Supply Chain Category Specialist - Akron, OH

JOB DESCRIPTIONFirstEnergy at a GlanceWe are a forward-thinking electric utility powered by a diverse team of employees committed to making customers' lives brighter, the environment better and our communities stronger.FirstEnergy (NYSE: FE) is dedicated to integrity, safety, reliability and operational excellence. Headquartered in Akron, Ohio, FirstEnergy includes one of the nation's largest investor-owned electric systems, more than 24,000 miles of transmission lines that connect the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions, and a regulated generating fleet with a total capacity of more than 3,500 megawatts.About The OpportunityThis is for three open positions with the FirstEnergy Service Company, a subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corp.Role OverviewWe are expanding our Strategic Sourcing and Category Management organization and seeking multiple Supply Chain Category Management Specialists to support high-impact sourcing initiatives across enterprise-critical spend categories.This role partners with cross-functional stakeholders and suppliers to drive cost optimization, supplier performance, market intelligence, and digital procurement transformation. You will help execute strategic category plans that align with enterprise goals for risk mitigation, sustainability, operational excellence, and value creation.This position will be a full time onsite position located at either Akron, OH or Greensburg, PA.Key Responsibilities Strategic Sourcing & Category Optimization Design and execute multi-year category roadmaps, cost-reduction initiatives, and strategic supplier strategies. Develop Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) strategies to improve service levels and unlock value beyond price. Build and deploy category strategies that incorporate market trends, risk modeling, value-engineering, demand forecasting, and supplier innovation.Digital Procurement Enablement Leverage technology platforms, spend analytics, supplier performance management, and market intelligence tools to drive data-driven decisions. Apply analytics to supplier spend, evaluate market dynamics, and benchmark pricing to identify value opportunities.Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) Lead supplier selection events, including RFP development, proposal assessments, and scorecarding. Monitor and track supplier performance KPIs to ensure continuous improvement and compliance. Build robust supplier partnerships that support innovation and reliability.Contracting & Negotiations Guide contracting strategy, negotiate commercial terms, and support value-based contract optimization. Partner with technical stakeholders to evaluate proposals and ensure sourcing alignment with business needs.Category Intelligence & Market Analysis Track category-specific market trends, economic drivers, price movements, and supply risks. Define cost benchmarks, analyze supplier landscape shifts, and contribute insights to enterprise category strategy.Stakeholder Engagement & Change Enablement Serve as a strategic advisor to business partners, ensuring alignment of sourcing strategy with operational and financial objectives. Ensure user satisfaction through transparent communication and high-quality execution.Qualifications include: Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Business, Engineering, or related discipline and 4-7 years of relevant experience OR High school diploma and 7-10 years' sourcing/supply chain experience. Preferred experiApply here:

Created: 2026-03-09