Category Lead

Hitachi Energy is seeking a Category Lead for its Grid Integration business based in Raleigh, North Carolina supporting the North American Region.  This is an individual contributor role reporting directly to the North American Supply Chain Manager, PGGI.  The hiring manager is open to remote applicants and currently supports a hybrid work approach.   Local candidates are preferred.

Grid Integration (PGGI) is engaged in design, build, and service of power grid infrastructures such as high voltage substations, emobility, FACTS (flexible AC transmission systems), and HVDC (high voltage direct current) systems, substation, datacenter, and renewable applications.   

Hitachi Energy is a global technology company engaged in meaningful changes in our society. This position is expected to deliver high direct impacts to the business and has significant growth potential.

Responsibilities

• Identify and develop material and equipment suppliers with reliability, quality, and competitive costs to support growth and profitability of PGGI North America. Develop frame agreements where suitable. Organize pipeline review meetings with major suppliers.
• Work closely with proposal and execution teams to prepare RFQs, evaluate supplier quotations, and formulate project budget.
• Solicit quotes from both Hitachi Energy internal and external suppliers. Negotiate with suppliers on terms and prices.
• Work with operational buyers on PO placements. Support project supply chain coordinators and supplier quality engineers on expediting, issue resolution, and claims.
• Collaborate with global category leads and category managers in other regions to leverage Hitachi Energy purchasing power and maximize cost saving.
• Contribute to global business line objectives in supplier quality, cost saving, and cash management.
• Participate in, and when needed, lead continuous improvement initiatives such as DtV.
• Own, drive category strategy including CIPs development
• Drive cost reduction during tender and execution stages
• Supplier development and improvement for responsible categories

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent work experience) in supply chain, or related business fields.
• Must be fluent in both writing and speaking in English
• Relevant experience in procurement of industrial and capital goods.
• Familiarity of electrical and structural equipment (power transformers, cooling systems, capacitors, electrical switchgear, buildings, insulators, steel, etc.) supply market. Adequate technical knowledge about electrical equipment to work effectively with engineers and suppliers.
• Experience with capital project business, transactional process, and SAP Project Systems.
• Experience working with multi-national companies like is highly preferable.
• Must be authorized to work in United States
• Must be willing to travel as required including but not limited to any business specific requirements for training or last minute mitigations items
• 5+ years of experience