Job DescriptionAbout The OpportunityThis posting is for an open position for a Professional Services Category Specialist with the FirstEnergy Service Company, a subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corp.
FirstEnergy Supply Chain (SC) has undergone digital transformation, implemented a new Source-to-Pay system and is investing in advanced tools such as market intelligence software, supplier risk analytics, spend analysis, and clean sheeting to enhance strategic sourcing capabilities. FirstEnergy is expanding its team in key categories to further support our business partners across the enterprise.
The Professional Services Category Specialist supports strategic sourcing initiatives across a broad range of professional services categories, including consulting, advisory services, legal, audit, tax, HR and talent services, training and development, marketing and creative services, managed services, energy efficiency programs, emerging technology programs and other business support services. This role partners with internal stakeholders and external service providers to drive cost savings, improve service quality, manage risk and compliance, and deliver measurable strategic value.
This position is designated as on-site in Akron, Ohio.
Responsibilities include:- Supporting the strategic category manager in achieving significant cost reductions in assigned professional services categories
- Defining contracting optimization strategies that seek total cost of ownership and service level improvements
- Partnering with stakeholders across the enterprise to develop optimization strategies, identify opportunities, and execute improvement plans.
- Leveraging technology, analytics, and tools to collect and analyze supplier spend data to drive savings
- Analyzing supplier performance data and provide input to category sourcing strategy
- Developing strategic plans for contracting and improving managed categories
- Ensuring execution of strategies within user area
- Leading supplier selection and management
- Measuring and tracking performance of overlooked suppliers
- Developing knowledge and best practices in the categories within areas of responsibility
- Ensuring user satisfaction of the strategic sourcing process
- Keeping strategic manager informed about procurement progress
- Planning and leading RFP processes in assigned categories
- Coordinating with users' technical assessment of received proposals
- Negotiating contract conditions that are more favorable for FirstEnergy
- Tracking market dynamics of categories
- Defining cost benchmarks for categories under management
Qualifications include:- Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, business administration, engineering, or related discipline and 2+ years of related work experience is required.
- In lieu of a degree, High School or equivalent and 4+ years related work experience is required.
- Related work experience includes supply chain or sourcing.
- Project management experience is preferred.
- Professional Services sourcing experience preferred.
- Successful implementation of category improvements.
- Ensure compliance with all policies and procedures.
Benefits, Compensation & Workforce DiversityAt FirstEnergy, employees are key to our success. We depend on their talents to meet the challenges of our changing business environment. We are committed to rewarding individual and team efforts through our total rewards philosophy which includes competitive pay plus incentive compensation, a company-sponsored pension plan, 401(k) savings plan with matching employer contribution, a choice of medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, and life insurance programs, as well as skills development training with tuition reimbursement. Please visit our website at www.firstenergycorp.com to learn more about all of our employee rewards programs.
SafetySafety is a core value for FirstEnergy and is essential to all of our business activities. We ensure employees have the tools, information, and processes to perform their duties in a manner that assures safety for themselves, their co-workers, our customers and the public. Our goals are to provide a safe work environment, to maintain an accident-free, injury-free workplace, and to promote and maintain public safety. To meet these goals, we dedicate ourselves to achieving world-class safety standards.
Position ClassificationExempt
FirstEnergy Human Resources Team 
