and related services specific to geothermal, power generation or oil and gas.
• Experience negotiating equipment supply agreements, framework agreements, warranty terms, liquidated damages, milestone payments, and change order terms.
• Proficiency in ERP systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle) and advanced Excel/analytical skills for data management and reporting.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Experience building or using should cost models, cost breakdowns, bid evaluations, benchmarks, or total cost of ownership analyses.

Preferred Qualifications

• History of influencing senior leaders, leading cross-functional teams and nurturing talent through mentoring and development programs.
• Self-starter with a track record of developing, implementing, and managing strategic supply chain initiatives
• Ability to influence management through the use of high quality, well-structured communications, both written and verbal to ensure linkage with business strategies and drive understanding of the resulting impact.
• Strong analytical, critical thinking, negotiation and problem-solving skills.

Location

Fervo Energy is headquartered in Houston, TX. This position will be eligible for some hybrid work flexibility, but regular in-office presence at theHoustonlocation will be required. Although office based, some travel to Fervo operational sites may be required.

Fervo Energy commercializes technology to own, develop, and operate geothermal assets as the dispatchable foundation to a 100% clean energy future. As a 24/7, reliable clean energy resource, geothermal energy has a major role to play in the future electric grid and Fervo Energy’s key innovations bring a full suite of modern technology to make geothermal cost competitive. Fervo’s innovations include technologies such as advanced computational models, horizontal drilling, and distributed fiber optic sensing that we have developed with partners including Schlumberger, ARPA‑E, and the Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. Fervo is supported through Cyclotron Road, the Department of Energy, Stanford University, and Breakthrough Energy Ventures.

Fervo Energy is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, gender, religion, marital status, registered domestic partner status, age, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, sex, genetic information, sexual orientation, military and veteran status or any other consideration made unlawful by federal, state, or local laws. It also prohibits unlawful discrimination based on the perception that anyone has any of those characteristics or is associated with a person who has or is perceived as having any of those characteristics.