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We are currently looking for a Category Manager O&M for our Houston, TX office.
POSITION DESCRIPTION:
The Category Manager for Operations and Maintenance is responsible for end-to-end commercial ownership of the recurring service and materials categories that sustain Boardwalk's pipeline system on a daily basis. This role develops and executes category strategies across a broad O&M portfolio including field maintenance services, pipeline integrity services, cathodic protection, right-of-way maintenance, environmental services, equipment rental, and MRO materials - ensuring cost efficiency, contractor performance, and service reliability across Boardwalk's multi-state operating footprint.
Key Responsibilities:Category Strategy and Spend Ownership- Own all operations and maintenance spend categories as a commercial portfolio with full accountability for cost performance, supplier strategy, contract coverage, and service reliability.
- Develop and execute multi-year category strategies across O&M sub-categories including pipeline integrity services, cathodic protection, right-of-way maintenance, field services, environmental services, equipment rental etc
- Maintain spend analytics and demand visibility across operating regions; translate operational demand into proactive sourcing strategies and supplier engagement plans.
- Identify and pursue opportunities for regional contractor consolidation, national alliance agreements, volume leverage, and process standardization to reduce total cost and administrative burden.
Sourcing, Contracting, and Contract Management- Execute the full sourcing lifecycle for assigned categories including supplier prequalification, RFP and RFQ development, bid evaluation, commercial negotiation, and award documentation in compliance with Boardwalk's sourcing policy and delegation of authority.
- Draft, evaluate, and negotiate contract commercial structures in coordination with Legal, Insurance, Treasury, and Risk Management to ensure appropriate risk allocation and commercial terms.
- Ensure all contractual records, bid documentation, and contract correspondence are maintained in Boardwalk's contract management and ERP systems in accordance with records retention requirements.
- Manage post-award contract administration including contract handover, supplier performance monitoring, commercial assurance, and coordination of modifications and extensions.
Field Services and Maintenance Contractor Management- Develop and manage the commercial strategy for field maintenance services including pipeline repair, valve maintenance, corrosion control, cathodic protection, facility maintenance, and environmental remediation.
- Negotiate and deploy Master Service Agreements with regional and national contractors covering services across Boardwalk's operating footprint, including appropriate rate structures, safety requirements, indemnification, and insurance provisions.
- Manage contractor performance through structured KPIs covering safety record, on-time mobilization, work quality, invoicing accuracy, and regulatory compliance.
- Develop contractor qualification and tiering standards aligned with work risk, scope complexity, and geographic coverage requirements.
Commercial and Supplier Management- Develop and maintain a preferred supplier base for each O&M sub-category including qualification criteria, performance expectations, and safety prequalification standards.
- Negotiate MSAs and service agreements encompassing unit rates, mobilization fees, escalation mechanisms, performance standards, and insurance minimums.
- Monitor contractor market conditions including labor availability, specialty equipment capacity, and regional service market dynamics across Boardwalk's operating states.
Risk Management and Compliance- Identify and manage supply risk across O&M categories including contractor capacity constraints, specialty service availability, single-source dependencies, and regulatory compliance risk.
- Ensure all O&M procurement complies with Boardwalk's sourcing policy, competitive bid requirements, safety prequalification standards, and applicable PHMSA and DOT regulatory requirements.
- Support internal compliance reviews and corrective actions related to O&M contracting practices and invoice management.
Stakeholder Partnership- Serve as the primary Supply Chain commercial partner for Operations, Integrity Engineering, Environmental Health and Safety, and Field Operations across all Boardwalk operating regions.
- Engage field-level operations leadership across Boardwalk's geographic footprint to understand operational requirements, service performance gaps, and emerging procurement needs.
- Present category strategies, contract recommendations, and supplier performance outcomes to VP Supply Chain and senior Operations leadership.
Performance Management and Reporting- Define and track O&M category KPIs including cost savings, cost avoidance, competitive bid compliance, contract coverage, contractor safety performance, on-time service delivery, and invoice accuracy.
- Provide regular category performance reporting to supply chain leadership and regional operations teams.
- Lead continuous improvement initiatives to increase contract coverage, reduce maverick spend, and improve contractor safety outcomes across O&M categories.
REQUIRED SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE, AND EXPERIENCE:
- Minimum 8 to 12 years of progressive experience in procurement, strategic sourcing, or category management with demonstrated focus on O&M services, field services, or MRO categories in the oil and gas, pipeline, or utilities sector.
- Demonstrated experience managing service contractor portfolios across multiple geographic regions including MSA development, performance management, and safety qualification programs.
- Experience with pipeline integrity services, cathodic protection, or right-of-way maintenance contracting strongly preferred.
- Working familiarity with PHMSA pipeline integrity management regulations and their implications for O&M contracting, scheduling, and service provider selection.
Core Capabilities- Proven ability to develop and execute multi-category sourcing strategies for a geographically dispersed operating company.
- Strong commercial acumen in services contracting including unit-rate structures, T&M arrangements, performance bonding, and service-level agreement design.
- Demonstrated ability to engage field-level operations stakeholders and translate operational requirements into structured commercial strategies.
- Strong analytical capabilities in spend analysis, cost benchmarking, contractor performance metrics, and savings reporting.
- Effective cross-functional collaborator with strong interpersonal skills and the ability to manage competing stakeholder priorities across multiple operating regions.
PREFERRED SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE, AND EXPERIENCE:
Preferred Qualifications- Professional certification in supply chain or procurement (CPSM, CSCP, or equivalent).
- Experience with Oracle EBS, SAP, or comparable ERP platforms in an O&M or services procurement workflow.
- ISNetworld, Veriforce, or comparable contractor safety management platform experience preferred.
REQUIRED EDUCATION:
- Bachelor's degree in supply chain, Business, Engineering, or a related field.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Boardwalk Pipelines, LP, maintains a drug-free workplace and will require pre-employment drug & substance abuse testing before hiring.
