Major Equipment Category Manager

Job Description: Major Equipment (Inverters, transformers, and HV/MV breakers) Category Manager

Department: Procurement

Reports To: Purchasing Director

Location: Tempe, AZ

Position Summary

The Major Equipment Category Manager is responsible for the strategic sourcing, supplier management, contract negotiation, and cost optimization of Inverters, Transformers, HV/MV Breakers equipment. This role ensures the availability of high-quality, competitively priced materials and services to support utility-scale renewable energy projects. The Category Manager will develop and execute category strategies, lead supplier relationships, evaluations and performance initiatives, and collaborate with engineering, project management, construction, and commercial teams to meet company and project objectives.

Key Responsibilities

Category Strategy & Market Intelligence

• Utilize all available tools and insights to develop and implement long-term category strategies for major equipment.
• Work with legal and suppliers to develop and execute Framework agreements to secure capacity, strengthen supplier partnerships, and drive cost savings.
• Leverage global Atlantica equipment demand profiles to maximize leverage, negotiations and savings with suppliers.
• Conduct analyses and utilize market and industry insights to identify emerging suppliers, cost drivers, technological trends, and geopolitical/tariff impacts.
• Maintain a detailed understanding of global supply chains, manufacturing locations, and risk landscapes for Inverters, transformers, and high and medium voltage breakers.
• Maintain and leverage an in-depth knowledge and understanding of the global legislative landscape impacting major equipment, suppliers, and Atlantica’s sourcing options and negotiations.
  
  

Strategic Sourcing & Procurement

• Lead end-to-end sourcing processes, including RFI/RFQ/RFP development, bid analysis, commercial evaluation, and supplier selection.
• As with suppliers, work closely with third party auditors like Kiwa Pi-Berlin, CEA, Enertis, UL and others to ensure supplier product and production facilities meet or exceed Atlantica quality standards.
• Negotiate Framework agreement pricing, payment terms, warranties, delivery schedules, and performance guarantees to optimize total cost of ownership.
• Manage procurement timelines to align with project schedules, forecast demand, and secure long-lead equipment.
  
  

Supplier Relationship & Performance Management

• Develop strong strategic partnerships with major equipment suppliers.
• Perform supplier performance reviews, business reviews, and corrective action plans.
• Ensure suppliers meet quality, safety, compliance, ESG, and code of conduct standards.
  
  

Contract Management & Compliance

• Draft, review, negotiate and execute framework agreements, master supply agreements, Long-term service agreements, purchase contracts, service contracts, and purchase orders.
• Collaborate with Legal and Risk to ensure adherence to commercial, regulatory, trade, and tariff requirements.
• Track and mitigate risks related to tariffs and country-of-origin and destination requirements.
  
  

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with Engineering, EPC, Project Development, Finance, and Construction teams to align sourcing strategies with technical and commercial requirements.
• Support cost estimation, budgeting, and bill-of-materials development for bids and active projects.
• Provide category expertise during project development, procurement planning, and project execution.
  
  

Data, Analytics & Reporting

• Maintain accurate category KPIs, cost benchmarks, forecasts, market insights and data and procurement dashboards.
• Conduct cost breakdown analyses for major equipment and logistics.
• Present sourcing strategies and supplier performance updates to senior leadership.
  
  

Qualifications

Education & Experience

• Prefer Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Engineering, Business, or related field (Master’s preferred).
• 2-5 years of procurement, strategic sourcing, or category management experience.
• Experience sourcing and procuring major equipment (Inverters, transformers, HV/MV breakers) is highly preferred.
• Experience in utility-scale renewable energy, EPC, or manufacturing environments is a plus.
  
  

Skills & Competencies

• Strong knowledge major equipment supply chains, technologies, and cost drivers.
• Excellent negotiation and contract management skills.
• Ability to interpret technical specifications and engineering documents.
• Proficiency in commercial analysis, total cost of ownership methodologies, and risk assessment.
• Strong communication skills; ability to work across functional teams and influence decisions.
• High proficiency in Excel, ERP systems (SAP), S2P and procurement tools.