Category Lead – Senior - VF Valparaiso, IN **Hybrid** Contract Up to $52/hr Our client is one of the largest fully regulated natural gas and electric utility companies in the United States. We are seeking a **Category Lead-Senior** for a **6+ month contract** based in **Valparaiso, IN 46383.** You will have the opportunity to work a hybrid schedule (remote on Monday and Friday. **Qualifications:** + Minimum 3+ years strategic sourcing experience, preferably 5+ years. That does not include buyer type experience, someone issuing purchase orders. + Purchasing experience + Strong organizational skills, managing multiple projects at once + Self-starter & Initiative Communication and relationship building (leading without authority) **Responsibilities:** + Establishing, leading/facilitating and supporting cross functional category management teams to develop and maintain category plans and ongoing category performance + Developing deep knowledge and experience within assigned spend management responsibilities + Developing spend/performance and external market analyses to monitor category performance and identify performance improvement opportunities + Developing spend and savings/performance improvement forecasts to monitor progress and ensure goals are achieved + Developing plans to capture identified opportunities + Defining category requirements through collaborative efforts with respective stakeholder groups + Collaborating with stakeholder groups to develop consensus on the appropriate category plans and priorities + Leading performance improvement initiatives defined by the category plan including strategic sourcing and other performance improvement initiatives + Establishing, leading/facilitating and supporting cross functional strategic sourcing/performance improvement teams as needed/prescribed by category plans to achieve savings and performance targets (e.g. reduce cost, improve quality and result in a lower total cost of ownership, meeting supplier diversity goals) + Leading negotiations with suppliers as needed + Maintaining critical supplier agreements including renewals, negotiation of terms, issue identification, tracking and resolution **Supplier Management responsibilities include:** + Developing and maintaining supplier criticality ratings and managing resulting critical supplier relationships + Managing supplier relationships including conducting Quarterly Business Reviews with critical suppliers and NiSource + Executive Sponsors **Stakeholder Management responsibilities include:** + Developing successful partnerships with key stakeholders / business partners to achieve desired results + Developing and managing cross-functional category management and strategic sourcing teams as needed + Collaborating with stakeholders to drive needed decisions to achieve desired results **You will receive the following benefits:** + Medical Insurance - Four medical plans to choose from for you and your family + Dental & Orthodontia Benefits + Vision Benefits + Health Savings Account (HSA) + Health and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts + Voluntary Life Insurance, Long-Term & Short-Term Disability Insurance + Hospital Indemnity Insurance + 401(k) including match with pre and post-tax options + Paid Sick Time Leave + Legal and Identity Protection Plans + Pre-tax Commuter Benefit + 529 College Saver Plan Motion Recruitment Partners (MRP) is an Equal Opportunity Employer, including Veterans/Disability/Women. All applicants must be currently authorized to work on a full-time basis in the country for which they are applying, and no sponsorship is currently available. Employment is subject to the successful completion of a pre-employment screening. Accommodation will be provided in all parts of the hiring process as required under MRP’s Employment Accommodation policy. Applicants need to make their needs known in advance. **Posted by:** VMS Sourcing **Specialization:** Project / Program Management