Looking for an opportunity to make a difference?  Our Clean Energy Blueprint is a roadmap to accelerate our transition to renewable energy – something that has become especially important as we work to sustain the economic and environmental health of the communities we serve!

Join our team in this exciting role as a Category Management II.  This position is responsible for supporting our growing community solar and customer hosted programs.  In this role you will integrate internal client initiatives, strategy, and business direction with a focus on cultivating strategic partnerships with clients and vendors to create value by advancing business objectives.  You also will work with supply chain contract management and business performance teams to execute projects, assess business requirements, and develop strategic plans for ongoing sourcing needs. The ideal candidate will have experience with solar panels, metals, energy storage, substations and/or construction projects.

This is a hybrid-remote position reporting to the Madison, WI or Cedar Rapids, IA office. Candidates must reside in Wisconsin or Iowa.

What you will do

• Supports supply chain relationship, resource, and portfolio management functions.
• Issues and evaluates strategic request for information (RFI) and request for proposal (RFP).
• Supports a program to evaluate new and existing vendors as well as their products and services to create synergy across business organizations.
• Develops strategic portfolio management plans to implement value creation both through decreasing costs–via improved vendor selection and management, as well as process efficiencies–and increasing top-line growth.
• Works on cross-functional teams to effectively engage key stakeholders to best advance supply chain initiatives that support Alliant Energy’s strategic objectives.
• Facilitates routine business review meetings with clients and key suppliers.
• Supports the development and implementation of strategic plans for ongoing client sourcing needs.
• Engages in other duties as needed that support Alliant Energy’s Values and helps deliver on our Purpose to serve customers and build stronger communities.

Education Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree Business Administration, Purchasing or Supply Chain Preferred

Certification(s): Certified Purchasing Manager (CPM), Certified in Production and Inventory Management (CPIM) or Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM) designation is preferred.

Required Experience

5 years of related experience in purchasing or supply chain.

Key Skills

• Business Negotiations • Category Management • Category Strategy • Change Management • Contract Lifecycle Management • Contract Management • Cost Analysis • Cost Optimization • Partnership Strategy • Procurement Management • Sourcing Strategies • Stakeholder Management • Supplier Management • Supplier Selection

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Demonstrated cross-functional teamwork experience, including the ability to track and report project status from start to finish, as well as the ability to gain trust and confidence of internal and external personnel.
• Persuasive communication skills (oral and written), with an ability to communicate with senior executives in client organizations.
• Ability to guide collaborative projects with suppliers to deliver value, efficiencies and/or improvements in safety and quality.
• Excellent analytic, negotiation, and problem-solving skills.
• Experience handling multiple high-profile projects simultaneously and ability to take ownership of assigned projects.
• Demonstrate established proficiency utilizing evolving technological tools to streamline daily tasks and communications.

Our people are passionate about what they do, the product they sell, and the customers they serve. If you’re looking for an opportunity to be a part of a work family that values collaboration, innovation, and dedication, we’re the right company for you.