Category Manager- Grey Space

NorthMark Strategies • Dallas, TX

1d

About The Position

We are seeking a Category Manager- Grey Space to own and execute the global sourcing and supply chain strategy for Data Center Construction & Cooling, with a primary focus on cooling equipment and related services for OFCI data center builds. This role leads end-to-end category management across sourcing, contracting, supplier performance, and capacity planning, supporting large-scale, multi-site data center expansion programs. This role manages a significant, multi-billion-dollar category portfolio, requiring strong commercial rigor, scalable supplier strategies, and disciplined spend governance. The ideal candidate brings deep experience in data center cooling technologies, construction-related procurement, and complex, high-growth supply chain environments, with the ability to integrate Integrated Business Planning (IBP) into category strategies and supplier engagement models. This is a critical role responsible for architecting and building out a strategic category around Grey Space infrastructure & services that will be able to scale alongside company and procurement organization growth.

Requirements

• 8-10 years of experience in category management, strategic sourcing, procurement, or supply chain leadership
• Experience supporting hyperscale or large-scale data center construction programs
• Familiarity with OFCI contracting structures and construction execution models
• Hands on experience with electrical and mechanical systems highly preferred
• Experience working in matrixed, multi-entity, or global organizations
• Experience integrating IBP, demand planning, and supply planning into category and supplier strategies
• Proven experience managing large-scale construction or infrastructure-related spend portfolios
• Demonstrated experience leading enterprise-scale source-to-contract processes
• Track record of success in fast-paced, high-growth, and ambiguous environments
• Must be legally authorized to work in the United States without the need for employer sponsorship, now or at any time in the future.

Nice To Haves

• Category management or supply chain certifications (e.g., CPSM, CSCP, CPM, CIPS, or equivalent)
• Strong understanding of data center cooling & mechanical equipment and services, particularly within OFCI delivery models
• Bachelor’s degree required, with a preference for Supply Chain Management, Construction Management, Mechanical or Electrical Engineering.
• Strong commercial, analytical, and executive communication skills

Responsibilities

• Category Strategy & Portfolio Leadership Own and drive the global category management strategy for Data Center Construction & Grey Space, including cooling and mechanical equipment and associated services for OFCI builds.
• Lead the full source-to-contract lifecycle, including: Category market intelligence and supplier landscape analysis Sourcing strategy development and RFP/RFQ execution Commercial negotiations and contract structuring Contract execution and lifecycle management
• Develop differentiated sourcing strategies aligned to regional build plans, capacity constraints, and evolving cooling technologies
• Responsible for making critical decisions regarding entering contracts, negotiating pricing/terms, signing agreements and committing capital.
• Procurement Strategy & Commercial Execution Own category spend analytics, forecasting, and cost modeling to drive financial discipline and value realization
• Monitor spend performance against budgets, forecasts, and contractual commitments
• Drive continuous improvement across sourcing, contracting, supplier performance, and category governance processes
• Integrate Integrated Business Planning (IBP) inputs into category strategies, supplier capacity planning, and sourcing decisions
• Translate demand forecasts, build schedules, and deployment timelines into supplier capacity commitments and executable supply plans
• Partner with construction, engineering, and program management teams to ensure sourcing strategies support on-time, on-budget data center delivery
• Stakeholder and Supplier Management Lead supplier performance management across cost, quality, delivery, capacity, and service levels
• Develop and manage strategic supplier partnerships to support scale, innovation, and long-term capacity requirements
• Responsible for making critical decisions on supplier selection and partnerships
• Identify and mitigate supply, execution, and capacity risks, including long lead-time constraints, regional dependencies, and market volatility
• Act as a strategic partner to construction, engineering, infrastructure, finance, legal, and operations teams
• Operate effectively in complex, multi-entity and matrixed environments, aligning category strategies across regions, business units, and legal entities

Benefits

• Company-Paid Lunch Stipend: Lunch is provided via GrubHub
• Company-Paid Benefits: 100% Employer-Paid Medical in our High Deductible Health Plan, Dental and Vision benefits for employees and their families, 16 weeks of Paid Parental Leave, Employee Assistance Program, Life insurance, Short-Term Disability and Long-Term Disability
• 401(k): Company will match 100% of your contributions up to 6%
• Optional Employee-Paid Benefits: Medical insurance in our PPO plan and a variety of other benefits such as Health Savings Accounts (with Company Contribution!), Flexible Spending Accounts, Supplemental Life Insurance, Wellhub and more.
• Time Off: 25 days of Paid Time Off plus 12 company holidays

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level