Procurement Category Manager

ESC has an exciting opportunity for a Procurement Category Manager to support a high-impact supply chain and capital procurement initiative within a rapidly growing business group onsite in Seattle, WA, Nashville, TN, Houston, TX, or Arlington, VA. This 6-month contract role is ideal for an experienced procurement professional who thrives in a build-from-scratch environment and enjoys driving large-scale infrastructure and supply chain initiatives. The Procurement Category Manager will play a key role in launching new operational sites by developing supplier strategies, optimizing procurement processes, and bringing scalable technology solutions to life.

Job Description:

• Lead the development and execution of capital sourcing strategies for equipment, components, and systems supporting large-scale operational builds

• Partner with internal stakeholders including implementation teams, project management, and engineering to support new site launches

• Build and scale supply chain processes from the ground up to support a new and evolving business line

• Conduct supplier negotiations, execute contracts, and manage category-level procurement activities

• Develop cost models to support sourcing decisions, pricing strategies, and long-term planning

• Drive supplier performance management, ensuring quality, innovation, and operational efficiency

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to align procurement strategies with business goals and technical requirements

• Monitor market trends and supplier capabilities to inform sourcing strategies and drive continuous improvement

• Establish and track key performance metrics related to cost savings, supplier performance, and operational success

• Support the implementation of standardized equipment, systems, and processes to improve scalability across locations

Must Have Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Business, Engineering, or related field

• 7–10 years of experience in procurement, category management, or supply chain, with a focus on capital equipment or complex categories

• Strong experience in capital procurement, including sourcing and supplier negotiations

• Experience with contracting and category management, including understanding of key contract terms and structures

• Proven cost modeling experience to support strategic sourcing decisions

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to interpret complex data

• Ability to operate with high judgment and a strong sense of ownership in a fast-paced environment

Nice to Have Qualifications:

• Experience building supply chains or procurement functions from scratch

• Background supporting large-scale infrastructure, automation, or equipment-based environments

• Familiarity with high-growth or highly operational organizations

• Experience working with cross-functional technical teams (engineering, implementation, etc.)

• Exposure to supplier scaling and manufacturing partnerships