Job Purpose The Category Management Specialist utilizes significant supply chain, category management and contracting capabilities and experience to implement Procurement & Supply Chain (P&SC) strategies and commercial agreements for assigned categories within Nuclear Strategic Procurement. The position is responsible for the utilization of the standard category management process of Plan-Strategy-Source-Perform and will function to support end-to-end value for an assigned portfolio of spend, primarily within Entergy’s nuclear third party spend. The specialist operates without supervision, and in certain instances provides, support, guidance, and training in the technical and professional skills areas to other category management specialists. The role is recognized inside SC as a subject matter technical adviser on category management, strategic sourcing, contract strategy, methodology, analysis, and contract provisions. The primary objective of the role is to create value through the supply chain in terms of safety, cost, risk mitigation and enhanced supplier performance. Key interfaces for this position are internal business customers such as business unit stakeholders, Tax, Finance, Risk Management, Safety, Human Resources, Legal, external suppliers and industry organizations. Within P&SC, common interfaces for this role are Procurement and Supply Chain Operations, Strategy and Performance, Capital Projects.

Minimum Education, Experience and/or Certification Required for the Position

• Category Management Specialist, II:
• • 2+ years of combined supplier contracting, vendor management, or other related supply chain experience OR in lieu of a degree, minimum 6+ years of supplier contracting, vendor management, or other related supply chain experience.
• Category Management Specialist, III:
• • 3+ years of category management, strategic sourcing, or other related supply chain experience OR in lieu of a degree, minimum 6+ years of category management, strategic sourcing, or other related supply chain experience.
• Senior Category Management Specialist:
• • 5+ years of category management, strategic sourcing, or other related supply chain experience OR in lieu of a degree, minimum 8+ years of category management, strategic sourcing, or other related supply chain experience.

Preferred:

• Minimum 2+ years’ energy industry supply chain experience in category management or strategic sourcing
• Certification from an industry accreditation organization such as CPSM, APICS, etc.

Minimum Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Required for the Position

Technical

• An understanding of Entergy’s business model and key interfaces across the business and supply chain.
• Skillful application of strategic and creative thinking to produce a range of solutions to problems, anticipating changes in the business environment, and making data driven decisions.
• Deep proficiency and ability to provide innovative solutions in category management processes; including supplier diversity, safety metrics and tools; category strategies are used as exemplars across supply chain.
• Deep understanding of supplier relationship/vendor management principles and practices.
• Skillful application of pre-award and post-award contract management processes; integrate business unit specific knowledge; identify and mitigate contractual, market and supplier risks to Entergy.
• Proficient in coaching/applying the development and implementation of sourcing strategies; strategies are used as exemplars across supply chain.
• Deep understanding of the capacity and cost structure of existing suppliers.
• Extensive application in developing detailed RFx price breakdowns and deconstructing vendor pricing models to support financial analysis and bid comparison.
• Proficiency in the ability to extract data and applying market intelligence to assess supply market status and evolution.
• Deep expertise in developing “cost to serve” for customers; coaches/guides others.
• Extensive knowledge and proficiency in creating negotiation strategies and leading supplier negotiations that support operational excellence through safety, price, quality, service and innovation; strategies are used as exemplars across supply chain.
• Extensive knowledge of business and supply chain operations within Entergy; including Entergy’s purchasing and payment policies; experience and knowledge of supply chain systems and processes.
• Highly proficient influencing skills to promote effective demand planning across business units, functions and supply chain (zero-based purchasing, pro-active purchase planning and hedging).

Professional

• Skillful application of project management principles to ensure systematic, thorough completion of each assignment, identifying critical pathways and risks to delivery.
• Expertise in application of commercial skills and financial acumen to category management, understanding the key business drivers and impact to Entergy on outcomes.
• Insightful business analytical skills to provide detailed reports with commentary based on data analysis; interpret data and propose conclusions, using trends in data.
• Ability to coach supply chain personnel in category management technical tools and techniques.
• Skillful at internal and external stakeholder communications; operates independently with stakeholders; apply influencing skills to develop best outcomes for Entergy.
• Skillful at building broad relationships and effective networks with all stakeholders.
• Strong understanding of the management of change relative to supply chain situations.
• Deep understanding of change management as related to category management solutions for the business.
• Strong communication skills in presenting concise/relevant information to stakeholders.
• Deep knowledge to effectively manage the costs of the business; understand the impact of contract terms on Entergy cost structure. #LI-NW1 #LI-HYBRID

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