Category Lead

Job Summary:

The Category Lead is a high-impact strategic sourcing and supplier management role focused on driving enterprise value through category planning, supplier negotiations, contract management, and performance improvement initiatives. This contract-to-hire opportunity is ideal for an experienced procurement, sourcing, or supply chain professional who enjoys leading cross-functional teams, analyzing spend, building cost models, and influencing business decisions.

This role offers strong visibility across the organization, including collaboration with key stakeholders, business partners, executive sponsors, and category management leadership. Candidates who thrive in a supportive, team-oriented environment with clear goals, meaningful business impact, and long-term career potential will find this opportunity especially attractive. The hybrid schedule also provides a balance of in-office collaboration and focused work time.

Key Responsibilities:

- Lead enterprise strategic sourcing and category management initiatives from planning through implementation.
- Develop category plans, sourcing strategies, spend analysis, cost models, forecasts, and performance improvement plans.
- Manage supplier negotiations, contract renewals, supplier agreements, issue resolution, and supplier performance reviews.
- Facilitate cross-functional category management and sourcing teams to align priorities, build consensus, and execute project goals.
- Conduct market analysis and supplier performance analysis to identify cost savings, quality improvements, and total cost of ownership opportunities.
- Manage critical supplier relationships, including supplier criticality ratings and Quarterly Business Reviews with key stakeholders.

Compensation and Benefits:

- Pay Range: $45 to $60 per hour.
- Job Type: Contract-to-hire.
- Contract Duration: 1 year.
- Location: Columbus, OH
- Work Style: Hybrid.
- Schedule: In-office Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.
- Covered parking is available for $40 per month and is not reimbursed.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disabled / Protected Veterans

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The pay transparency policy is available here:

For temporary assignments lasting 13 weeks or longer, AllSTEM Connections is pleased to offer major medical, dental, vision, 401k and any statutory sick pay where required.

We are committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please contact your staffing representative who will reach out to our HR team.

AllSTEM Connections participates in the E-Verify program in certain locations as required by law. Learn more about the E-Verify program.

We also consider for employment qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements, including, if applicable, the City of Los Angeles' Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance. Pursuant to applicable state and municipal Fair Chance Laws and Ordinances, we will consider for employment-qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records, including, if applicable, the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance. For Los Angeles, CA applicants: Qualified applications with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act.

Additional Skills

Required Qualifications and Skills:
- Lead strategic sourcing and category management initiatives across assigned spend categories.
- Manage supplier negotiations, contract renewals, supplier performance, and relationship management activities.
- Develop spend analysis, cost models, sourcing strategies, category plans, and savings forecasts.
- Partner with cross-functional teams to drive sourcing decisions, project execution, and stakeholder alignment.

- Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or equivalent combination of education and relevant work experience.
- 5 to 10 years of experience in strategic sourcing, procurement, category management, supply chain, supplier management, or vendor management.
- Experience leading cross-functional teams and enterprise-level sourcing initiatives.
- Strong negotiation, contract management, supplier relationship management, and vendor management skills.
- Strong financial acumen with experience in analytics, cost modeling, spend analysis, and problem solving.
- Ability to build support, develop consensus, and maintain effective working relationships with stakeholders and business partners.
- Strong communication, prioritization, project management, and organizational skills.
- Ability to manage multiple sourcing projects in a fast-paced environment while meeting goals, timelines, and deadlines.
- Proven track record of delivering results and achieving business performance goals.

Preferred Qualification:

- Experience managing large supplier agreements.
- Experience working within a shared services organization.
- Supply chain or procurement experience in the utility industry.
- Knowledge of category management and strategic sourcing best practices.

AllSTEM Representative Contact Info

Account Executive:


Himanshu


Branch Phone:


View phone number on click.appcast.io


Location:


Houston, TX