Category Manager - Services

This role will lead ongoing department activities for gloabl operations of Berkshire Hathaway Energy related to procurement, contracting, vendor risk management and vendor performance management.

As the most senior professional, acts with considerable latitude regarding the best course of action for the business for the assigned commoditie(s).

Develops long-term strategies, category plans and vendor performance reviews.

Establishes and maintains working relationships with suppliers and continually develops supplier list for use by the company based on an understanding of driving market forces.

Aligns with supply chain and internal customer groups to create and manage short- and long-term goals and mitigate any risk associated with the category(s), such as human resources, information technology, finance, customer operations or engineering.

The position involves contact with the general public, suppliers, leadership and co-workers across the BHE businesses.

Prepare and initiate strategic and robust plans to ensure positive value through a systematic approach for a specific group of products. This includes analyzing market trends, lowering costs, risk reduction and quality vendor performance assessments. Lead internal customers across multiple business units and affiliated companies to review complex service and/or software requirements. Forecasts expected growth or reduction for assigned categories and develop and follow a procurement strategy to meet those needs. Assist and advise departments in preparing harmonized and optimized specifications for all procurement activities and locating qualified sources for required services through new supplier qualification. Develop a three-to-five-year strategy plan for assigned categories that will provide a clear vision and direction, ensure that short-term projects and actions contribute to long-term goals, and to be able to adapt to changes in supply chain. (35%)

Negotiate and prepare contracts for significant projects and transactions of significant complexity or where significant variance from standard terms and conditions are required. Meet required contract and business deadlines as agreed to within the strategic sourcing plans. (35%)

Lead sourcing events across multiple business units or across affiliated companies to a successful and timely conclusion in support of the strategic category plan. (20%)

Analyze procurement activities and highly complex purchase requisitions to identify areas of strategic sourcing with a goal to maximize leverage, reduce the cost of goods and services, improve processes, and strengthen the company position when negotiating with suppliers and contractors. (10%)

Establish and maintain effective work relationships within the department and the company.

Perform additional responsibilities as requested or assigned to include process creation and training.

Bachelor's degree in engineering, business administration, supply chain management, finance or related field or equivalent work experience. (Typically four years of related, progressive work experience would be needed for candidates applying for this position who do not possess a bachelor's degree.)

Five years of technical experience with the assigned commodity within a utility, manufacturing or industrial type company, including one year in a senior technical/ leadership role.

Candidates who possess accredited purchasing/APICS/ISM certification, Lean/SixSigma experience and/or proven process improvement backgrounds will be preferred.

Experience within purchasing, on-line requisitioning, on-line spend management systems and inventory systems will be preferred.

Consistently practices effective communication skills including listening, verbal and writing skills to process information timely and accurately.

Proven ability to negotiate and persuade.

Excellent interpersonal skills, a customer service focus and the ability to work as a member in a team-oriented environment. This includes the ability to provide instruction, guidance and information to others.

Strong personal computer skills such as Word and Excel, plus basic knowledge and ability in software packages such as PowerPoint and Visio.

The ability to create documents and maintain information in department-specific software packages.

Proficiency in keying and software program features based on required assessments.

Ability to read and interpret complex technical documents.

Project management skills to plan workflow including an ability to prioritize and handle multiple tasks and projects concurrently, coordinate assignments and resolve conflicting demands.

Demonstrated ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, the general public and employees at all levels.

Ability to deal with abstract and concrete concepts and to define obscure and incomplete problems, collect data, establish facts and draw valid conclusions.

Effective analytical, problem-solving and decision-making skills.

Leadership skills to effectively resolve problems involving personnel, accounting, inventory and purchasing situations.

Able to conceptualize and develop creative alternatives to problem resolution. Ability to travel overnight as required.

Employees must be able to perform the essential functions of the position, with or without an accommodation.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion or religious creed, age, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status (except as required by law), gender (including gender identity and expression), sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, genetic information, physical or mental disability, veteran or military status, familial or parental status, marital status or any other category protected by applicable local, state or U.S. federal law.

MidAmerican Energy Company, a Midwest utility, provides regulated electric and natural gas service to more than 1.6 million customers in Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota. The company owns and operates a portfolio of power-generating assets, approximately 61% of which is wind generation.

MidAmerican Energy Company is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion or religious creed, age, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status (except as required by law), gender (including gender identity and expression), sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, genetic information, physical or mental disability, veteran or military status, familial or parental status, marital status or any other category protected by applicable local, state or U.S. federal law. Employees must be able to perform the essential functions of the position, with or without an accommodation.