Principal Category Leader

TheCorporate LLC; Oakland (CA); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

TheCorporate LLC is seeking a Category Leader, Principal in Oakland, CA for a 3-month hybrid assignment. The role focuses on strategic sourcing across software, hardware and telecom, with responsibility for supplier risk analysis, category plans, and value-driven supplier performance reviews.

Candidates should exhibit strong negotiation skills, experience with Ariba/SAP, and a track record of achieving cost savings through category management and cross-functional collaboration.

Qualifications

• Experience in market research and supplier risk analysis.
• Development and management of category plans and strategies.
• Strong negotiation skills with demonstrated cost savings.
• Experience with software, hardware, and/or telecom sourcing.

Responsibilities

• Conduct market research and supplier risk analysis to verify supplier health.
• Create and maintain category plans to guide procurement.
• Develop and review performance data with suppliers to drive value.
• Lead cross-functional teams through sourcing and negotiation strategies for software/hardware/telecom.
• Support strategic planning and executive decision making with senior management.

Skills

Sourcing

Negotiation

Category management

Vendor risk analysis

Cross-functional collaboration

Cost savings

Software/Telecom sourcing

Ariba experience

Microsoft Excel

Strategic thinking

Education

Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent experience

MBA

Tools

Ariba

SAP ERP

Job description

Job Title: Category Leader, Principal

Location: Oakland, CA

Duration: 3 Months

Notes:

BAY AREA/WORK LOCATION-OAKLAND. ASSIGNMENT IS HYBRID AND NEED TO COME TO OGO 3-5 DAYS A MONTH DEPENDING ON BUSINESS NEEDS.

• Top three qualifications or attributes HM will prioritize when reviewing initial resumes.
• Sourcing life cycle management experience, strong negotiation skills with demonstrated cost savings, experience managing software, hardware, and /or Telecom
• Top skill sets HM will be looking for in a candidate (technical expertise & soft skills)?
• Software, hardware, and /or Telecom sourcing experience, Ariba experience, and strong negotiation skills

Job Description:

Responsibilities

• Conducts and documents market research and supplier risk analysis to verify the financial health of existing and potential suppliers.
• Creates and maintains category plans.
• Develops and reviews performance data with suppliers. Works with suppliers to drive ongoing value discovery.
• Develops and sustains mutually beneficial strategic relationships with Tier 1 and cross-portfolio suppliers.
• Leads cross-functional teams through the strategic sourcing process and development/execution of negotiation strategies for software, hardware, and telecom categories.
• Leads the development of category strategies of high complexity.
• Maintains awareness of industry and market trends through ongoing research.
• Sets market trends on particular commodities by working with the industry on best practices.
• Subject matter expert for particular commodities or services in the industry.
• Works with senior management to support strategic planning and decision-making at the officer level.

Skills

• Develops and manages one or more sourcing spend categories and manages all Tier 1 contracts associated with the category(ies).
• Develops strategic category plans to optimize cost savings, service excellence, diversity spend, and total cost of ownership for the categories.
• Effectively influences LOBs, including senior leadership, to achieve understanding, acceptance, and commitment of sourcing strategies.
• Works with Line of Business (LOB) to develop, source, and negotiate major contracts.
• Plays a key role in Supplier Relationship Management / Scorecard process.
• Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, and (Technical) Competencies Desired: Ability to analyze and combine information from different sources and use logic to reach appropriate conclusions as needed to perform at the job level.
• Ability to apply contract processes and procedures and relevant contracts and licensing—for example, ESC, IBEW, tort, contract law—as needed to perform at the job level.
• Ability to work independently with limited oversight.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office Products—for example, Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Access as needed to perform at the job level.
• Competency in relating openly and comfortably with diverse groups of people.
• Competency in building partnerships and working collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives.
• Competency in building strong-identity teams that apply their diverse skills and perspectives to achieve common goals.
• Knowledge of the technical/functional aspects of the trade, occupation, or role as needed to perform at the job level.
• Knowledge of database and information systems—for example, SCADA, EMS, OMT, OIS, SAP, ERP, COSO, Teradata, COBIT, Question Mark as needed to perform at the job level.
• Competency in building strong-identity teams that apply their diverse skills and perspectives to achieve common goals.
• Competency in building partnerships and working collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives.

Education Minimum

• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent experience.

Education Desired

• Master’s Degree in Business Administration or job-related discipline or equivalent experience.

License/Certification Desired

• ISM—Institute for Supply Management CPSM—Certified Professional in Supply Management certification.
• LSS—Lean Six Sigma Certification.

Experience Minimum

• Experience in supply chain, or related, 10 years.

Experience Desired

• Experience in procurement, or related.
• Utility industry experience.
• Job-related experience, 10 years.