Job Title: Category Management Specialist, Sr

Work Place Flexibility: Hybrid 

Legal Entity: Entergy Services, LLC 

Preferred office location is New Orleans, LA, however the alternate location of The Woodlands, TX may be considered.

Entergy Corporation is an integrated energy company engaged primarily in electric power production and retail distribution operations. Entergy owns and operates power plants with approximately 30,000 megawatts of electric generating capacity, including 8,000 megawatts of nuclear power. Entergy delivers electricity to 2.9 million utility customers in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. Tracing its history to 1913 and headquartered in New Orleans, Louisiana, Entergy has annual revenues of $11 billion and more than 13,000 employees.

The company’s utility business provides electric retail and wholesale power to customers in four states through five utility operating companies: Entergy Arkansas, LLC; Entergy Louisiana, LLC; Entergy Mississippi, LLC; Entergy New Orleans, LLC; and Entergy Texas, Inc. Entergy also delivers natural gas services to 200,000 customers in New Orleans and parts of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Entergy is winding down its wholesale generation business, which provides power to wholesale customers primarily from our two remaining nuclear facilities located in the northern United States.

The electric utility industry is rapidly changing, and Entergy is entering an exciting period of growth as we prepare for the future. We are building the premier utility, a utility that delivers sustainable value to all its stakeholders – our customers, employees, communities and owners – as measured by strong net promoter scores, high levels of service, superior and affordable products and services, highly skilled and engaged employees, and industry-leading financial performance. We are focusing our sights on three key priorities — customer centricity, continuous improvement, and creating a culture of belonging for our employees. Join us as we take the next step on our journey to building the premier utility.

JOB SUMMARY/PURPOSE: 

This position services as a Supply Chain – Strategic Procurement Corp Professional (Category Management Specialist) responsible for enabling Supplier Commercial Excellence for the Corporate sub-categories and/or business functions related to Human Resources and other categories as assigned.  This position is responsible for executing the standard end-to-end procurement and supply chain processes of plan-strategy-source-perform, inclusive of category management activities.

The scope of this role includes, building & maintaining cross functional teams with the business to create prioritized sub-category profiles and business cases from plans, developing contracting strategies; executing strategic sourcing processes at enterprise and business function level; developing evaluations, managing negotiations, implementing contracts, and providing post-award contract management and oversight. The primary objective of this role is to create value through the supply chain in terms of safety, cost and performance. 

JOB DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:

• At all times the Lead shall put safety first, actively promoting safety in both the office environment and on-site/off-site visits at Entergy or supplier sites. Progresses Contractor Safety scope and contract language and monitors and influences suppliers to proactively identify any safety concerns. Support emergency response organizations.
• Subject matter expert for the business in category market conditions, sourcing strategies, supplier performance management.
• Responsible for driving exceptional total cost value creation by applying contemporary category management strategies – plan, strategy, source and perform. Including:
  • Development of category profiles, sourcing processes, business cases and implementation plan’s that maximize value across spend under category management – progressing safety, performance and cost reduction opportunities.
  • Utilize demand and supply plans to recommend and inform category sourcing initiatives. Accountable for working with the business to balance demand and supply by integrating operating plans. Maintain awareness of plant schedules and commitments (Milestones) to provide support to meet outage and project schedules.
  • Analyses 3rd party spending, contracts and suppliers to ensure informed decision-making by related cross functional team. Gathers and leverages external intelligence on supply markets
  • Identify and implement cost saving opportunities (including cost savings initiatives / programs) through rate reduction, process improvement, innovative incentive structures, or supplier collaboration.
  • Negotiate/Bid/Source/Implement complex contracts or purchases
  • Assist tactical groups in negotiating Terms and Conditions, Claims and Dispute Resolution.
  • Leads negotiations and contract development for alliances and other complex companywide agreements.
  • Lead the identification of spend to be managed enterprise wide and work with stakeholders to obtain alignment.
  • Anticipates and minimizes performance issues via creation, monitoring and reporting of key performance indicators (KPIs). When Contractor performance issues emerge, identifies root causes and drives efficient resolution of issues at hand by working across both internal and external stakeholders.
  • Evaluate rates, incentives, and cost structures of contracts to ensure consistency with market conditions.
  • Monitor and help resolve contract claims, and administer the requirements of the contract
  • Drives Entergy’s Sustainable Procurement and Supplier Diversity programs for categories assigned.  Promote the use of diverse-owned businesses and the procurement of sustainable materials and services.
• Establish and maintain healthy and positive stakeholder relationships. This activity includes establishing cross-functional and cross-sector teams with key stakeholders and creating a multi-year demand plans with integrated supply chain solutions.
• Participate in Continuous Process Improvement teams to improve all aspects of the supply chain process and ensure effective implementation of those improvements.
• At all times the Lead shall operate with the highest ethical standards and in full compliance with internal controls, policies, procedures, regulations, and laws. Accountable through supply base partners to execute Entergy’s Supplier Diversity & Local Spend objectives.

• Responsible for complying with policies and procedures for reviewing supplier performance against contracted obligations and business unit expectations.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

Minimum education and experience required of the position

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Business, Accounting, Engineering, Legal, or other related discipline and minimum 9+ years of category management, strategic sourcing or other related supply chain experience OR in lieu of a degree, minimum 13+ years of category management, strategic sourcing or other related supply chain experience
• Minimum 3+ years’ energy industry supply chain experience in category management or strategic sourcing

Minimum knowledge, skills and abilities required of the position 

Technical

• Masterful 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 SC;
• Deep understanding of supplier relationship/vendor management principles and practices;
• Mastery in the 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 SC;
• 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;
• Highly proficient in creating clear strategies to develop supplier bases; strategies are used as exemplars across SC;
• Extensive knowledge 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 SC;
• Highly proficient influencing skills to promote effective demand planning across business units, functions and SC (zero-based purchasing, pro-active purchase planning and hedging).

Professional

• Masterful application of project management principles to ensure systematic, thorough completion of multiple projects/priorities, identifying critical pathways and risks to delivery;
• Deep expertise in the application of commercial skills and financial acumen to category management, with the inclusion of 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 communicate autonomously with category management stakeholders, including executive level, delivering key messages concisely, supported by relevant data; influencing skills to develop best outcomes;
• Proficient at building broad relationships and effective networks with all stakeholders;
• Deep understanding of change management relative to category management solutions for the business;
• Deep knowledge to effectively manage the costs of the business; understand the impact of contract terms on Entergy cost structure.

Leadership

• Highly proficient in the application of change management and continuous improvement methods, and the application to daily activities to drive performance improvement;
• Proficiency in coaching/mentoring to Category Management’s individual contributors, other SC personnel and Entergy customers.

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Primary Location: Louisiana-New Orleans Louisiana : New Orleans || Texas : The Woodlands 
Job Function: Professional
FLSA Status: Professional 
Relocation Option: No Relocation Offered
Union description/code: NON BARGAINING UNIT 
Number of Openings: 1
Req ID: 116435
Travel Percentage:Up to 25%

An Equal Opportunity Employer, Minority/Female/Disability/Vets. Please click here to view the EEI page, or see statements below.

EEO Statement: The Entergy System of Companies provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, amnesty, or status as a protected veteran in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws. The Entergy System of Companies complies with applicable state and local laws governing non-discrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment including, but not limited to, recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training. 

The Entergy System of Companies expressly prohibits any form of unlawful employee harassment based on race, color, religion, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status. Improper interference with the ability of the Entergy System of Company employees to perform their expected job duties is absolutely not tolerated.

Accessibility: Entergy provides reasonable accommodations for online applicants. Requests for a reasonable accommodation may be made orally or in writing by an applicant, employee, or third party on his or her behalf. If you are an individual with a disability and you are in need of an accommodation for the recruiting process please click here and provide your name, contact number, the accommodation requested and the requisition number that you are requesting the accommodation for. Employee Services will contact you regarding your request.

Additional Responsibilities: As a provider of essential services, Entergy expects its employees to be available to work additional hours, to work in alternate locations, and/or to perform additional duties in connection with storms, outages, emergencies, or other situations as deemed necessary by the company. Exempt employees may not be paid overtime associated with such duties.

Entergy Pay Transparency Policy Statement: The Entergy System of Companies (the Company) will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the Company’s legal duty to furnish information.  41 CFR 60-1.35(c). Equal Opportunity and Pay Transparency.

Pay Transparency Notice:

Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination Provision (dol.gov)

The non-confidential portions of the affirmative action program for individuals with disabilities and protected veterans shall be available for inspection upon request by any employee or applicant for employment.  Please contact HRCompliance@entergy.com to schedule a time to review the affirmative action plan during regular office hours.

WORKING CONDITIONS:
As a provider of essential services, Entergy expects its employees to be available to work additional hours, to work in alternate locations, and/or to perform additional duties in connection with storms, outages, emergencies, or other situations as deemed necessary by the company. Exempt employees may not be paid overtime associated with such duties.

Please note: Authorization to work in the United States is a precondition to employment in this position. Entergy will not sponsor candidates for work visas for this position.