Category Manager, Corporate Services & Procurement Enablement

NextDecade · Houston Corporate

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JOB SUMMARY

Reporting to the Director, Supply Chain Management, the Category Manager, Corporate Services & Procurement Enablement owns category strategy and execution for Corporate Services, operational consumables, and the company’s Purchasing Card (P-Card) program. This is a hands-on leadership role that will initially lead through commercial expertise, category ownership, and cross-functional influence. As the portfolio and organization grow, the position has the opportunity to build, lead, coach, and develop a team supporting Corporate Services, indirect procurement, and P-Card activities. The role will develop and execute category strategies, lead complex sourcing and negotiations, and implement scalable purchasing channels as Rio Grande LNG moves from construction into commercial operations.

This role combines strategic category leadership with hands-on implementation. Initially, it will place significant emphasis on establishing the P-Card program, preferred-supplier arrangements, catalogs, punchouts, and other efficient buying channels while simultaneously advancing priority Corporate Services sourcing and contracting initiatives. As these programs mature, the role will increasingly emphasize forward-looking category management, demand planning, supplier performance, and value creation. The successful candidate will serve as a trusted commercial advisor across HR, HSSE, Finance, Accounts Payable, Facilities, Operations, Maintenance, Communications, Marketing, Legal, and other corporate functions, with the opportunity to help establish the commercial strategies, suppliers, controls, and buying channels that will support the business.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Category Strategy & Demand Planning: Develop and execute category strategies for Professional Services, HR services and programs, HSSE services, Facilities, Travel, Marketing, and indirect consumables, including safety supplies and PPE, MRO, industrial and operational consumables, and office supplies. Establish category roadmaps, value targets, implementation plans, and forward-looking demand requirements in partnership with business stakeholders.
• Strategic Sourcing & Commercial Negotiation: Build and lead end-to-end sourcing events, including requirements development, market and supplier analysis, evaluation criteria,
• commercial modeling, negotiation, and executive-level award recommendations. Serve as the accountable procurement lead for high-value and high-complexity agreements and establish preferred-supplier arrangements for priority categories.
• Contracting & Risk Management: Lead business and commercial redlines, negotiate pricing and contract terms, identify material commercial risks, and partner with Legal, Finance, Tax, HSSE, Insurance, and other subject-matter experts to establish appropriate risk allocation and commercially sound agreements.
• P-Card Implementation & Adoption: Own implementation and enterprise rollout of the P-Card program, including program design, cardholder and approver structures, SAP and Accounts Payable integration and reconciliation, training, communications, and change management.
• P-Card Governance & Controls: Serve as enterprise P-Card program owner; maintain policies, transaction and monthly limits, Merchant Category Code controls, cardholder lifecycle processes, transaction-monitoring routines, dispute resolution, and the issuing-bank relationship. Promote compliant use of the program and optimize appropriate spend and rebate value.
• Buying-Channel Optimization: Route low-value, high-volume purchases to the appropriate channel, including P-Card, catalog or punchout, blanket purchase order, or formal sourcing. Establish preferred-supplier and catalog programs for high-volume consumables and safety supplies to reduce transaction cost, improve compliance, and simplify purchasing.
• Stakeholder Advisory & Change Leadership: Build trusted relationships with department heads and senior stakeholders, participate in business planning, provide data-driven market intelligence, shape demand before requisitions are raised, and lead the adoption of new sourcing strategies, suppliers, controls, and buying channels.
• Supplier & Contract Performance: Establish proportionate supplier-governance practices, including scorecards, service-level and KPI structures, review cadences, issue resolution, and continuous improvement. Proactively manage renewals, amendments, terminations, obligations, and expiration exposure for assigned agreements.
• Process, Analytics & Continuous Improvement: Develop practical category playbooks, sourcing tools, contracting templates, P-Card procedures, dashboards, and reporting. Use spend, savings, pipeline, compliance, rebate, cycle-time, supplier-performance, and renewal data to improve decisions and demonstrate value.
• Cross-Functional & People Leadership: Contribute to Supply Chain Management maturity by sharing best practices, supporting SAP S/4HANA Procure-to-Pay processes, partnering with Finance and Accounts Payable on P-Card integration and controls, and providing subject-matter guidance on Corporate Services, indirect procurement, and P-Card practices. Mentor colleagues and, as the function grows, help define resource needs, onboard new team members, delegate work effectively, and coach direct reports or other assigned resources.
• Success in this role will be demonstrated through controlled P-Card implementation and adoption, increased use of efficient and compliant buying channels, established category strategies for priority spend areas, improved supplier and contract performance visibility, and measurable commercial and operational value.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain Management, Finance, or a related field.
• 10+ years of progressive experience in strategic sourcing, category management, procurement, and/or commercial contracting.
• Proven ability to develop and optimize category strategies, sourcing programs, procurement processes, and buying channels in evolving environments.
• Strong expertise in commercial contracting (including the ability to lead commercial and legal redlines), negotiation, risk management, procurement governance, and internal controls.
• Ability to influence senior stakeholders and lead cross-functional collaboration within matrixed organizations.
• Deep understanding of indirect procurement categories, supplier management, and purchasing models, supported by experience with ERP, Procure-to-Pay, sourcing, and contract management systems.
• Strategic, analytical, and adaptable leader with strong communication skills and a track record of delivering results in fast-paced, ambiguous environments.

PREFERRED REQUIREMENTS

• Experience owning or materially contributing to a P-Card, commercial-card, or Procure-to-Pay program, including experience in at least two of the following areas: implementation, policy and controls, transaction monitoring, training, bank relationship management, or ERP and Accounts Payable integration.
• Experience in energy, LNG, oil and gas, manufacturing, industrial operations, or another capital-intensive environment.
• National Contracts Management Association (NCMA) certifications: CPCM, CCCM, CCMA, or equivalent.
• Supply Chain Management certifications such as CPSM, CSCP, MCIPS, or equivalent.
• Certified Purchasing Card Professional (CPCP) or equivalent commercial card certification.
• Experience implementing or optimizing Procure-to-Pay processes, preferably in SAP S/4HANA, including P-Card integration or reconciliation.
• Experience with commercial-card platforms and issuing-bank relationship management.
• Experience transitioning procurement operations from a construction/project phase to steady-state commercial operations.
• Familiarity with CLM platforms (e.g., Sirion, Icertis, Agiloft) and e-sourcing tools.

Work Environment & Physical Expectations 

This position operates primarily in a professional office environment, with occasional work within or outside a complex construction environment. The role routinely uses standard office equipment, including computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets, and related equipment. 

This is primarily a sedentary role. The employee must be able to stand and/or sit continuously to perform essential job functions for a full shift. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position. 

• Lift up to 20 pounds when handling files, boxes, or office equipment. 

• Open filing cabinets and bend, stand on a stool, or climb as needed to perform job functions. 

• Talk and listen as required to perform the role. 

• Use close, distance, and color vision and adjust focus. 

• Stand, walk, use hands to handle or feel, and reach with hands and arms. 

• Move throughout office, site, and facility areas. 

• Wear required personal protective equipment when job functions require it. 

Other Duties 

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice. 

*In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification document form upon hire. 

NextDecade provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, amnesty, or status as a covered veteran in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws. NextDecade complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities.    

DOT Requirements: The US Department of Transportation (DOT) and the company have adopted regulations governing the control of drug use by persons in certain job classifications. This position is subject to the Federal Pipelines Regulation; and is stipulated in the 49 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) part 40 that requires drug and alcohol testing and must meet the testing standards. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions as defined per Company policy.  

NEXTDECADE VALUES 

• Safety – We make safety a priority. Everything we do relies on the safety of our people and the communities around us.  

• Integrity – We do the right thing, and are open, ethical, and fair. We hold ourselves to the highest standards in all that we do.  

• Honesty – We value truth and honesty in ourselves and others. We honor our commitments and take responsibility for our actions.  

• Respect – We listen, and respect people, the environment, and the communities in which we live and work.  

• Transparency – Transparency builds trust. We promote open communication with our people, our customers, and all our stakeholders. 

• Diversity – We value diversity of people and thought. It takes people with different strengths, ideas, and cultural backgrounds to make our company succeed.  

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