SCM Category Manager

Southern Company; Birmingham (AL); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical and dental coverage

Pension/Cash Balance Benefit Plan

Performance-sharing plan

401(k) with company match

Bonus opportunities

Tuition Reimbursement

Job summary

Southern Company is seeking a Category Manager within the Supply Chain Management organization to maximize value for the Generation Business Unit. You will drive category strategies, collaborate with senior stakeholders and suppliers, and lead initiatives to reduce total cost of ownership while improving efficiency across categories like solar, wind, and storage.

This role requires at least 2 years in supply chain with proven category management experience, strong negotiation skills, and the

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree preferred in supply chain, business, technology, finance or related technical discipline.
• Education or experience in contracts.
• CPM/CPSM is a plus; CPCM/ CCCM is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Develops and executes category plans to drive operational efficiencies and cost savings.
• Supervises activities for assigned categories (e.g., solar, wind, storage).
• Typically manages between $100M - $300M in annual spend.
• Leads negotiations and oversees all stages of strategic procurement.
• Facilitates supplier performance measurement and collaborates with suppliers for improvements.
• Manages supplier alliances and supports internal supplier management efforts.
• Analyzes spend, forecasts demand, builds cost models, and calculates total cost of ownership.
• Tracks supplier performance with scorecards and communicates metrics to stakeholders.
• Interfaces with all levels of leadership and cross-functional teams.
• Builds development plans for underperforming suppliers and resolves conflicts.
• Contributes to the One SCM Category Management team.

Skills

Category management

Strategic sourcing

Contract negotiation

Supplier relationship management

Project management

Negotiation skills

Microsoft Office

Financial acumen

Education

Bachelor's degree in supply chain management or related field

Job description

This position will be located in Atlanta, GA or Birmingham, AL.

Position Summary

This position works within the Supply Chain Management organization to support the Generation Business Unit to maximize the value that is delivered using a category management framework. The role collaborates with senior internal stakeholders, supply chain teams, and suppliers to use continuous improvement techniques to improve internal Business Unit and supply chain outcomes. The role ensures Supply Chain Management is perceived as a positive, significant, value-adding partner to the business by providing solutions to business and operational supply chain challenges, improving processes to reduce total costs of ownership, and maintaining a strategic approach to procurement and supply management.

Education

POSITION QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in supply chain management, Business, Technology, Finance, or other relevant technical discipline preferred
• Education or experience in contracts
• Certified Purchasing Manager (CPM) or Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM) is a plus
• Professional Contract Manager (CPCM) or Certified Commercial Contract Manager (CCCM) is a plus

Experience

• At least 2 years of progressive Supply Chain Management experience in category management, strategic sourcing, procurement, supplier relationship management, or related disciplines
• Previous category management experience required.
• Competitive bidding, strategic sourcing, and contract negotiation experience required.
• Demonstrated success developing and implementing category strategies that deliver measurable business value through cost optimization, risk mitigation, operational efficiencies, supplier performance improvements, innovation, and process standardization.
• Experience leading enterprise-wide or program-based category initiatives that drive system-wide impact across large, complex organizations, preferably within utility, power generation, industrial manufacturing, energy, or other asset-intensive environments.
• Proven ability to develop category strategies that align with business objectives and support long-term operational, reliability, and financial goals.
• Experience building strategic partnerships and influencing stakeholders across multiple business functions and leadership levels.
• Experience managing complex categories with significant annual spend responsibility preferred.
• Project management experience is a plus.
• Experience working within renewable energy categories (solar, wind, battery storage, hydro, etc.) is a plus.

Knowledge & Skills

• Knowledge of supply markets and purchasing principles
• Professional written and verbal communication skills
• Knowledge of contract terminology
• Facilitation skills
• Proven negotiation skills
• Excellent project management
• Strong skill in use of Microsoft Office
• Comprehensive knowledge of SCM
• Financial acumen and demonstrated aptitude in analytics

Key Responsibilities

• Develops and executes category plans that identify opportunities for operational efficiencies, drive cost savings, manage risk, improve safety, drive innovation, and ensure the continuous development of categories managed.
• Supervises, plans, manages, and assumes complete responsibility for all activities and processes associated with the categories assigned, potential categories include solar, wind, battery storage, hydro or other assigned categories. Developing category profiles; conducting market research to identify new suppliers, to predict stresses on the supply base, and to manage pricing (e.g., index pricing and volume discounts).
• Typically manages between $100M - $300M in annual spend
• Leads negotiations, oversees all stages of strategic procurement.
• Helps facilitate supplier performance measurement and collaborates with key suppliers to identify potential areas for improvement.
• Manages and identifies supplier alliance opportunities. Supports internal utility Business Unit's supplier management efforts.
• Performs thorough analysis to support the development of category plans, including but not limited to meeting with internal customers to understand their needs, requirements, and plans; determining the impact of joint efforts on supplier KPIs; analyzing historical spend; forecasting future spend based on demand planning; building cost models; calculating total cost of ownership (TCO); creating supplier value.
• Works with Business Unit clients to develop and manage tools necessary to track supplier performance (ex: scorecards).
• Communicates supplier performance metrics to relevant stakeholders on a regular basis.
• Interfaces with all levels of Supply Chain Management and Business Unit clients, including senior management.
• Leads and participates in cross-functional teams, including representatives from Business Unit clients, Supplier Diversity, Risk Management, and/or Legal.
• Creates and implements development plans for suppliers who do not meet performance standards and resolves conflict between suppliers and the company.
• Contributes as a member to the One SCM Category Management team by leveraging strengths to support fellow team members, sharing lessons learned, and engaging others to help in addressing knowledge or experience gaps

BEHAVIORAL ATTRIBUTES

• Demonstrate Southern Company Values – Safety First, Unquestionable Trust, Superior Performance, and Total Commitment
• Safety focus and a strong personal safety record
• Dedication to an accident-free work environment with strict adherence to all safety and compliance requirements
• Must lead by example and ensure equity and fairness in interactions with others
• Must conduct self in a manner that builds trust and confidence with coworkers, contractors, supervisors, and management
• Ability to work within a team setting, including the ability to build and motivate a team toward a shared goal
• Demonstrated initiative and creativity coupled with a strong customer service focus will be expected

Benefits

• Competitive Pay
• Excellent benefits packages which includes:
• Medical and dental coverage
• Defined Pension/Cash Balance Benefit Plan
• Performance-sharing plan
• 401(k) plan with a generous company match
• Bonus opportunities
• Tuition Reimbursement

About Southern Company

Southern Company (NYSE: SO ) is a leading energy provider serving 9 million customers across the Southeast and beyond through its family of companies. Providing clean, safe, reliable and affordable energy with excellent service is our mission. The company has electric operating companies in three states, natural gas distribution companies in four states, a competitive generation company, a leading distributed energy solutions provider with national capabilities, a fiber optics network and telecommunications services. Through an industry-leading commitment to innovation, resilience and sustainability, we are taking action to meet customers' and communities' needs while advancing our goal of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Our uncompromising values ensure we put the needs of those we serve at the center of everything we do and are the key to our sustained success. We are transforming energy into economic, environmental and social progress for tomorrow. Our corporate culture has been recognized by a variety of organizations, earning the company awards and recognitions that reflect Our Values and dedication to service. To learn more, visit www.southerncompany.com . Southern Company invests in the well-being of its employees and their families through a comprehensive total rewards strategy that includes competitive base salary, annual incentive awards for eligible employees and health, welfare and retirement benefits designed to support physical, financial, and emotional/social well-being. This position may also be eligible for additional compensation, such as an incentive program, with the amount of any bonus/awards subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable incentive plan(s). A summary of the benefits offered for this position can be found here https://seo.nlx.org/southernco/pdf/SOCO-Benefits.pdf . Additional and specific details about total compensation and benefits will also be provided during the hiring process. Southern Company is an equal opportunity employer where an applicant's qualifications are considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other basis prohibited by law. Job Identification: 20753 Job Category: Supply Chain Job Schedule: Full time Company: Southern Company Services