Sr. Category Manager in Battery Storage, Global Supply Chain

Nextpower; United States; Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Nextpower seeks a Senior Category Manager in Battery Storage for its Global Supply Chain. This role leads sourcing, contracting, and RFPs for battery storage components such as LV/MV switchgear, transformers, inverters, and EMS rack equipment.

The position partners with Commercial Operations, Engineering, and Legal to negotiate project-specific terms and ensure alignment with contracts. It also drives supplier quality and cost-reduction initiatives to strengthen supply security for utility-scale

Qualifications

• Proven track record of developing and executing category strategies and delivering cost/risk improvements.
• Experience with LV/MV power distribution components including switchgear, inverters, transformers and motor drives.
• Strong negotiation, contracting and communication skills.
• Experience collaborating with Engineering and Product teams on technical requirements.

Responsibilities

• Drive category strategies to achieve cost competitiveness and supply security.
• Lead RFP sourcing to support bid process and evaluate proposals.
• Negotiate project-specific terms and contract equipment and service agreements.
• Support Project Risk Assessments by identifying supply chain risks and mitigations.
• Research market trends, raw material costs, and technology roadmaps for insights.
• Lead cost reduction initiatives via should-cost and total cost of ownership analyses.
• Lead quarterly business reviews with key suppliers and monitor supplier performance.
• Define and monitor KPIs for assigned categories; report on savings and risk.

Skills

Category management

Negotiation

Contracting

Supply chain

Vendor management

Stakeholder collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain or Engineering

Tools

SAP

Oracle

Coupa

Ariba

Job description

Job Description:

Senior Category Manager in Battery Storage, Global Supply Chain

Location: Heathrow, FL / Hybrid / Remote

About Nextpower

The world's demand for electricity is growing faster than ever. Meeting that demand requires infrastructure that's smarter, more reliable, and built to last. The future of energy is not about one advanced technology - it's about bringing the right solutions together in a unified platform that can deliver reliable power at scale. As a trusted, bankable partner, Nextpower provides integrated technology solutions for utility-scale solar, energy storage, and critical power infrastructure, helping customers design, build, and operate projects with greater speed, reliability, and long-term value. Building on more than a decade of innovation and execution, we're helping power the electrified world. Together, we're powering what's next.

Our Values

• Innovation We challenge limits to power what's next.
• Integrity We do the right thing with honesty and respect.
• Accountability We own it, we deliver, we rise together.
• Collaborative We listen, include, and win as a team.
• Customer Focus We earn trust by partnering to solve what matters most.

Job Summary

Senior Category Manager in Battery Storage is a strategic procurement role reporting to the Executive Vice President of Global Supply Chain. This role leads sourcing, contracting and RFPs for assigned battery storage components categories including LV/MV switchgear, transformers, inverters, and EMS rack communication equipment (switches, servers, controllers).

This role partners with Commercial Operations, Engineering, and Legal to negotiate project specific terms, ensuring equipment supply and service agreements align with customer contracts. This role is also responsible for driving supplier quality and performance.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

Essential duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to the following:

• Drive business growth by developing and executing category strategies and plans to achieve cost competitiveness and supply security.

• Lead RFP sourcing to support bid process, obtain and evaluate proposals, ensuring compliance with project specifications, timelines to support project delivery.

• Negotiate project specific terms and conditions, lead the development and contracting of project specific equipment and service agreements.

• Support the Commercial Operations teams in the preparation of the Project Risk Assessment Matrix by identifying risks and mitigations in the supply chain, including geopolitical, economic, and environmental factors that may impact sourcing strategies.

• Research and analyze market trends, raw material costs, and technology roadmap to provide actionable insights.

• Drive cost reduction initiatives by building "should cost", analyzing the total cost of ownership, pricing history, conducting market analysis, and leveraging global supplier networks.

• Lead QBR with key suppliers, track and report supplier quality and performance.

• Define and monitor KPIs for the assigned categories (supplier OTD, quality, lead time, savings and risk indicators)

• Perform other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Proven track record of developing and executing category strategies and delivering measurable cost, quality and risk improvements.

• Good understanding of LV/MV power distribution components including switchgear, inverters, transformers and motor drives.

• Strong negotiation, contracting and communication skills.

• Experience working closely with Engineering and Product teams with good understanding of product development cycles and technical requirements

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain or Engineering, or related field.

• 5+ years of experience in category management, supplier management with 3+ years of experience in renewable industry with BESS experience preferred.

• Experience in managing projects to support strategic procurement goals.

• Proficient in ERP systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle) and E Procurement tools (e.g., Coupa, Ariba).

Physical Requirements & Work Environment

The physical demands and work environment characteristics described herein are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Regularly required to stand and walk, with frequent lifting or moving of up to 25 pounds and occasional lifting of up to 50 pounds.

• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate to loud. Hearing protection may be recommended and/or required in some work locations.

• Domestic and international travel may be required.

At Nextpower, we are driving the global energy transition with an integrated clean energy technology platform that combines intelligent structural, electrical, and digital solutions for utility-scale power plants. Our comprehensive portfolio enables faster project delivery, higher performance, and greater reliability, helping our customers capture the full value of solar power. Our talented worldwide teams are redefining how solar power plants are designed, built, and operated every day with smart technology, data-driven insights, and advanced automation. Together, we're building the foundation for the world's next generation of clean energy infrastructure.

Nextpower is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

We are Nextpower