Category Manager, Solar and BESS Equipment

• Direct the segmentation of assigned spend into category and subcategory groupings to create levers for operational excellence. • Lead the development of overall category strategies to meet organizational goals by improving Total Cost of Ownership (TCO), securing supply continuity, domestic content feasibility, and identifying/mitigating risks and opportunities. • Maintain and deepen category knowledge by researching and tracking industry trends, best practices, and competitive offerings. • Execute the category strategy by managing the Preferred Supplier List (PSL), rationalizing non-preferred suppliers, and rewarding preferred partners with business awards tied to Long-term Agreements (LTA). • Develop, negotiate, and manage supplier contracts and pricing. • Initiate and lead Quarterly Business Reviews (QBRs) and other business reviews with strategic suppliers to align on strategy and goals. • Assess, review, and scout new suppliers for continuous improvement and development. • Manage day-to-day supplier relationships and escalated supplier disputes. • Lead regular strategic partnership meetings with key suppliers to set commercial goals, address technical considerations, and develop opportunities for additional business. • Coordinate and approve supplier onboarding and manage the contract repository and renewals. • Drive Continuous Improvement (CI) across the supply chain, focusing on reducing lead times, improving cycle time, and ensuring transparency. • Improve key metrics such as savings, payment terms, on-time delivery, and risk mitigation (including inflation). • Support Responsible Sourcing & ESG Risk initiatives. • Capture and maintain the latest part pricing for Procurement. • Enforce procurement policies. • Develop productive working relationships and collaborate with cross-functional teams (e.g., Engineering, Tech Ops, Project Management, Delivery, and Procurement). • Create presentations and analysis for strategic meetings (e.g., supplier relationship management, category strategies, risk mitigation proposals, and gap analysis). • Maintain professional and technical knowledge through ongoing learning (workshops, publications, professional societies). • Have Fun and do not take yourself too seriously. • Additional duties, as required.

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field or equivalent experience • Minimum 3+ years of procurement experience (preferably within industries with engineering, procurement, and construction projects, with a focus on procurement) • Experience in negotiations, including RFI, RFP, RFQ, and contract development • Benchmarking, Market Analysis, Competitive Intelligence, and Procurement Projects Management skills • Excellent organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills • Self-starter with the ability to work autonomously and within a team. • Passion to learn new things through self-study and structured settings • Demonstrated abilities to coordinate across internal and external teams • Experience in Category or Commodity Management of Hardware / Direct Materials • Experience in C&I solar and battery storage • Experience with vendor management, including purchase order issuance, execution, and administration.