Category Manager, CapEx

Commonwealth Fusion Systems (CFS) has the fastest, lowest cost path to commercial fusion energy.

CFS collaborates with MIT to leverage decades of research combined with groundbreaking new high-temperature superconducting (HTS) magnet technology. HTS magnets will enable compact fusion power plants that can be constructed faster and at lower cost. Our mission is to deploy these power plants to meet global decarbonization goals as fast as possible. To that end, CFS has assembled a team of leaders in tough tech, fusion science, and manufacturing with a track record of rapid execution. Supported by the world’s leading investors, CFS is uniquely positioned to deliver limitless, clean, fusion power to combat climate change. To implement this plan, we are looking to add dedicated people to the team who treat people well, improve our work by adding multifaceted perspectives and new ways of solving problems, have achieved outstanding results through a range of pursuits, and have skills and experience related to this role.

The Category Manager’s role is to partner with the business to support the company’s long-term manufacturing objectives through contract negotiations, risk mitigation and supplier relationship management.

This team member will:

• Conduct advanced quantitative analysis to identify financial impacts of decisions and performance for the category managed. Perform business process analyses and develop models to improve cost. Collaborate with stakeholders to define SLA's and KPI's for suppliers and measure the appropriate criteria, such as: delivery of business results, cost reduction, quality and timeliness of delivery. Conduct research, perform benchmarking, and gather market analysis for assigned categories.
• Drive cost reduction projects including planning, coordinating with stakeholders, estimating completion, and project updates
• Author contract documents with Legal. Manage contracts ensuring performance of the supplier to contract obligations. Understand interrelationships between contracts and terms while applying creativity and sound business reasoning to interpret application of contract to business needs.
• Utilize creative negotiations to maximize value and cost savings benefit while lowering risk
• Establish preferred suppliers by category. Create and implement related management programs to develop, continuously improve, manage the performance of, and monitor KPIs of the supply base.
• Develop and maintain key internal stakeholder relationships to create strategic sourcing models that optimize the value of products and services that support business unit requirements to maintain continuous cost reduction programs for controllable expenditures. Communicate, manage, and drive compliance to category strategies. Provide solutions to a wide range of difficult problems.
• Create sourcing strategies for the assigned category to reduce risk and meet targets for the Procurement Department including but not limited to payment terms, cash targets, and cost savings
• Lead and mentor team members
• Issue purchase orders and resolve blocked invoices related to the assigned category
• Develop and lead efforts to reduce the number of transactions and for the assigned category
• Skillfully balance the price, delivery, quality, service, and value tradeoffs and rationalize the supply base 
• Adhere to all supply chain policies, procedures, guidelines and instructions including those regarding the procurement of materials, intellectual property, and export compliance
• Negotiate internally and externally at high levels or with persons of influence frequently

The ideal candidate will have most, if not all, of these requirements:

• 7 years of purchasing or supply chain experience, including some experience purchasing capital equipment for manufacturing environments
• 7+ years experience in Procurement or Supply Chain
• At least 7 years experience in Indirect
• Bachelor’s Degree (required)
• Masters Degree is a plus
• Certifications preferred: A.P.P., C.P.M., CPSM, CSCP, CPIM
• Technical Procurement Expert
• Strong experience negotiating contracts
• Implementation and management of ERP or other procurement tools
• Creative negotiating skills
• Experience with MS Office
• Exceptional communications skills
• Strong collaboration and relationship building skills
• Ability to prioritize and execute tasks
• Works with Integrity
• Strong Customer Service skills
• Remarkable problem-solving skills
• Works well under pressure
• Possesses excellent judgement

Additional experience and/or qualifications:

• Experience managing multiple levels of staff
• Experience in a start-up or high growth environment
• Experience in manufacturing environment
• Perform activities such as typing, standing, or sitting for extended periods of time
• #LI-Remote

CFS team members thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment and have demonstrated exceptional results through a range of different pursuits. We all tightly align with our company values of integrity, execution, impact and self-critique. As we grow, we are looking to add talented people who are mission driven and bring diverse perspectives and new ways of solving problems.

At CFS, we deeply value diversity and are an equal opportunity employer by choice. We consider all qualified applicants equally for employment. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, protected veteran status, religion, physical or mental disability, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, or any other basis protected by law, ordinance, or regulation.