Category Manager, Electrical Substations

Category Manager, Electrical Substations

DEPCOM is searching for a Category Manager, Electrical Substations. This role is responsible for the strategic sourcing, supplier management, commercial execution, and market intelligence associated with substation materials, equipment, and services supporting utility-scale solar, BESS, and EPC projects.

The selected individual will serve as DEPCOM's subject matter expert for the substation supply market, maintaining strong relationships with manufacturers, distributors, packagers, engineering firms, and specialty contractors. The successful candidate understands market constraints, manufacturing lead times, supply chain risks, and emerging technologies, allowing DEPCOM to make informed sourcing decisions and protect project schedules.

The Category Manager owns procurement strategy from project pursuit through supplier award and works closely with Engineering, Preconstruction, Project Management, Construction, and Procurement Operations to ensure successful execution.

This position will be physically based out of our headquarters in Scottsdale, AZ. Remote work eligibility may be considered on an individual basis.

This position is not eligible for VISA Sponsorship

What You Will Do: Responsibilities

• Category Strategy & Market Intelligence
• Develop and execute category strategies for high-voltage electrical equipment and substation-related materials.
• Maintain an in-depth understanding of global and domestic supply market conditions, manufacturing capacity, lead-time trends, pricing drivers, and technology developments.
• Identify emerging risks and opportunities before they impact project execution.
• Monitor supplier capacity constraints and proactively secure production slots for critical equipment.
• Support approved vendor list (AVL) development and continuous supplier qualification efforts.
• Serve as the internal expert on substation market dynamics.
• Provide market intelligence and strategic recommendations that support informed sourcing decisions and schedule protection.

Supplier Relationship Management

• Establish and maintain executive-level relationships with key suppliers.
• Conduct regular business reviews with strategic suppliers.
• Develop supplier scorecards and performance improvement initiatives.
• Negotiate commercial agreements, pricing structures, capacity reservations, and framework agreements.
• Collaborate with suppliers on cost-reduction and schedule-improvement initiatives.
• Escalate and resolve critical supply issues when project schedules are at risk.

Project Procurement Leadership

• Lead procurement strategy during project pursuits and project handoff.
• Develop sourcing plans that balance cost, schedule, risk, and technical requirements.
• Evaluate quotations and commercial proposals.
• Lead commercial negotiations.
• Prepare procurement recommendations and award strategies.
• Assess procurement risks and develop mitigation plans.
• Provide procurement expertise during customer-facing discussions when required.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with Engineering to understand technical requirements and specifications.
• Support Estimating and Business Development during project pursuits.
• Work closely with Project Management to identify and mitigate schedule risk.
• Coordinate with Category Specialists and Procurement Operations to ensure successful execution after award.
• Provide procurement forecasts and market insights to leadership.

Leadership & Team Development

• Mentor and train Category Specialists.
• Assist with onboarding new procurement personnel.
• Share market knowledge and procurement best practices across the organization.
• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives within Supply Chain.

What You Will Need – Basic Qualifications

• Experience in strategic sourcing, category management, procurement, project management, engineering, or supply chain roles related to electrical substations, with demonstrated success managing complex procurement strategies and supplier relationships
• Experience procuring or managing high-voltage equipment and materials
• Experience negotiating complex commercial agreements and major equipment purchases
• Experience managing supplier relationships within the utility, power generation, transmission, distribution, or renewable energy industries
• Demonstrated technical knowledge of high-voltage substation equipment and systems (i.e. transformers, breakers, disconnect switches, bus systems, instrument transformers, station service equipment, and/or control buildings)
• Experience with contract review, risk assessment, or complex commercial negotiations for major capital equipment, capacity reservations, framework agreements, or long-term supply arrangements

What Will Put You Ahead - Preferred Qualifications

• Experience developing procurement and supply chain risk-mitigation strategies using financial, cost, and schedule analysis, with the ability to communicate recommendations to executive stakeholders
• Applied knowledge of substation protection, control, automation, SCADA, communications, interconnection equipment, and applicable utility requirements
• Utility, EPC, renewable energy, or transmission/distribution experience
• Experience establishing relationships with major OEMs or substation suppliers
• Experience managing procurement strategies through transformer, switchgear, and high-voltage equipment supply constraints
• Applied understanding of domestic content requirements and Buy America considerations
• PMP, CPSM or CPSD certifications

At Koch companies, we are entrepreneurs. This means we openly challenge the status quo, find new ways to create value and get rewarded for our individual contributions. Any compensation range provided for a role is an estimate determined by available market data. The actual amount may be higher or lower than the range provided considering each candidate's knowledge, skills, abilities, and geographic location. If you have questions, please speak to your recruiter about the flexibility and detail of our compensation philosophy.

Hiring Philosophy

All Koch companies value diversity of thought, perspectives, aptitudes, experiences, and backgrounds. We are Military Ready and Second Chance employers. Learn more about our hiring philosophy here.

Who We Are

At Koch, employees are empowered to do what they do best to make life better. Learn how our business philosophy helps employees unleash their potential while creating value for themselves and the company. As a Koch Engineered Solutions company, DEPCOM Power is a leading energy solutions partner for the utility solar and broader energy industries, providing project development support, engineering, procurement and construction, energy storage, repowering and operations and maintenance services. Our highly skilled team of conventional and renewable power industry experts work to deliver the lowest cost of energy and the highest rate of return

Our Benefits

Our goal is for each employee, and their families, to live fulfilling and healthy lives. We provide essential resources and support to build and maintain physical, financial, and emotional strength - focusing on overall wellbeing so you can focus on what matters most. Our benefits plan includes - medical, dental, vision, flexible spending and health savings accounts, life insurance, ADD, disability, retirement, paid vacation/time off, educational assistance, and may also include infertility assistance, paid parental leave and adoption assistance. Specific eligibility criteria is set by the applicable Summary Plan Description, policy or guideline and benefits may vary by geographic region. If you have questions on what benefits apply to you, please speak to your recruiter.

Additionally, everyone has individual work and personal needs. We seek to enable the best work environment that helps you and the business work together to produce superior results.

Equal Opportunities

Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability and protected veteran status. Except where prohibited by state law, some offers of employment are conditioned upon successfully passing a drug test. This employer uses E-Verify. Please click here for additional information. (For Illinois E-Verify information click here, aquí, or tu).

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