H2O America is actively seeking talented, driven and effective applicants for the position of IT Procurement Category Manager to join our dynamic team. We offer a challenging and rewarding work environment along with a competitive salary and an excellent benefits package.
H2O America is the parent organization of the following subsidiary companies: San Jose Water, Connecticut Water, Maine Water, and Texas Water. We sustain life by delivering high-quality water and exceptional service while investing in the health and vitality of the communities we serve.
Position Summary
H2O America is seeking an experienced IT Procurement Category Manager, to lead strategic sourcing and category management activities for enterprise technology products and services. This position will serve as Procurement's primary commercial partner for assigned technology categories, including software and SaaS, computer hardware and end-user devices, cellular and mobile services, telecommunications, cybersecurity products and services, cloud and hosted services, technology maintenance and support contracts, and related professional services such as advisory, program/program management and system integration.
The IT Category Manager will have end-to-end responsibility for assigned categories, including participating in category strategy, and leading competitive sourcing, supplier selection, commercial negotiations, contract lifecycle support, supplier performance, cost optimization, risk management, and delivery of sustainable value. The role will also lead or support other Company-directed strategic sourcing and RFP events as business needs arise.
The successful candidate will combine strong procurement and negotiation skills with sufficient technology acumen to work effectively with Information Technology, Cybersecurity, Finance, Legal, Shared Services, and business stakeholders across H2O America.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Category Management and Strategy
• Develop, maintain, and execute category strategies for assigned IT and Shared Services spend.
• Manage categories that may include enterprise software and SaaS, computer hardware and end-user devices, cellular and mobile services, telecommunications, cybersecurity products and services, cloud and hosted services, technology maintenance and support contracts, and related professional services such as advisory, program/program management and system integration.
• Analyze spend, demand, supplier performance, contracts, and market conditions to identify sourcing and value-improvement opportunities.
• Participate in Development of multi-year category and sourcing roadmaps aligned with business requirements and technology priorities.
• Identify opportunities for supplier consolidation, standardization, competitive sourcing, demand management, and total-cost-of-ownership improvement.
• Maintain visibility into contract expirations, renewals, and upcoming sourcing requirements.
Strategic Sourcing and RFP Execution
• Lead sourcing initiatives from requirements development through supplier selection, negotiation, contracting, and implementation.
• Develop and execute RFIs, RFQs, and RFPs for assigned categories and Company-directed sourcing initiatives.
• Partner with stakeholders to develop business requirements, statements of work, evaluation criteria, pricing schedules, and sourcing strategies.
• Conduct supply-market research, identify qualified suppliers, and manage bidder communications and commercial clarifications.
• Develop bid analyses, pricing comparisons, total-cost-of-ownership models, and supplier recommendations.
• Develop and execute negotiation strategies addressing pricing, commercial terms, service levels, implementation commitments, renewals, and other business requirements.
• Maintain complete sourcing documentation supporting competitive procurement and supplier-selection decisions.
Supplier and Contract Management
• Serve as Procurement's primary commercial relationship owner for strategic IT related suppliers within assigned categories.
• Build productive supplier relationships while maintaining appropriate commercial discipline.
• Monitor supplier performance, service levels, contractual commitments, and commercial outcomes.
• Establish appropriate supplier scorecards, performance metrics, and business-review cadences.
• Coordinate contract renewal, re-sourcing, and supplier-transition activities.
• Identify and escalate supplier, commercial, operational, and continuity risks.
• Partner with Legal, Cybersecurity, IT, and business stakeholders on supplier agreements, onboarding, and third-party risk requirements.
Financial Analysis and Value Delivery
• Analyze spend, supplier pricing, contracts, and demand data to develop fact-based sourcing strategies.
• Establish sourcing baselines and identify savings, cost-avoidance, and cost-optimization opportunities.
• Evaluate supplier proposals using total-cost-of-ownership and other appropriate financial methodologies.
• Partner with Finance to document and track sourcing benefits.
• Monitor contract utilization, commercial compliance, and potential value leakage.
• Develop category reporting, dashboards, and performance metrics.
Stakeholder Partnership and Governance
• Build effective working relationships with Information Technology, Cybersecurity, Finance, Legal, Shared Services, Accounting, and operating-company stakeholders.
• Translate technical and business requirements into effective sourcing strategies and lead cross-functional sourcing teams.
• Provide commercial insight and constructively challenge requirements when alternatives may improve value, competition, or risk.
• Present sourcing recommendations, business cases, and commercial analyses clearly to stakeholders and leadership.
• Balance enterprise leverage and standardization with legitimate operational requirements.
• Conduct sourcing activities in accordance with applicable H2O America policies, approval processes, and standards for fair and equitable supplier competition.
• Maintain clear sourcing documentation and appropriate audit trails.
Qualifications:
OU.QUALIFICATIONS
Location:
This role may report out of any of our subsidiary locations:
Mangolia, Texas
New Braunfels, Texas
Cromwell, CT,
San Jose, CA
Saco, ME
Salary:
New England: $103,000 - $142,000
California: $126,000 - $139,000
