Senior Category Manager-Global Energy

Job Description

Sr. Category Manager - Global Energy (Direct Sourcing)

Location: Columbia, MD or Houston, TX

Reports To: Director, Global Direct Sourcing

Department: Global Procurement | Travel: Up to 20%

Position Summary

The Sr. Category Manager, Global Energy is a strategic leader within the Global Procurement Organization responsible for developing and executing global sourcing strategies for electricity, natural gas, renewable energy, and utility services (incl. steam, water) across more than 20 manufacturing sites worldwide. This role manages a significant global energy spend portfolio, delivering cost competitiveness, supply continuity, risk mitigation, sustainability objectives, and supplier performance improvements. Serving as the internal energy subject matter expert, the position monitors market dynamics, regulatory developments, pricing trends, and commodity risks to inform sourcing and hedging strategies. The successful candidate combines deep expertise in energy procurement, utility markets, supplier management, and complex negotiations to drive enterprise value, optimize energy costs, strengthen operational resilience, and support long-term business growth and sustainability goals.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute global energy sourcing strategies for electricity, natural gas, and utility services (incl. steam, water) across 20+ sites.
• Monitor energy markets, regulatory changes, and price trends to optimize sourcing and risk management.
• Provide strategic direction and mentorship to a Sr. Buyer, ensuring effective execution of category strategies and supplier performance and transactional excellence.
• Lead strategic sourcing, supplier negotiations, and contract management with utilities and energy providers.
• Chair the Risk Management Committee, providing hedging recommendations to manage commodity price volatility.
• Drive cost savings through tariff optimization, supplier competition, energy efficiency, and demand management programs.
• Lead energy spend management and utility bill auditing to ensure accuracy, recover overcharges, and strengthen financial controls.
• Partner with Operations, Sustainability, and Finance to manage supplier performance, mitigate risk, and align energy strategies with business objectives.

Leadership Expectations

• Provide strategic leadership for the global energy portfolio, delivering enterprise value and supporting business objectives.
• Serve as a trusted advisor on energy markets, regulations, and risk management strategies.
• Influence senior stakeholders, suppliers, and utilities to drive favorable business outcomes.
• Lead complex negotiations for utilities, electricity, and natural gas supply agreements.
• Apply strong commercial and negotiation expertise to optimize energy procurement and risk management.
• Champion procurement transformation, supplier optimization, sustainability, and continuous improvement.
• Foster accountability, collaboration, and performance through effective stakeholder and supplier management.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain, Engineering, Finance, or related field.
• 10+ years of global energy procurement, strategic sourcing, or category management experience.
• Expertise in electricity and natural gas procurement, utility contracting, and commodity risk management.
• Proven success developing and executing global category strategies across multi-site operations, leading to demonstrated productivity results.
• Strong track record leading complex negotiations with utilities and energy suppliers with superior commercial outcomes.
• Experience developing hedging strategies and managing energy market risk.
• Knowledge of utility tariffs, energy markets, regulatory frameworks, and supplier economics.
• Proficiency with SAP Ariba, SAP Analytics Cloud, and energy management platforms preferred.

Success Metrics

• Delivering 3-5%+ annual energy productivity savings and cost avoidance.
• Maintaining 90%+ strategic energy spend under contract.
• Achieving uninterrupted utility service and zero critical energy-related supply disruptions.
• Successfully executing hedging and risk management strategies that reduce exposure to commodity price volatility.
• Delivering measurable value through utility auditing, tariff optimization, and demand response participation programs.
• Supporting sustainability objectives through renewable energy sourcing and emissions reduction initiatives.

Ideal Candidate

A strategic energy procurement leader with deep expertise in global electricity and natural gas markets, strong commercial acumen, and proven success leading complex negotiations. Combines market intelligence, risk management expertise, and business judgment to optimize energy costs, enhance supply resilience, and deliver enterprise value across a global manufacturing network. Possesses a strong understanding of energy markets, utility regulations, hedging strategies, demand response programs, and emerging energy trends, enabling informed commercial decisions in a dynamic global energy environment.