Strategic Procurement IT Professional

Strategic Procurement IT ProfessionalDate: Aug 11, 2022Location: New Orleans, Louisiana, United StatesCompany: EntergyPosting End Date: 08/25/2022Work Place Flexibility: HybridThe preferred location for this position is The Woodlands, TX or New Orleans, LA. Other Entergy locations may be consideredThis position will be filled as a Category Management Specialist II or III, depending on candidate qualificationsEntergy Corporation is an integrated energy company engaged primarily in electric power production and retail distribution operations. Entergy owns and operates power plants with approximately 30,000 megawatts of electric generating capacity, including 8,000 megawatts of nuclear power. Entergy delivers electricity to 2.9 million utility customers in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. Tracing its history to 1913 and headquartered in New Orleans, Louisiana, Entergy has annual revenues of $11 billion and more than 13,000 employees.The company’s utility business provides electric retail and wholesale power to customers in four states through five utility operating companies: Entergy Arkansas, LLC; Entergy Louisiana, LLC; Entergy Mississippi, LLC; Entergy New Orleans, LLC; and Entergy Texas, Inc. Entergy also delivers natural gas services to 200,000 customers in New Orleans and parts of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Entergy is winding down its wholesale generation business, which provides power to wholesale customers primarily from our two remaining nuclear facilities located in the northern United States.The electric utility industry is rapidly changing, and Entergy is entering an exciting period of growth as we prepare for the future. We are building the premier utility, a utility that delivers sustainable value to all its stakeholders – our customers, employees, communities and owners – as measured by strong net promoter scores, high levels of service, superior and affordable products and services, highly skilled and engaged employees, and industry-leading financial performance. We are focusing our sights on three key priorities — customer centricity, continuous improvement, and creating a culture of belonging for our employees. Join us as we take the next step on our journey to building the premier utility.JOB SUMMARY/PURPOSE:This position serves as a Supply Chain – Strategic Procurement IT Professional (Category Management Specialist) responsible for enabling Supplier Commercial Excellence for the IT sub-categories and/or business functions (Hardware, Information Security, Professional Services, Software, Telecom, etc.). This position is responsible for executing the standard end-to-end procurement and supply chain processes of plan-strategy-source-perform, inclusive of category management activities.The scope of this role includes, building & maintaining cross functional teams with the business to create prioritized sub-category profiles and business cases from plans, developing contracting strategies; executing strategic sourcing processes at enterprise and business function level; developing evaluations, managing negotiations, implementing contracts, and providing post-award contract management and oversight. The primary objective of this role is to create value through the supply chain in terms of safety, cost and performance. This Strategic Procurement IT Professional will work autonomously but may require some supervision or guidance in areas where the knowledge or experience has not been fully developed.JOB DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:At all times the Lead shall put safety first, actively promoting safety in both the office environment and on-site/off-site visits at Entergy or supplier sites. Progresses Contractor Safety scope and contract language and monitors and influences suppliers to proactively identify any safety concerns. Support emergency response organizations.

Subject matter expert for the business in category market conditions, sourcing strategies, supplier performance management.

Responsible for driving exceptional total cost value creation by applying contemporary IT category management strategies – plan, strategy, source and perform. Including:

Development of IT category profiles, sourcing processes, business cases and implementation plan’s that maximize value across spend under category management – progressing safety, performance and cost reduction opportunities.

Utilize IT demand and supply plans to recommend and inform category sourcing initiatives. Accountable for working with the IT business to balance demand and supply by integrating operating plans. Maintain awareness of plant schedules and commitments (Milestones) to provide support to meet outage and project schedules.

Analyses of IT 3rd party spending, contracts and suppliers to ensure informed decision-making by related cross functional team. Gathers and leverages external intelligence on IT supply markets

Identify and implement cost saving opportunities (including cost savings initiatives / programs) through rate reduction, process improvement, innovative incentive structures, or supplier collaboration.

Negotiate software license agreements/Implement complex contracts or purchases

Conduct Bids and Sourcing Activities

Assist tactical groups in negotiating Terms and Conditions, Claims and Dispute Resolution.

Leads negotiations and contract development for alliances and other complex companywide agreements.

Lead the identification of IT spend to be managed enterprise wide and work with IT and related stakeholders to obtain alignment.

Anticipates and minimizes performance issues via creation, monitoring and reporting of key performance indicators (KPIs). When IT Contractor performance issues emerge, identifies root causes and drives efficient resolution of issues at hand by working across both internal and external stakeholders.

Evaluate rates, incentives, and cost structures of contracts to ensure consistency with market conditions.

Monitor and help resolve contract claims, and administer the requirements of the contract

Drives Entergy’s Sustainable Procurement and Supplier Diversity programs for the IT supply chains. Promote the use of diverse-owned businesses and the procurement of sustainable materials and services across IT.

Establish and maintain healthy and positive IT stakeholder relationships. This activity includes establishing cross-functional and cross-sector teams with key stakeholders and creating a multi-year demand plans with integrated supply chain solutions.

Participate in Continuous Process Improvement teams to improve all aspects of the supply chain process and ensure effective implementation of those improvements.

At all times the Lead shall operate with the highest ethical standards and in full compliance with internal controls, policies, procedures, regulations, and laws. Accountable through supply base partners to execute Entergy’s IT Supplier Diversity & Local Spend objectives.

Responsible for complying with policies and procedures for reviewing IT supplier performance against contracted obligations and business unit expectations.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:Minimum education and experience required of the positionCategory Mgmt Spec II: Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Business, Accounting, Engineering, Legal, or other related discipline and minimum 3+ years of category management, strategic sourcing or other related supply chain experience OR in lieu of a degree, minimum 7+ years of category management, strategic sourcing or other related supply chain experience;Minimum 1+ years’ energy industry supply chain experience in category management or strategic sourcingCategory Management Specialist III: Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Business, Accounting, Engineering, Legal, or other related discipline and minimum 5+ years of category management, strategic sourcing or other related supply chain experience OR in lieu of a degree, minimum 9+ years of category management, strategic sourcing or other related supply chain experienceMinimum 2+ years’ energy industry supply chain experience in category management or strategic sourcing

Preferred Experience: Prior End-to-End strategic sourcing/procurement experience, with a deep understanding of category management in support of the energy industry.Deep knowledge of software purchasing is strongly preferredMinimum knowledge, skills and abilities required of the positionBusiness acumen with knowledge of IT category management and supplier relationship/vendor management;

Proficient understanding of capacity and cost structure of existing suppliers

Proficient in supply market analysis and evolution through market intelligence

Skillful in development of what the “cost to serve” is for various customers

Skillful in the development of a clear strategy on how to develop supplier base

Skillful in the development and implementation of sourcing strategies

Proficient understanding of process to actual performance to agreements (SLA’s)

Strategic and creative thinking that produces a range of solutions to problems, anticipates changes in the business environment, makes data driven decisions, and is focused on continuous improvement

Lead supplier negotiations that supports operational excellence through safety, price, quality, service and innovation

Leadership with the skill to influence others to action through plan, strategy, source and perform;

Deep understanding of business strategy development and application through pre- and post-award contract management

Broad capability in building wide and effective networks of contacts inside and outside of the supply chain organization

Proficient understanding of financial acumen with ability to translate to co-workers

Advanced skills in utilizing the tools skills and concepts to understand market conditions

Deep knowledge of Supply Chain operations

Advanced knowledge in utilizing business simulations/what if scenarios to drive recommendations

Leader/coach in driving out what is important to your customer base

Creation of Supply Chain and Entergy Goals while exceeding customers’ expectations and needs

Consistently be the trusted advisor while developing co-workers

Influencer of demand planning (Zero-based purchasing, pro-active purchase planning and hedging)

Communicate complex scenarios and data with peers as well as various levels of management;

Convey wide variety of communication types

Ability to apply Project Management principles

Insightful analytical skills that helped drive fact-based decisions

Proficient commercial skills that include financial acumen

Advises on the development and implementation of process optimization across all functions of Supply Chain

Lead integration of benchmarking into judgement and decision making

Create an understanding of key success factors for successful implementations

Deep understanding of the change management process

#LI-JL1Primary Location: Louisiana-New OrleansJob Function :ProfessionalFLSA Status :ProfessionalRelocation Option: No Relocation OfferedUnion description/code :NON BARGAINING UNIT-NBUNumber of Openings :1Req ID: 108168Travel Percentage :Up to 25%An Equal Opportunity Employer, Minority/Female/Disability/Vets. Please clickhere (https://jobs.entergy.com/content/EEO/?locale=enUS) to view the full statement.WORKING CONDITIONS:As a provider of essential services, Entergy expects its employees to be available to work additional hours, to work in alternate locations, and/or to perform additional duties in connection with storms, outages, emergencies, or other situations as deemed necessary by the company. Exempt employees may not be paid overtime associated with such duties.Job Segment: Strategic Sourcing, Procurement, Supply Chain, Sustainability, Category Manager, Operations, Energy, Retail