Category Manager - Steel and Components

Description

Title: Category Manager - Steel and Related Structural Components Department: FlexRack Center Supervisor: Director of Strategic Sourcing

FLSA Status: Salary

Position Status: Full-Time

Work Status: Hybrid (4 days office, 1 day remote)

Work Location: Highland Hills, OH

Category Manager - Steel and Related Structural Components

This is your chance to join the rapidly growing commercial solar energy business.

FLEXRACK by Qcells is an integrated solar company that offers custom-designed, fixed tilt ground mount and single-axis solar tracking systems in the commercial and utility-scale solar mounting industries. FLEXRACK by Qcells also offers full services, including engineering, geotechnical, pullout testing, field, and layout design services to address the actual site conditions of a project site. FLEXRACK by Qcells has completed over 3.5 GW of solar racking installations in over 40 U.S. states, 9 Canadian provinces and across the globe.

SUMMARY

We are seeking a highly skilled and strategic Category Manager to manage the sourcing, procurement, and supplier relationships for all steel, structural components, and related hardware. This role is critical to ensuring a stable, cost-effective, and domestically compliant supply chain to support aggressive U.S. manufacturing goals and IRA tax credit requirements. This position reports to the Director of Strategic Sourcing or another management personnel that the CEO of the Company may designate. This position is located in Highland Hills, OH. You will work out of the Qcells FlexRack (Highland Hills) office 4 days per week. Working hours are Monday through Friday, from 8:00am to 5:00pm or 9:00am to 6:00pm local time. This position is expected to travel up to 10%.

Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the United States. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa at this time.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTION & RESPONSIBILITIES

- Strategic Sourcing: Develop and execute comprehensive sourcing strategies for steel and related components, focusing on minimizing geopolitical risk and maximizing domestic content (U.S. origin).

- Supplier Relationship Management: Identify, evaluate, and negotiate long-term contracts with major U.S. steel mills and fabricators. Manage ongoing supplier performance, quality control, and capacity planning.

- IRA Compliance & Traceability: Ensure rigorous documentation and traceability of all steel products to meet the stringent requirements of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) domestic content incentives.

- Cost Management: Conduct total cost of ownership (TCO) analysis, manage commodity hedging strategies, and identify cost reduction opportunities without compromising quality or compliance.

- Market Analysis: Monitor global and domestic steel market trends, pricing fluctuations, and capacity changes to inform sourcing decisions and budget forecasting.

- Collaboration: Work closely with engineering and R&D teams to optimize product design for steel sourcing advantages and manufacturability.

- Regular attendance, in accordance with company's attendance policy and supervisory assignment, is an essential job duty requirement for this position

- Perform other duties and special projects, as assigned by Management

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

- Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Engineering, or a related field; MBA or CSCP certification preferred.

- Minimum of 7-10 years of experience in strategic sourcing or category management, with at least 3 years specifically managing steel, heavy fabrication, or similar industrial raw materials.

- Direct experience within the solar energy, heavy manufacturing, or automotive sectors highly desirable.

- Proven track record of negotiating complex, multi-year supply agreements and managing supplier performance programs.

- Strong analytical and negotiation skills, deep understanding of steel commodity markets, and knowledge of domestic content regulations (e.g., IRA or Buy America).

EXAMPLES OF PHYSICAL DEMANDS

- Stationary Position: frequently remains stationary up to 90% of the time and sitting up to 8 hours in a day

- Move/Traverse: infrequently bend, stand, stoop and/or walk

- Carry Weight: infrequently carry weight and/or lift objects (light to heavy) weighing up to 10 pounds

- Hearing and Speech: frequently communicates with the ability to hear and talk on a regular basis with employees, coworkers, and all personnel matters; must be able to exchange accurate information in these situations

- Sight: frequent use of sight to detect images on computer, office documents, and office objects near and far

- Climb: occasionally ascends/descends on stairway to get to office upper and lower floors

- Travel: up to 10% as needed

EXAMPLES OF WORK ENVIRONMENT

- Regular professional, office business setting

- Noise level ranges from low to moderate (if in office setting)

- Noise level ranges from moderate to high (if on construction worksite)

- Under the Office Mobilization Plan (OMP) policy, the role may transition to an onsite or hybrid arrangement, as determined by business needs and the Head of Department

The anticipated starting pay range of this position, which is to be located in Cleveland, OH. The pay is only displayed for Cleveland, OH is $90,000 - $110,000 base salary per year.

The above-listed salary range is required by the Cleveland Pay Transparency Act and may differ depending on the location of those candidates hired nationwide. The salary range shared in the job description is for the listed position and only pertains to the candidate if they work in Cleveland, OH. Actual compensation is influenced by a wide array of factors including but not limited to internal pay equity, skill set, education, licenses and certifications, geographic location, essential job duties and requirements, and the necessary experience relative to the job’s minimum qualifications. An additional discretionary bonus structure or incentives may be offered as part of the overall compensation package, in addition to the full range of medical, dental, and/or other benefits, dependent on the level and position offered.

FLEXRACK by Qcells is proud to be an at-will Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibits discrimination against race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender perception or identity, national origin, age, marital status, pregnancy, citizenship, disability, protected veteran status and any other classification protected by applicable federal, state or local law.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

It is important to note that the job descriptions provided by FLEXRACK by Qcells are not intended to be comprehensive lists of all duties, responsibilities, or qualifications associated with the positions. Duties and responsibilities may change at any time with or without notice, reflecting our dynamic and evolving work environment.

We are committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, FLEXRACK by Qcells will provide reasonable accommodations to all qualified individuals with disabilities to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodations at hr-usa@qcells.com.

Nothing in this statement shall imply implicitly or explicitly a guarantee of employment outside our at-will employment opportunity.