Join the diverse and dynamic team that powers Michigan's largest energy provider and one of the nation's largest gas and electric combination utilities. Consumers Energy services 6.8 million of Michigan's 10 million residents - caring for our friends and neighbors in all 68 Lower Peninsula counties. We embrace a cleaner and leaner utility vision focused on eliminating energy waste and adding renewable energy from sources such as wind and solar.

General Summary:The Category Manager is responsible for defining, developing, and executing the sourcing program for key spend categories to achieve costs savings and support objectives of strategic importance to business unit customers, supply chain, and the enterprise. The role collaborates with internal customers, suppliers, and supply chain teams to deliver value-added outcomes, procuring the best evaluated total cost of ownership while assuring quality and schedule compliance.

What we are looking for:Category Manager

We encourage you to apply if you have:equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered and reviewed.

• High School Diploma with 4 or more years of the following required:
  • Understandingof typical enterprise-wide functions and related products, equipment, andservices.
  • Backgroundin Lean, Six Sigma, or similar process improvementmodels.
  • Experience inProjectManagement
  • Experienceinutilitysupplychain
• Bachelor's degree in applicable Supply Chain, Engineering, Business or Accounting/Finance field- Preferred

In this role, you will:

• Category management: Manages $100M+ in annual managed-spend across respective categories. Acts as the expert for assigned categories and monitors the market drivers, supplier base, emerging technologies, regulatory factors, category spend by supplier, inventory, supplier, and fill rate performance.
• Spend and market analysis: Performs market and financial analysis to understand key market forces and to determine and mitigate the business risk associated with a supplier or contract. Evaluates and leverages rigorous analysis of market and spend data to prioritize and target strategic sourcing initiatives within assigned categories.
• Specification management: Leads the process from specification/definition of need through contract administration (may include Construction Specifications Institute) and investment recovery.
• Sourcing strategies: Synthesizes spend and market analyses to develop thorough and effective sourcing strategies. Determines the most strategic supply chain model to acquire the necessary products and services at the maximum level of savings.
• Competitive process: Fosters competition to deliver improved performance at a reduced cost. Follows the prescribed methodology and teaches the organization, describing the underlying reasons for each step during competitive bidding event execution.

• Negotiations: Collaborates to develop negotiation strategies and company positions on complex contracts, works with Legal to identify and incorporate appropriate levels of commercial protection, and conducts negotiations to ensure successful execution of strategies for optimal business outcomes. Distinguishes between positions and interests to facilitate win-win results.
• Identifies new sources of supply, and potential new products/technologies and exhibits cradle-to-grave ownership for each assignedcategory.
• Continuous improvement: Initiates "leading practices" within strategic procurement to achieve process excellence; stays abreastof
• industry innovations, and continuously improves the function andprocesses.
• Supplier development and performance: Establishes and maintains professional relationships with suppliers/partners, based on the highest ethical business practices set forth in company policy. Acts as the primary liaison to suppliers within assigned categories.
• Develops and manages tools and key performance measures for chosen suppliers and negotiates on multiple variables to award longer-term strategic contracts that result in significant cost reduction and improved service levels.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:

• Category plan development and management large dollar riskpurchases
• Supplier development andperformance
• Negotiations and competitiveprocess
• Contract development, management, and administration (may include Construction SpecificationsInstitute)
• Spend and marketanalysis
• Planning andforecasting
• Continuous improvement andproductivity
• RelationshipManagement

Why should you join our team?

At Consumers Energy, we offer more than just a place to work. We foster a culture that supports career development, growth, and stability, and we take pride in offering our co-workers excellent benefits and compensation packages. We are deliberately creating an inclusive culture that makes our diverse team of co-workers feel valued, supported, and empowered every day. We're a company made up of thousands of people, all with different stories to share and work to do, but we stand united in our company purpose: world class performance delivering hometown service.

What we offer:

• Competitive compensation packages
• Medical, Dental and Vision
• 401k with company match
• Paid parental leave
• Up to 13 paid Holidays
• Paid time off
• Educational Assistance Program

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion:

We, at CMS Energy, value Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion. It is part of our DNA. We treat our employees with respect, we treat each other fairly and we value the opinions of others. We are passionate about building and nurturing an environment where everyone feels included. We don't discriminate. We seek to learn about each other and better understand our unique differences. Our uniqueness makes us authentic. We create safe spaces where everyone can be who they truly are. We invite difficult conversations and uncomfortable topics. We value diverse perspectives; this is what makes us great together. We harbor an inclusive environment where employees feel empowered to share their backgrounds, experiences, and ideas. Our Employee Resource Groups, Women's Advisory Panel (WAP), Women's in Energy (WE), Minority Advisory Panel (MAP), Pride Alliance of Consumers Energy (PACE), GENERGY, capable, Interfaith and Veterans Advisory Panel (VAP) are key enablers to living the values of our company culture: Caring, Empowered, Deliberate, Agility, and Ownership.

All qualified applicants will not be discriminated against and will receive consideration for employment without regard to protected veteran status, disability, race, color, religion, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or national origin.