Southern Company Header

SCM Category Manager - Technology (Birmingham or Atlanta)

Atlanta, GA
Full-Time

Job Description

SCM Category Manager (Birmingham or Atlanta) - Technology

This position will be located in Birmingham, AL or Atlanta, GA. 

POSITION SUMMARY

This position works within the Supply Chain Management organization to maximize the value that is delivered using a category management framework. The role collaborates with senior internal stakeholders, supply chain teams, and suppliers to use continuous improvement techniques to improve internal Business Unit and supply chain outcomes. This position will initially support one of the technology categories (IT professional services, software or hardware) but may be assigned other categories as necessary.

The role ensures Supply Chain Management is perceived as a positive, significant, value-adding partner to the business by providing solutions to business and operational supply chain challenges, improving processes to reduce total costs of ownership, and maintaining a strategic approach to procurement and supply management.  

POSITION QUALIFICATIONS

 Education: 

  • Bachelor’s Degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Technology, Finance, or other relevant technical discipline preferred
  • Education or experience in contracts
  • Certified Purchasing Manager (CPM) or Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM) is a plus
  • Professional Contract Manager (CPCM) or Certified Commercial Contract Manager (CCCM) is a plus 

Experience: 

  • Competitive bidding/sourcing experience
  • Project management experience is a plus
  • Preferred: Demonstrated leadership with strategic partnerships
  • Previous category management experience a plus
  • Experience working on technology categories (IT professional services, software, hardware) is a plus  

Knowledge & Skills:

  • Knowledge of supply markets and purchasing principles
  • Professional written and verbal communication skills
  • Knowledge of contract terminology
  • Facilitation skills
  • Proven negotiation skills
  • Excellent project management
  • Strong skill in use of Microsoft Office
  • Comprehensive knowledge of SCM
  • Financial acumen and demonstrated aptitude in analytics

 KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Develops and executes category plans that identify opportunities for operational efficiencies, drive cost savings, manage risk, improve safety, drive innovation, and ensure the continuous development of categories managed.
  • Supervises, plans, manages, and assumes complete responsibility for all activities and processes associated with the categories assigned. Developing category profiles; conducting market research to identify new suppliers, to predict stresses on the supply base, and to manage pricing (e.g., index pricing and volume discounts).
  • Typically manages between $100M - $300M in annual spend
  • Leads negotiations, oversees all stages of strategic procurement.
  • Helps facilitate supplier performance measurement and collaborates with key suppliers to identify potential areas for improvement.
  • Manages and identifies supplier alliance opportunities.
  • Supports internal utility Business Unit's supplier management efforts.
  • Performs thorough analysis to support the development of category plans, including but not limited to meeting with internal customers to understand their needs, requirements, and plans; determining the impact of joint efforts on supplier KPIs; analyzing historical spend; forecasting future spend based on demand planning; building cost models; calculating total cost of ownership (TCO); creating supplier value.
  • Works with Business Unit clients to develop and manage tools necessary to track supplier performance (ex: scorecards).
  • Communicates supplier performance metrics to relevant stakeholders on a regular basis.
  • Interfaces with all levels of Supply Chain Management and Business Unit clients, including senior management.
  • Leads and participates in cross-functional teams, including representatives from Business Unit clients, Supplier Diversity, Technology Organization, and/or Legal.
  • Creates and implements development plans for suppliers who do not meet performance standards and resolves conflict between suppliers and the company.
  • Contributes as a member to the One SCM Category Management team by leveraging strengths to support fellow team members, sharing lessons learned, and engaging others to help in addressing knowledge or experience gaps

 BEHAVIORAL ATTRIBUTES

  • Demonstrate Southern Company Values – Safety First, Unquestionable Trust, Superior Performance, and Total Commitment
  • Safety focus and a strong personal safety record
  • Dedication to an accident-free work environment with strict adherence to all safety and compliance requirements
  • Must lead by example and ensure equity and fairness in interactions with others
  • Must conduct self in a manner that builds trust and confidence with coworkers, contractors, supervisors, and management
  • Ability to work within a team setting, including the ability to build and motivate a team toward a shared goal
  • Demonstrated initiative and creativity coupled with a strong customer service focus will be expected

ADDITIONAL DETAILS

  • No relocation assistance will be offered for this position, so if you do not already reside within a reasonable commute distance, you would be responsible for relocating at your own expense.
  • This position currently works a hybrid schedule with four (4) days in-office and one (1) day remote. This is subject to change at any given time at Company’s discretion.


 

PDN-a080626f-3f74-436a-98d4-8adce33c3446

SCM Category Manager (Birmingham or Atlanta) - Technology

This position will be located in Birmingham, AL or Atlanta, GA. 

POSITION SUMMARY

This position works within the Supply Chain Management organization to maximize the value that is delivered using a category management framework. The role collaborates with senior internal stakeholders, supply chain teams, and suppliers to use continuous improvement techniques to improve internal Business Unit and supply chain outcomes. This position will initially support one of the technology categories (IT professional services, software or hardware) but may be assigned other categories as necessary.

The role ensures Supply Chain Management is perceived as a positive, significant, value-adding partner to the business by providing solutions to business and operational supply chain challenges, improving processes to reduce total costs of ownership, and maintaining a strategic approach to procurement and supply management.  

POSITION QUALIFICATIONS

 Education: 

  • Bachelor’s Degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Technology, Finance, or other relevant technical discipline preferred
  • Education or experience in contracts
  • Certified Purchasing Manager (CPM) or Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM) is a plus
  • Professional Contract Manager (CPCM) or Certified Commercial Contract Manager (CCCM) is a plus 

Experience: 

  • Competitive bidding/sourcing experience
  • Project management experience is a plus
  • Preferred: Demonstrated leadership with strategic partnerships
  • Previous category management experience a plus
  • Experience working on technology categories (IT professional services, software, hardware) is a plus  

Knowledge & Skills:

  • Knowledge of supply markets and purchasing principles
  • Professional written and verbal communication skills
  • Knowledge of contract terminology
  • Facilitation skills
  • Proven negotiation skills
  • Excellent project management
  • Strong skill in use of Microsoft Office
  • Comprehensive knowledge of SCM
  • Financial acumen and demonstrated aptitude in analytics

 KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Develops and executes category plans that identify opportunities for operational efficiencies, drive cost savings, manage risk, improve safety, drive innovation, and ensure the continuous development of categories managed.
  • Supervises, plans, manages, and assumes complete responsibility for all activities and processes associated with the categories assigned. Developing category profiles; conducting market research to identify new suppliers, to predict stresses on the supply base, and to manage pricing (e.g., index pricing and volume discounts).
  • Typically manages between $100M - $300M in annual spend
  • Leads negotiations, oversees all stages of strategic procurement.
  • Helps facilitate supplier performance measurement and collaborates with key suppliers to identify potential areas for improvement.
  • Manages and identifies supplier alliance opportunities.
  • Supports internal utility Business Unit's supplier management efforts.
  • Performs thorough analysis to support the development of category plans, including but not limited to meeting with internal customers to understand their needs, requirements, and plans; determining the impact of joint efforts on supplier KPIs; analyzing historical spend; forecasting future spend based on demand planning; building cost models; calculating total cost of ownership (TCO); creating supplier value.
  • Works with Business Unit clients to develop and manage tools necessary to track supplier performance (ex: scorecards).
  • Communicates supplier performance metrics to relevant stakeholders on a regular basis.
  • Interfaces with all levels of Supply Chain Management and Business Unit clients, including senior management.
  • Leads and participates in cross-functional teams, including representatives from Business Unit clients, Supplier Diversity, Technology Organization, and/or Legal.
  • Creates and implements development plans for suppliers who do not meet performance standards and resolves conflict between suppliers and the company.
  • Contributes as a member to the One SCM Category Management team by leveraging strengths to support fellow team members, sharing lessons learned, and engaging others to help in addressing knowledge or experience gaps

 BEHAVIORAL ATTRIBUTES

  • Demonstrate Southern Company Values – Safety First, Unquestionable Trust, Superior Performance, and Total Commitment
  • Safety focus and a strong personal safety record
  • Dedication to an accident-free work environment with strict adherence to all safety and compliance requirements
  • Must lead by example and ensure equity and fairness in interactions with others
  • Must conduct self in a manner that builds trust and confidence with coworkers, contractors, supervisors, and management
  • Ability to work within a team setting, including the ability to build and motivate a team toward a shared goal
  • Demonstrated initiative and creativity coupled with a strong customer service focus will be expected

ADDITIONAL DETAILS

  • No relocation assistance will be offered for this position, so if you do not already reside within a reasonable commute distance, you would be responsible for relocating at your own expense.
  • This position currently works a hybrid schedule with four (4) days in-office and one (1) day remote. This is subject to change at any given time at Company’s discretion.


 

PDN-a080626f-3f74-436a-98d4-8adce33c3446

About Southern Company

Southern Company is one of the largest energy providers in the United States. Based in Atlanta, Southern Company owns electric utilities in four states, natural gas distribution utilities in seven states, a competitive generation company serving wholesale customers across America and a nationally recognized provider of customized energy solutions, as well as fiber optics and wireless communications.

The men and women who work at Southern Company understand that we don’t simply provide a product or service. Clean, safe, reliable and affordable energy is essential to our way of life. More than 100 years ago, our company played a major role in the growth and prosperity of the South – and we continue to play a role today through our support of economic development and our philanthropic efforts. We believe the communities we serve should be better off because we’re there.

Our principal business is to make, move and sell energy. Those are the “whats” of our business. But it’s the “hows” that make us different. The actions of our employees are what truly define us and have earned us a high level of trust among our customers, shareholders and regulators.

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SCM Category Manager - Technology (Birmingham or Atlanta)
Southern Company
Atlanta, GA
Dec 3, 2025
Full-time
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