[Hiring] Senior Global Category Manager @Akraya

Role Description

Seeking an experienced Senior Global Category Manager within our Infrastructure Supply Chain organization. In this role, you will lead the end-to-end commercial management and procurement governance for critical electrical substation equipment, specifically medium-to-low voltage transformers supporting operations across North America, Europe, and Asia.

You will manage key commercial relationships with 5-6 tier-one global suppliers, oversee purchase order (PO) lifecycles, drive cost negotiations, and uphold supplier governance to ensure business continuity and uninterrupted project delivery.

Key Responsibilities

• Category & Supplier Management:
  • Serve as the primary commercial owner for 5-6 strategic global suppliers providing electrical substation gear, medium/low-voltage transformers, and related equipment.
  • Manage supplier performance, contract adherence, quarterly governance cadences, and day-to-day vendor communications across North American and Asian time zones.
  • Mitigate supply continuity risks by identifying early operational bottlenecks, tracking supplier lead times, and coordinating escalations.
• Contract & Commercial Governance:
  • Administer, negotiate, and execute supplier agreements, statements of work (SOWs), contract amendments, and master services/purchasing agreements.
  • Oversee category cost models, monitor indexation/material pricing (copper, steel, electrical components), and evaluate total cost of ownership (TCO).
  • Manage purchase orders (POs) from creation through reconciliation, ensuring alignment with milestone deliverables, project schedules, and budget allocations.
  • Partner with Finance, Legal, and Compliance to maintain audit-ready procurement governance standards.
• Cross-Functional Partnership:
  • Partner closely with Electrical Engineering, Data Center / Substation Construction, Planning, Logistics, and Quality teams to translate technical equipment specifications into commercial commitments.
  • Maintain regular alignment with regional field operations teams in North America and APAC to forecast volume requirements and schedule equipment deliveries.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of progressive experience in strategic sourcing, global category management, or technical procurement within complex global supply chains.
• Strong procurement background in heavy electrical infrastructure, substations, power distribution, or medium/low-voltage equipment (transformers, switchgear).
• Demonstrated track record negotiating supplier contracts, terms and conditions, commercial pricing structures, and managing purchase order lifecycles.
• Experience managing multi-regional supplier bases across North America and Asia (APAC).
• Proficiency in enterprise ERP/procurement platforms (e.g., SAP, Coupa, Oracle) and procurement workflows.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior experience supporting hyperscale data center infrastructure, industrial utility-scale projects, or large-scale EPC power programs.
• Proven ability to step into an inflight category, establish quick rapport with internal engineering stakeholders, and maintain supplier accountability with minimal ramp-up time.
• Excellent stakeholder management, cross-cultural communication, and structured problem-solving skills.

Benefits

• Contract Type: Contract
• Duration: 7 Months
• Location: Remote - East Coast Hours
• Pay Rate: $58-$60/hr on w2