Lead Specialist, Category Management (Supply Chain) (Houston)
Teal Energi, Houston, TX, United States
Lead Specialist, Category Management
Position Overview
The Lead Specialist, Category Management is a key Supply Chain Management role responsible for managing a portfolio of contracts and overseeing the full contract lifecycle—from sourcing and contracting through implementation and ongoing management. This role partners closely with internal stakeholders and suppliers to drive compliance, efficiency, and value delivery while continuously improving sourcing and contracting processes, tools, and systems.
Status: Non-Exempt
Contract to Perm
Location: Houston, TX (Downtown)
Work Schedule: 5/40 (5 days/week in office)
Key Responsibilities
Stakeholder & Contract Management
Serve as the single point of accountability for spend across assigned contracts
Partner with internal stakeholders to ensure compliance with delegated authorities, policies, and ethical standards
Support contract owners by gathering and reviewing supplier performance feedback
Coordinate with purchasing, supplier assurance, legal, insurance, treasury, and risk functions during contract negotiations
Category Strategy
Partner with the Category Manager to support the development and execution of category strategies
Align sourcing and contract strategies with business needs and supply market capabilities
Sourcing, Contracting & Negotiation
Lead supplier pre-qualification and qualification activities
Develop and manage RFPs, including total cost and value-based evaluation models
Negotiate commercial terms and contract structures with qualified suppliers
Prepare bid evaluations and supplier award documentation for approval
Ensure timely execution of high-quality contracts supporting safe, reliable operations
Maintain accurate contract documentation and records within enterprise systems
Support creation of Contract Purchase Agreements (CPAs) and Blanket Purchase Agreements (BPAs)
Manage post-award activities, including contract handover and supplier performance management
Process Improvement & Analytics
Act as a power user for sourcing and contract management systems
Perform data analysis to identify trends, insights, and improvement opportunities
Partner with centers of excellence to enhance category management practices
Support change management initiatives for new processes and systems
Develop clear visual reporting to support decision-making
Document and share best practices across the commercial team
Qualifications & Skills
Experience & Education
Bachelor’s degree preferred or equivalent combination of education and experience
Minimum of five (5) years of progressive experience in Supply Chain or Category Management
Core Skills
Strong understanding of sourcing, commercial terms, and contract negotiation
Experience with source-to-contract and procure-to-pay systems (ERP experience preferred)
Excellent written and verbal communication skills
Strong analytical, problem-solving, and organizational abilities
Ability to work effectively across functions in a fast-paced environment
Strong attention to detail with the ability to think strategically
Additional Information
Role operates primarily in an office environment with occasional travel as business needs require
May require flexibility outside standard business hours
Subject to applicable regulatory screening requirement
Physical Requirements:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to sit, walk and stand; talk or hear, both in person and by telephone; use hands repetitively to finger, handle, feel or operate standard office equipment. The employee is frequently required to reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision and the ability to adjust focus.
About Teal Energi:
TealEnergi is a technical manpower provider with extensive experience supporting the successful execution and operation of major capital project investments. Forged through a desire to provide best-in-class service to clients, candidates, and contractors alike, TealEnergi works through its offices nationwide to provide regional support to a wide range of sectors including both traditional energy and energy transition initiatives (e.g., LNG, hydrogen, wind, solar), as well as manufacturing, mining, and infrastructure.
TealEnergi is committed to fostering, cultivating and preserving a culture of diversity, equity and inclusion. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, age, disability, ethnicity, gender or gender identity, language, national origin, physical or mental ability, political affiliation, religion, sexual orientation, or protected veteran status.
Position Overview
The Lead Specialist, Category Management is a key Supply Chain Management role responsible for managing a portfolio of contracts and overseeing the full contract lifecycle—from sourcing and contracting through implementation and ongoing management. This role partners closely with internal stakeholders and suppliers to drive compliance, efficiency, and value delivery while continuously improving sourcing and contracting processes, tools, and systems.
Status: Non-Exempt
Contract to Perm
Location: Houston, TX (Downtown)
Work Schedule: 5/40 (5 days/week in office)
Key Responsibilities
Stakeholder & Contract Management
Serve as the single point of accountability for spend across assigned contracts
Partner with internal stakeholders to ensure compliance with delegated authorities, policies, and ethical standards
Support contract owners by gathering and reviewing supplier performance feedback
Coordinate with purchasing, supplier assurance, legal, insurance, treasury, and risk functions during contract negotiations
Category Strategy
Partner with the Category Manager to support the development and execution of category strategies
Align sourcing and contract strategies with business needs and supply market capabilities
Sourcing, Contracting & Negotiation
Lead supplier pre-qualification and qualification activities
Develop and manage RFPs, including total cost and value-based evaluation models
Negotiate commercial terms and contract structures with qualified suppliers
Prepare bid evaluations and supplier award documentation for approval
Ensure timely execution of high-quality contracts supporting safe, reliable operations
Maintain accurate contract documentation and records within enterprise systems
Support creation of Contract Purchase Agreements (CPAs) and Blanket Purchase Agreements (BPAs)
Manage post-award activities, including contract handover and supplier performance management
Process Improvement & Analytics
Act as a power user for sourcing and contract management systems
Perform data analysis to identify trends, insights, and improvement opportunities
Partner with centers of excellence to enhance category management practices
Support change management initiatives for new processes and systems
Develop clear visual reporting to support decision-making
Document and share best practices across the commercial team
Qualifications & Skills
Experience & Education
Bachelor’s degree preferred or equivalent combination of education and experience
Minimum of five (5) years of progressive experience in Supply Chain or Category Management
Core Skills
Strong understanding of sourcing, commercial terms, and contract negotiation
Experience with source-to-contract and procure-to-pay systems (ERP experience preferred)
Excellent written and verbal communication skills
Strong analytical, problem-solving, and organizational abilities
Ability to work effectively across functions in a fast-paced environment
Strong attention to detail with the ability to think strategically
Additional Information
Role operates primarily in an office environment with occasional travel as business needs require
May require flexibility outside standard business hours
Subject to applicable regulatory screening requirement
Physical Requirements:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to sit, walk and stand; talk or hear, both in person and by telephone; use hands repetitively to finger, handle, feel or operate standard office equipment. The employee is frequently required to reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision and the ability to adjust focus.
About Teal Energi:
TealEnergi is a technical manpower provider with extensive experience supporting the successful execution and operation of major capital project investments. Forged through a desire to provide best-in-class service to clients, candidates, and contractors alike, TealEnergi works through its offices nationwide to provide regional support to a wide range of sectors including both traditional energy and energy transition initiatives (e.g., LNG, hydrogen, wind, solar), as well as manufacturing, mining, and infrastructure.
TealEnergi is committed to fostering, cultivating and preserving a culture of diversity, equity and inclusion. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, age, disability, ethnicity, gender or gender identity, language, national origin, physical or mental ability, political affiliation, religion, sexual orientation, or protected veteran status.