Sr Category Advisor

CMS Energy, Corp.; Grand Rapids, Northern (MI, KY); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental and Vision

401k with company match

Paid parental leave

Up to 13 paid Holidays

Paid time off

Educational Assistance Program

Job summary

CMS Energy is seeking a Senior Category Advisor to drive IT procurement and category management, delivering sustainable value via lower costs and enhanced supplier performance. You will work with cross-functional teams to analyze spend, shape strategy, and lead negotiations for software, hardware, and telecom.

The role emphasizes building strong partner relationships, developing cost models, and aligning procurement plans with business needs.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or higher in IT/related field with 4+ years IT supply chain category management experience.
• Experience in software, hardware, and telecom procurement within utilities or similar sectors.
• Strong analytical and negotiation skills with supplier relationship focus.

Responsibilities

• Lead IT category management to drive cost reductions and value for CMS.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams on spend analysis and supplier selection.
• Develop and maintain cost models and procurement strategies.
• Prepare business cases and communicate initiatives to stakeholders.
• Guide and evolve category management processes and performance metrics.

Skills

Advanced Excel

PowerBI

Vendor relationships

Strategic sourcing

Cross-functional collaboration

Procurement analytics

Negotiation

Strong communication

Education

Bachelor's Degree in IT / related field

Associate degree

High School Diploma

Tools

ServiceNow

SAP

PowerBI

Job description

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Consumers Energy is Michigan’s largest energy provider, providing natural gas and/or electricity to 6.8 million of the state’s 10 million residents in all 68 Lower Peninsula counties. Consumers Energy knows job number one is to keep the lights on for customers. We are committed to delivering reliable, clean, and affordable energy to our customers 24/7.

This position is not eligible for immigration sponsorship, e.g., H-1B, TN, etc. Please do not apply if you will need immigration sponsorship for a work visa now or in the future, including sponsorship for H-1B, TN, etc., now or in the future. We are unable to hire individuals with CPT, OPT, or STEM OPT for this position as the position is not eligible for participation in the H-1B lottery program and is not eligible for current or future immigration sponsorship for a work visa.

Location: This is a hybrid (virtual/onsite) position with required onsite days on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday and may be assigned to any Consumers Energy Service Center located throughout Michigan's lower Peninsula. The selected candidate must be within a commutable distance or willing to relocate (relocation package is available for those that qualify).

GENERAL SUMMARY OF JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

The Senior Category Advisor drives the strategic procurement and category management processes that create sustainable value through lower costs, improved supplier performance, and efficiency, with a keen appreciation and consideration for Business Partner needs and priorities. Works with cross-functional teams in the implementation of category management processes. Conducts research and analysis to develop strategy and drive decision-making regarding spend, suppliers, and markets. Leads and develops category and commodity cost models. Works with Supply Chain (SC) staff and Business Partners to provide day-to-day support, strategic sourcing, and procurement; responds to questions and solves problems.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Use a continuous improvement framework to sustain SC strategy and compliance with CMS objectives to achieve process excellence and stay current with industry innovations. Identify and implement, in collaboration with the SC Leads, leading practices throughout the organization. Communicate initiatives and improvements to Business Partners as appropriate.
• Communicate with suppliers and be knowledgeable about procurement practices and category strategy. Lead the development and maintenance of strong, positive, and influential relationships with suppliers and Business Partners to assure CMS of a long-term, cost-effective procurement strategy for the procurement of key services and goods.
• Support the SC and category strategy development process with complex analysis and help integrate it with regular business planning and budgeting cycles for SC and CMS. Work closely with Principal Advisors to align strategy-making processes with Business Partner processes. Prepare communications and business cases to support SC initiatives and priorities.
• Drive regular assessment of Business Partner requirements and match procurement plans to meet and adapt to business needs. Seek to develop category expertise, knowledge of market dynamics and trends, supplier insights, pricing knowledge, and negotiating tactics.
• Support Portfolio Managers and Principal Advisors in category management activities and processes that ensure Business Partner satisfaction and value creation. Implement, in collaboration with Portfolio Managers and Principal Advisors, leading practices for spend and market analysis to develop value-adding sourcing strategies.
• Other duties as assigned or as necessary.

KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS/ABILITIES

• Previous experience in an Information Technology support role.
• Expert knowledge and proficiency in advanced Excel PowerBI, Service Now and SAP.
• Working with cross-functional teams to produce IT RFI, RFQ and RFP content.
• Editing EULA, SaaS, Cyber, Telecom and IT services agreements.
• Progressively responsible experience in the area of IT procurement.
• Ability to provide guidance to develop and evolve category management processes, develop metrics, and engage suppliers on operational, strategic and financial issues.
• Practical application of critical thinking to analyze and validate data, identify trends/inconsistencies and recommend accurate, transparent, integrity driven reporting that supports informed decision making.
• Strong customer-oriented mindset.
• Excellent communication skills (oral and written), with the ability to communicate effectively with suppliers and Business Partners.
• Ability to be persuasive and build credibility internally and externally.
• Ability to lead multiple projects and initiatives simultaneously.
• Ability to provide guidance to develop and evolve category management processes, develop metrics, and engage suppliers on operational, strategic, and financial issues.

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor's Degree in Engineering Information Technology, Business, Accounting, Finance, Supply Chain, or a related field with four (4) or more years of IT Supply Chain category management experience. Experience must include Information Technology procurement, category support within the utility, manufacturing or construction sector with an emphasis on software, hardware and telecom.
• (OR) Associate degree with six (6) or more years of IT Supply Chain category management experience.
• (OR) High School Diploma/GED with eight (8) or more years of IT Supply Chain category management experience.

Why should you join our team?

At Consumers Energy, we offer more than just a place to work. We foster a culture that supports career development, growth, and stability, and we take pride in offering our co-workers excellent benefits and compensation packages. We are deliberately creating an inclusive culture that makes our diverse team of co-workers feel valued, supported, and empowered every day. We're a company made up of thousands of people, all with different stories to share and work to do, but we stand united in our company purpose: world class performance delivering hometown service.

What we offer:

• Competitive compensation packages
• Medical, Dental and Vision
• 401k with company match
• Paid parental leave
• Up to 13 paid Holidays
• Paid time off
• Educational Assistance Program

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion:

We, at CMS Energy, value Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion. It is part of our DNA. We treat our employees with respect, we treat each other fairly and we value the opinions of others. We are passionate about building and nurturing an environment where everyone feels included. We don’t discriminate. We seek to learn about each other and better understand our unique differences. Our uniqueness makes us authentic. We create safe spaces where everyone can be who they truly are. We invite difficult conversations and uncomfortable topics. We value diverse perspectives; this is what makes us great together. We harbor an inclusive environment where employees feel empowered to share their backgrounds, experiences, and ideas. Our Employee Resource Groups, Women in Energy (WE), Minority Advisory Panel (MAP), Pride Alliance of Consumers Energy (PACE), GENERGY (Different Generations), capable (Different Abilities), Interfaith, People Planet Partners, and Veterans Advisory Panel (VAP) are key enablers to living the values of our company culture: Caring, Empowered, Deliberate, Agility, and Ownership.

All qualified applicants will not be discriminated against and will receive consideration for employment without regard to protected veteran status, disability, race, color, religion, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or national origin.

Nearest Major Market: Grand Rapids
Job Segment: Supply Chain, Procurement, Sustainability, Strategic Sourcing, Supply, Operations, Energy

Consumers Energy is an Equal Opportunity Employer, please review our Equal Employment Opportunity Policy, Family and Medical Leave Act, and Military Leave Allowance. CMS Energy endeavors to make https://careers.consumersenergy.com/ accessible to any and all users. If you would like to contact us regarding the accessibility of our website or need assistance completing the application process, please contact our team at [e-mail]. This contact information is for accommodation requests only and cannot be used to inquire about the status of applications. ACCOMMODATION NOTICE: Federal law and many state laws require employers to make accommodations to disabled applicants and employees where the accommodation does not impose an undue hardship on the employer. For those applicants seeking a position within the State of Michigan, a disabled individual needing accommodation for employment must notify the employer in writing within 182 days after the need is known or should have been known. Michigan law provides that failure of a Michigan employee to properly notify the employer will preclude any claim that the employer failed to accommodate the disabled individual. However, this does not waive an individual’s right under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended, which sets no time limit for requesting an accommodation nor does it require such accommodation in writing.