
Procurement Specialist
- Akron, OH
- Permanent
- Full-time
- Supporting the strategic category manager in achieving significant cost reductions in assigned categories
- Defining contracting optimization strategies that seek total cost of ownership and service level improvements
- Working directly with stakeholders (users and support areas) to develop optimization strategies and improvement execution plans
- Leveraging technology, analytics, and tools to collect and analyze supplier spend data to drive savings
- Analyzing supplier performance data and provide input to category sourcing strategy
- Developing strategic plans for contracting and improving managed categories
- Ensuring execution of strategies within user area
- Leading supplier selection and management
- Measuring and tracking performance of overlooked suppliers
- Developing knowledge and best practices in the categories within areas of responsibility
- Ensuring user satisfaction of the strategic sourcing process
- Keeping strategic manager informed about procurement progress
- Planning and leading RFP processes in assigned categories
- Coordinating with users' technical assessment of received proposals
- Negotiating contract conditions that are more favorable for FirstEnergy
- Tracking market dynamics of categories
- Defining cost benchmarks for categories under management
- Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, business administration, engineering, or related discipline and 2+ years of related work experience is required.
- In lieu of a degree, High School or equivalent and 4+ years related work experience is required.
- Related work experience includes supply chain or sourcing.
- Specific utility level experience preferred in procurement of Material & Equipment, Professional Services or Utility Services is preferred.
- Successful implementation of category improvements
- Ensure compliance with all policies and procedures