Principal Category Leader

Job Decription:

Job Title: Principal Category Leader

Location: 1250 Kendall Rd, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401

Shift: Hybrid Role | 4 Days a week | 10 Hours a Day | 2 days office onsite

Duration: 6 To 9 Months (Contract to Hire)
Pay Range: XXXXXXXXXXX - XXXXXXXXXXX Per hr on w2.

Position Summary

The Category Leader, Principal serves as the senior subject matter expert responsible for leading highly complex sourcing categories and strategic procurement initiatives across the organization. This role develops and executes enterprise-wide category strategies, drives supplier performance and value creation, influences executive stakeholders, and optimizes total cost of ownership while ensuring service excellence and supply continuity.

The Principal Category Leader partners closely with business leaders, suppliers, and cross-functional teams to develop innovative sourcing strategies, negotiate major contracts, manage supplier relationships, and support long-term business objectives. This position plays a critical role in Supplier Relationship Management (SRM), supplier scorecard development, strategic planning, and procurement transformation initiatives.

Additional Position Requirements

Work Location & Schedule

• Candidates must reside within a reasonable commuting distance (approximately 90 minutes) of the facility.
• Hybrid work arrangement requires onsite presence two (2) days per week.
• Must be able to collaborate effectively in both onsite and remote environments.

Team Environment & Culture

• Strong emphasis on teamwork, collaboration, and maintaining a positive, low-ego work environment.
• Ability to build strong working relationships across cross-functional teams and stakeholders.
• Cultural fit and interpersonal effectiveness are critical factors for success in this role.

Career Opportunity

• Contract-to-hire opportunity with a clear path to full-time employment.
• Position supports long-term succession planning within the procurement organization.

Industry & Supplier Experience

• Experience supporting large-scale industrial, manufacturing, energy, utility, engineering, or infrastructure organizations is highly preferred.
• Prior experience managing strategic supplier relationships with major OEMs and industry-leading suppliers is strongly desired.
• Nuclear industry experience is preferred but not required.

Strategic Sourcing & Contract Management

• Demonstrated experience negotiating and managing highly customized, complex commercial agreements.
• Strong expertise in contract negotiations, category strategy development, and supplier relationship management.
• Experience leading sourcing initiatives from strategy development through supplier selection and contract execution.
• Ability to independently author, manage, and execute RFx events (RFI, RFQ, RFP) and sourcing projects.
• Proven success developing category plans and driving value through strategic sourcing initiatives.

Required Professional Competencies

• Exceptional negotiation, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
• Strong business acumen with the ability to influence internal and external stakeholders.
• Ability to balance strategic planning responsibilities with day-to-day operational procurement activities.
• Proven track record of managing complex procurement initiatives in fast-paced environments.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Category Leadership

• Subject matter expert for particular commodities or services within the organization.
• Leads the development of highly complex category strategies.
• Leads cross-functional teams through strategic sourcing processes and the development/execution of negotiation strategies for highly complex spend categories.
• Works with senior management to support strategic planning and decision-making at the officer level.
• Provides thought leadership and procurement expertise to business stakeholders.

Supplier Relationship Management

• Develops and sustains mutually beneficial strategic relationships with category and cross-portfolio suppliers.
• Maintains awareness of industry and market trends through ongoing research and analysis.
• Develops and reviews supplier performance data with suppliers.
• Works with suppliers to drive ongoing value discoveries and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Leads supplier governance, performance reviews, and strategic supplier engagement activities.

Strategic Sourcing & Procurement

• Develops and maintains category plans for high complexity spend categories.
• Conduct market research and supplier risk analysis to verify the financial health of existing and potential suppliers.
• Leads major contract negotiations and sourcing initiatives that deliver measurable business value.
• Drives cost optimization, risk mitigation, innovation, and supplier diversity objectives.

Cross-Functional Leadership

• Leads and influences cross-functional teams to achieve strategic business objectives.
• Build strong partnerships and working relationships with business stakeholders across multiple departments.
• Provides guidance and mentorship to procurement professionals and sourcing teams.
• Leads high-impact procurement projects and transformation initiatives.

Minimum Education Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree in:
  • Business Administration
  • Supply Chain Management
  • Job-related discipline
  • Or equivalent job-related experience

Preferred Education

• Master's Degree in:
  • Business Administration (MBA)
  • Supply Chain Management
  • Related Business Discipline

Preferred Certifications

• Lean Six Sigma Certification (LSS)
• Project Management Professional (PMP)
• Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM) Institute for Supply Management (ISM)

Minimum Experience

• Eight (8) years of experience in:
  • Supply Chain Management
  • Strategic Sourcing
  • Procurement
  • Related business discipline

Preferred Experience

• Ten (10) or more years of job-related experience.
• Experience in procurement and strategic sourcing.
• Utility industry experience is highly preferred.

Required Knowledge, Skills & Competencies

Procurement & Supply Chain Expertise

• Advanced knowledge of strategic sourcing methodologies, category management principles, supplier relationship management, and procurement best practices.
• Ability to develop and execute complex sourcing strategies for enterprise-level spend categories.
• Expertise in supplier performance management, supplier risk assessment, and contract negotiations.

Leadership & Collaboration

• Competency in building strong-identity teams that apply diverse skills and perspectives to achieve common goals.
• Competency in building partnerships and working collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives.
• Ability to lead cross-functional teams and manage projects of high complexity.
• Strong stakeholder management and executive-level communication skills.

Analytical & Technical Skills

• Knowledge of databases and information systems including:
  • ARIBA
  • SCADA
  • EMS
  • OMT
  • OIS
  • SAP
  • ERP
  • COSO
  • Teradata
  • COBIT
  • QuestionMark
• Competency in applying project management theories, concepts, methods, best practices, and techniques as needed to perform at the job level.
• Ability to analyze market conditions, supplier financial health, and procurement data to support strategic decision-making.

Travel Requirements

• Travel to off-site locations to meet with Line of Business (LOB) leaders and vendors/suppliers using personal transportation.