IT Procurement Manager

CenterPoint Energy and its predecessor companies have been in business for more than 150 years. 

Our Vision: Our vision is to become the most admired utility in the United States through the execution of our long-term growth strategy. We have an unwavering commitment to safely and reliably deliver electricity and natural gas to millions of people. 

Our Commitment: CenterPoint Energy is committed to creating an inclusive work environment where business results are achieved through the skills, abilities and talents of our diverse workforce.

At CenterPoint Energy, individuals are respected for their contributions toward our company objectives. We strive for an inclusive work environment across all levels that is reflective of the available workforce in the communities we serve. 

Job Summary: 

The Manager, Category Management – IT is accountable for leading end-to-end category management activities across assigned IT spend areas, including strategic, tactical, and transactional responsibilities. This role is critical in shaping and executing category strategies that align with business priorities, drive value, and ensure effective delivery. The ideal candidate will bring strong thought leadership, set strategic direction, and develop actionable plans to achieve category objectives. In addition to overseeing execution, this role will play a key part in the broader transformation of the category management function.

Key responsibilities include managing the full category management lifecycle—leveraging a Centre of Excellence model to drive market intelligence, financial analysis, sourcing strategies, and stakeholder engagement. Categories may include, but are not limited to: Software, Hardware, Telecom, Cloud Computing, and IT Services.
This position also involves stakeholder collaboration, promoting adoption of category management practices, leading strategic sourcing initiatives, negotiating contracts, managing supplier relationships, and identifying cost reduction opportunities.

Essential Functions: 

• Lead a team of IT category management professionals to develop and execute enterprise-wide IT sourcing strategies across assigned commodities and spend categories.
• Drive supplier negotiations, sourcing initiatives, and multi-year category strategies to optimize CenterPoint Energy’s spend and deliver measurable value.
• Oversee performance management, talent development, and succession planning, ensuring the team is equipped with the right tools, resources, and processes to succeed.
• Ensure savings initiatives—including cost reduction, cost avoidance, revenue enhancement, rebates, and working capital improvements—are accurately documented, validated, reported, and incorporated into annual budgets and long-term strategic plans.
• Apply broad and deep subject matter expertise to solve complex, high-impact business challenges.
• Foster collaboration and secure stakeholder alignment to support the successful execution of category strategies.
• Conduct market intelligence, including should-cost modeling, commodity index tracking, and pricing trend analysis.
• Navigate complex pricing dynamics through in-depth and frequent market analysis.
• Partner with Legal, Risk, and Data Privacy teams to mitigate contracting risks and ensure compliance with regulatory and internal standards.
• Develop and present comprehensive category strategies, building consensus and driving strategic adoption across the organization.
• Influence cross-functional teams and executive stakeholders through subject matter expertise and a strong track record of results.
• Serve as a key contributor in the negotiation and management of high-risk, high-complexity contracts with significant strategic importance.
• Interpret and draft contract terms to minimize legal and financial exposure.
• Ensure contracts include appropriate cybersecurity provisions, key deliverables, and performance metrics (KPIs).
• Take a proactive approach to business engagement—aligning scope, gathering requirements, managing timelines, and communicating regularly to meet stakeholder expectations.
• Champion the integration of category management across the organization by articulating its value and creating a shared strategic vision.
• Lead supplier management initiatives to enhance supplier performance, innovation, and capability.

Education Description: 

• Bachelor’s degree required

Experience:

• 5+ years of sourcing/category management, contract negotiation/management, vendor management experience required. IT sourcing/category management experience is preferred
• 3+ years of experience leading a team of direct reports required 
• Possesses a strong business acumen along with demonstrated cost center management experience 
• Knowledge of and experience in indirect category management is required, with direct experience managing IT categories.
• Comprehensive knowledge of contract negotiation and category management methodology.
• Demonstrated success in developing category and sourcing strategies, including selection criteria, cost structures, pricing and performance methodologies.
• Occasional travel may be required.
• Highly functional in Excel, PowerPoint and Word. 
• Prior experience using SAP Procurement Tools for sourcing, spend and contracts management.
• Demonstrated experience in leading strategic sourcing projects and multi-year category strategies from inception to implementation.
• Negotiate and draft enterprise-wide agreements that minimize financial and business risk exposure and provide optimal terms and conditions. Understand and negotiate business specific legal terms and conditions and explain them to clients in an easy-to-understand manner.
• Ability to influence others and to act as a change agent within the department and company.

We want you to know
Being a part of the CenterPoint Energy team is more than a career alone. It's an opportunity to make a positive impact. You will be an integral part of enabling everyday life and the pursuit of possibilities for the customers we serve and the communities we share. The vital services we provide are at the core of making our world work, and by sharing your energy with us, we'll create a better tomorrow together. 
 

What we bring to you

• Competitive pay
• Paid training
• Benefits eligibility begins on your first day
• Transit subsidies
• Flexible work schedule, paid holidays and paid time off
• Access to discounts at fitness clubs and an on-site wellness center at our headquarters in Houston
• Professional growth and development programs including tuition reimbursement
• 401(k) Savings Plan featuring a company match dollar-for-dollar up to 6% and a company contribution of 3% regardless of your contribution

Job Type: Full Time 
Posting Start Date: 06/06/2025​
Posting End Date: 06/20/2025

This contractor and subcontractor shall abide by the requirements of 41 CFR §§ 60-1.4(a), 60-300.5(a), and 60-741.5(a). These regulations prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals based on their status as protected veterans or individuals with disabilities and prohibit discrimination against all individuals based on their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin. Moreover, these regulations require that covered prime contractors and subcontractors take affirmative action to employ and advance in employment individuals without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status or disability.

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