Senior Category Specialist

Job Type:

Plains is an industry-leading transportation and midstream provider specializing in transportation storage processing and marketing solutions for crude oil. We own an extensive network of pipeline transportation terminalling storage and gathering assets in key oil producing basins and transportation corridors and at major market hubs in the United States and Canada. The company is headquartered in Houston Texas.

Were on the lookout for passionate selfstarters who thrive in fastmoving collaborative and innovative environments.

The Senior Category Specialist owns high-value complex spend categories across North America and delivers measurable business value through strategic sourcing commercial negotiations and category strategy execution. This role operates with a high degree of autonomy and partners crossfunctionally to reduce total cost manage risk ensure compliance and improve supplier performance across the full sourcing lifecycle.

Experience supporting technical operations-driven categories common in midstream or industrial environments is highly desirable.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Sourcing & Category Leadership

• Lead endtoend sourcing initiatives (RFx supplier evaluation negotiations and contract award) for assigned categories

• Develop and execute multiyear category strategies aligned to business priorities market conditions and risk profiles

• Apply Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) principles to sourcing decisions and recommendations

Commercial & Contract Management

• Draft review and redline commercial agreements including service contracts and longterm supply agreements

• Lead commercial negotiations to optimize pricing terms and risk allocation

• Partner with Legal and Risk to ensure contracts meet policy regulatory and business requirements

Supplier Performance & Relationship Management

• Serve as the primary relationship owner for key suppliers within assigned categories

• Establish performance metrics lead supplier reviews and drive corrective action plans

• Identify opportunities for innovation continuous improvement and value creation with suppliers

Analytics Reporting & Insights

• Perform spend analysis savings tracking and cost modeling to support sourcing decisions

• Develop clear executiveready reports and dashboards to communicate results and performance

• Use data to identify trends risks and optimization opportunities

CrossFunctional Partnership

• Act as the single point of contact for assigned categories partnering with Operations Engineering Finance Legal and Logistics

• Translate stakeholder needs into sourcing strategies and executable plans

Process Improvement & Governance

• Identify and lead initiatives to streamline sourcing processes improve efficiency and standardize best practices

• Ensure sourcing activities comply with internal policies and external regulatory requirements

• Maintain accurate documentation and support audit and governance needs

Risk Management

• Monitor market supplier and geopolitical risks impacting supply continuity and cost

• Develop and implement mitigation strategies including supplier diversification and contractual protections

Qualifications

• Bachelors degree in Supply Chain Accounting Finance Engineering or a related field

• 7 years of experience in strategic sourcing procurement or supply chain management (10 years preferred)

• Demonstrated success leading supplier negotiations contract management and category strategies

• Advanced proficiency in Excel and PowerPoint; experience with analytics tools (e.g. Power BI SQL) preferred

• Strong analytical communication and stakeholdermanagement skills

• Proven ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver results independently

• Cleared criminal history (background) and satisfactory reference checks

• Compliance with the Companys drug and alcohol policy including pre-employment D&A testing.

• This position is not eligible for employment-based visa sponsorship. Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S. for the duration of their employment

Preferred Category Experience
Experience supporting one or more of the following complex technical spend categories is strongly preferred:

• Integrity Services including In-Line Inspection (ILI) Non-Destructive Examination (NDE) and leak detection services

• Tank Services including tank repair cleaning and inspection

• Electrical & Instrumentation (E&I) including field services maintenance and project based work

• Chemical & Gases including Corrosion Drag Reducing Agents Process Chemicals and bulk gases

Core Competencies

• Strategic Thinking: Converts business needs and market insight into actionable category strategies

• Commercial Acumen: Understands cost drivers supplier economics and market dynamics

• Negotiation & Influence: Drives outcomes through effective negotiation and crossfunctional alignment

• Analytical Rigor: Uses data to support decisions and quantify value

• Collaboration: Builds trusted partnerships across functions and levels

• Ownership & Accountability: Takes full responsibility for outcomes and execution

Work Environment

• Officebased role in Houston TX

• Occasional domestic travel

#Plains

At Plains our employees are our most valuable asset. Hard work is rewarded with competitive compensation and a top-tier benefits program designed to keep our employees safe healthy and happy. We work hard to deliver the best results to our stakeholders and we also respect our employees need for personal and family time which is reflected in our benefits program.

We are proud to bean Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified individuals without regard to age race color national or ethnic origin religion sex sexual orientation gender identity or expression veteran status genetic information disability or any other characteristic protected by federal state or local with disabilities can request accessible formats communication supports or other accessibility assistance by contacting .

Salary details estimated by job boards such as Indeed Glassdoor and LinkedIn do not represent Plains compensation structure. We thank all candidates for their interest; however only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

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