Sr. Category Buyer

Summary of Responsibilities:

At American Transmission Company (ATC), every project we deliver helps power homes, businesses, and communities across our region. Behind those projects are smart sourcing decisions, trusted supplier relationships, and strategic procurement professionals who help ensure we have the right partners, materials, and services at the right time.

We're looking for a Category Buyer who can bring strategic thinking, strong business acumen, and a passion for continuous improvement to our Supply Chain team.

This is an opportunity to influence critical infrastructure projects, shape supplier strategies, drive measurable business value, and collaborate with stakeholders across the organization. If you're energized by solving complex challenges, negotiating successful outcomes, and building partnerships that make an impact, we'd like to meet you.

Essential Responsibilities:

Why You'll Love This Role

As a Category Buyer, you'll do far more than purchase goods and services. You'll serve as a trusted advisor and strategic business partner, helping ATC make informed sourcing decisions that support project success, operational reliability, supplier performance, and long-term value.

· Influence sourcing strategies that support major energy infrastructure projects

· Partner with engineers, project managers, and business leaders across ATC

· Lead supplier negotiations and performance improvement initiatives

· Use analytics and market intelligence to guide business decisions

· Balance cost, quality, risk, service, and supplier relationships

· Drive process improvements that create sustainable organizational value

What You'll Do

You'll manage assigned spend categories throughout the procurement lifecycle, from identifying business needs through supplier selection, contract execution, supplier performance management, and agreement closeout.

Strategic Sourcing & Category Management

· Develop and implement category management and sourcing strategies

· Analyze spend patterns and identify cost-saving opportunities

· Conduct market research, benchmarking, and supplier evaluations

· Lead competitive sourcing events and supplier selection processes

· Evaluate total lifecycle cost and long-term business value

Supplier & Contract Management

· Negotiate commercial agreements and contract terms

· Support development of statements of work, service levels, and performance measures

· Manage suppliers throughout the agreement lifecycle

· Monitor supplier performance through scorecards, KPIs, and business reviews

· Address supplier issues and drive corrective action plans

Business Partnership & Project Support

· Collaborate with project teams, engineers, subject matter experts, and business stakeholders

· Translate technical and business requirements into sourcing strategies

· Provide procurement guidance throughout project planning and execution

· Identify and mitigate supplier and commercial risks

· Support successful delivery of capital and operational initiatives

Analytics & Continuous Improvement

· Analyze spend, cost, supplier, and market data

· Develop reporting and insights to support decision-making

· Assist with demand planning and forecasting activities

· Support process improvement initiatives across Supply Chain

· Drive efficiencies that improve outcomes for stakeholders and suppliers

What You'll Bring

Required Qualifications

· Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Business, Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience

· Three or more years of experience in procurement, purchasing, sourcing, category management, or a related discipline

· Experience managing sourcing initiatives and supplier relationships

· Experience negotiating contracts and commercial agreements

· Experience performing cost, spend, financial, or market analysis

· Strong collaboration skills with cross-functional teams and stakeholders

· Experience supporting process improvement initiatives

Preferred Qualifications

· Experience within utility, energy, construction, infrastructure, engineering services, or other project-based environments

· Experience working in regulated or compliance-driven organizations

· Experience with Dynamics 365, SAP, Oracle, or other ERP systems

· Experience utilizing Power BI or other analytics tools

· Experience conducting supplier assessments, audits, or performance reviews

· CPSM certification

· Lean Six Sigma certification

Why ATC

• Purpose-Driven Work: We’re energized by meaningful and challenging work that contributes to the greater good, from powering everyday life to grid modernization.
• People-Centric Culture: We are difference makers. We lead with trust, value collaboration, and foster a supportive environment where people grow, contribute openly, and make a difference.

• Flexibility & Balance: Our work environment encourages autonomy, connection, and choice with accountability.

• Growth & Development: Curiosity, coaching, and engagement fuel careers. We invest in our people through cross-functional opportunities, skill-building, and assignments that stretch potential and build careers.

• Comprehensive Rewards: Compensation, benefits, and well-being offerings are thoughtfully and competitively designed to support employees’ unique needs.

• Reliable Innovation: Grounded in the communities we serve, we play a critical role in powering the grid, with the agility to innovate, lead, and drive progress in a time of transformational change in the industry.

• A Shared Future: We commit to creating an environment where people can do their best work, thrive, and drive success for our customers and stakeholders, delivering a lasting impact for all.

Join our Great Place to Work, where we build and operate the power grid that enables modern life, and where every role contributes to something bigger than any one of us.

The targeted base pay for this position is $96,000 to $112,000 annually.* Base pay is one component of our comprehensive total rewards package which includes an annual incentive bonus, employer-sponsored pension plan, 401(k) match, HSA contribution, life & disability insurance, health care benefits, generous time off plans, flexible work arrangements, and much more.

*The pay range is a general guideline. Employment offers are evaluated individually and consider qualifications, experience, academic achievements, internal equity, and business needs. Pay exceeding the posted range is considered for uniquely qualified candidates. Interested internal candidates, with questions, please consult your Human Resources Business Partner.

Number of Openings Available:

Posting Date:

Time Type:

Equal Opportunity Employer:

Applicants have rights under employment laws.

ATC is an equal opportunity employer that seeks to foster diverse teams of talented people working safely together. We respect and embrace diversity of all aspects and hire, train and promote employees without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, genetics, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We encourage women, minorities, veterans and individuals with a disability to apply. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to any characteristic protected by law.

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