Category Leader (Career)
Axelon Services Corporation
Oakland, CA
JOB DETAILS
LOCATION
Oakland, CA
POSTED
30+ days ago
Oakland, CA (open for relocation)
Direct Hire
Work Type: Hybrid
Job Location: Oakland; San Ramon
If non local, will offer relocation assistance. Not remote.
A reasonable salary range is:
Bay Area Minimum: $93,000
MIDPOINT: $116K
Bay Area Maximum:$139,000
-Or-
California Minimum:$88,000
MIDPOINT: $110K
California Maximum:$132,000
Candidates are required to answer clientquestions via an E-interview set up. An additional Note: the video format is not yet supported for Candidates on iOS mobile devices. Android is supported.
It will work with computers/laptops. No Iphones.
The ideal candidate will have:
• Experience sourcing or leading a category strategy for large consulting services agreements. The suppliers are firms like PwC, EY, Deloitte, KPMG, McKinsey, BCG, Bain, AT Kearney, or other top-tier consulting firms. Bonus if they have worked on accounting consulting strategies from the Big 4.
• Strong expertise in category management, with deep understanding of pricing models, supply bases, and the nuances across consulting subcategories.
Looking for candidates with strong, full-cycle sourcing experience who have demonstrated longevity and depth in specific categories. Candidates should have end-to-end category management experience: from strategy development through implementation to vendor management.
Need strong category experience
Negotiating complex contracts among stakeholders.
2-4 years
Min 6 years for expert.
Big 4 is a huge plus. Someone who managed professional services.
6-12 years of category or supply chain experience
Min 2-3 years
No Generalists
Senior manager will be managing 6 people. 10+ years experience
Consulting experience is okay
Min 3 day a week in office
Ideally Oakland or San Ramon. Open for others but they must be okay to go to OGO.
Will offer relocation assistance
Will build relation with internal stakeholders and external suppliers.
Utility is always nice to have but open from any industry.
Challenges: Job hoppers, who came from Google etc. are expecting more pay but utility cannot match the rate, lacking true end-end category management experience.
Interview: 1 hr virtual technical call. Onsite with panel if local, last with another manager. If non-locals it's virtual. Panel will have mock/case based followed by situational based.
Average travel of 5-15% to other sites in Northern CADepartment Overview
Position Summary
As a Category Lead, you will play a critical role in optimizing the sourcing and procurement strategy for one of the nation’s largest gas and electric utilities, ensuring cost efficiency, supplier performance, and risk mitigation. You will lead strategic category planning, supplier negotiations, and contract management to drive value, resilience, and sustainability across the supply chain. Partnering with and influencing key internal stakeholders and leveraging market intelligence, you will develop and execute category strategies that align with business objectives, regulatory requirements, and industry best practices. This high-impact role requires a balance of analytical expertise, relationship management, and strategic vision to enhance operational excellence and support client’s commitment to safe, reliable, and sustainable energy.
This position is hybrid, working from your remote office and your assigned work location based on business need. Preferred work location is Oakland, CA, but other locations may be considered. The assigned work location will be within the client Service Territory. Final work location will be determined between the hiring leader and successful candidate.
Client is providing the salary range that the company in good faith believes it might pay for this position at the time of the job posting. This compensation range is specific to the locality of the job. The actual salary paid to an individual will be based on multiple factors, including, but not limited to, specific skills, education, licenses or certifications, experience, market value, geographic location, and internal equity. We would not anticipate that the individual hired into this role would land at or near the top half of the range described below, but the decision will be dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case.
Description:
Job Responsibilities
Conducts and documents market research and supplier risk analysis to verify the financial health of existing and potential suppliers.
Maintains awareness of industry and market trends, supplier landscapes, and regulatory changes to drive informed decision-making and strategic sourcing initiatives.
Accesses, records and tracks procurement requests during the course of the Sourcing process.
Supports Functional Areas in decisions regarding types and levels of insurance required for 3rd party vendors.
Ensures all procurement requests and contract documents comply with all sourcing processes and policies.
Reviews new contracts assigned through contract review process, coordinating with stakeholder departments.
Supports development of less complex category plans.
Leads competitive bidding processes including RFPs, RFIs, and negotiations to secure best-value agreements.
Negotiates, drafts, and manages contracts to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements, corporate policies, and industry standards.
Acts as a liaison between various departments and cross functional teams.
Qualifications
Minimum:
Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, Supply Chain Management or job-related discipline or equivalent experience
2 years of experience in sourcing
Desired:
4 years of work experience in procurement, sourcing, or supply chain management, preferably in the utility, energy, or infrastructure sectors
Competency in relating openly and comfortably with diverse groups of people.
Knowledge of Microsoft Office products – e.g., Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Access – as needed to perform at the job level
Competency in building strong-identity teams that apply their diverse skills and perspectives to achieve common goals
Competency in building partnerships and working collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives
Knowledge of the technical/functional aspects of Strategic Sourcing as needed to perform at the job level
Ability to analyze and combine information from different sources and use logic to develop recommendations
Ability to lead lower complexity negotiations, develop contract structures, and drive favorable outcomes
Ability to apply contract processes and procedures
Ability to work independently with limited oversight
Ability to lead cross-functional teams and to drive projects of lowcomplexity
Strong written and verbal skills
Master’s Degree in Business Administration or job-related discipline or equivalent experience
LSS-Lean Six Sigma Certification
PMP-Project Management Professional certification
ISM-Institute for Supply Management CPSM-Certified Professional in Supply Management certification, or similar certification(s)
About the Company
A