Contract - Category Management Specialist

The work we do every day matters. From modernizing the grid and ensuring safe, reliable water delivery to creating smarter cities, you can make an impact with Itron.

The Category Management Specialist will support the Indirect Procurement team with all sourcing activities. They will be responsible for supplier vetting, contract administration, supporting the sourcing process, vendor relations, invoice resolution, managing the SharePoint site, leading small projects, running reports and creating presentations. This role plays a crucial part in maintaining cost-effective procurement practices, including supplier relationship management to reduce costs, optimizing the supply chain, and supporting efficient production processes.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Responsible for supporting the Global Category Manager with sourcing activities for all categories to include strategy development, RFx process, bid evaluation, supplier selection, contract, price & terms negotiations, performance evaluation, etc.
• Identify, evaluate, and select suppliers to meet the organization's procurement needs, considering factors such as cost, quality, lead time, business continuity, and diversity.
• Collaborate with legal, suppliers and other internal teams to finalize and manage contracts throughout their lifecycle.
• Negotiate terms with suppliers, including price, quality, quantity, lead time, method of delivery, and expectations.
• Review and analyze contractual terms and conditions to mitigate risks and ensure compliance.
• Monitor supplier performance, issue quarterly scorecards, and address any contractual issues or disputes.
• Responsible for tracking cost Savings, cost Avoidance, rebates, spend, volumes, contract management and KPI monitoring.
• Support team with Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) activities for strategic suppliers.
• Foster strong relationships with suppliers to enhance collaboration, problem-solving, and long-term value.
• Identify and develop alternate sources of supply to mitigate risk and enhance supply chain flexibility.
• Work closely with internal teams (Production, Engineering, IT, HR, etc.) to ensure procurement requirements are met and timely communication is maintained.
• Create process documents and workflows.
• Maintain a solid understanding of the overall business and operational needs.