Utility Commodity Manager

Minimum Qualifications
Education and/or Equivalent Experience:

• Graduation with a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in a related field plus four (4) years of experience in Global Sourcing Category/Commodity Management.
• Graduation with a master’s degree from an accredited college or university in a related field may substitute for experience up to two (2) years.

Licenses or Certifications:

• None.

Notes to Applicants
Austin Energy is a growing, dynamic, municipal utility in Austin, Texas. Serving as the 3rd largest community-owned utility in the nation, Austin Energy serves more than 500k customers with an annual budget of over $1.5B, with over 2,000 employees. As a department of the City of Austin, the Austin City Council sets the Utility’s policies and strategic direction.

Austin Energy is seeking a Utility Commodity Manager ( UCM ) responsible for developing and implementing a strategic commodity strategy for the electric utility. Reporting to the Division Manager, Utility Supply Chain, this position will manage our transformers, utility poles, cables, etc. with an annual domestic and international spend (~$20M), to include Strategic Plan development, Supplier Relationship Management, Vendor Performance, and other duties as are common to the role. This role is also responsible for coordinating with the Business Unit Category Management teams to ensure a cohesive strategy, coordinating sourcing efforts and policy, and executing initiatives.

The ideal candidate is able to identify and initiate Key Commodity Strategies to strengthen Austin Energy’s supply base. With a keen awareness of material trends, be adept to understanding impacts to pricing on electric utility commodities and develop mitigation strategies. Drive supplier product road maps and execute strategic quality/availability/cost improvement initiatives. Analyze component industry capacity to predict market constraints and drive sourcing policy counter measures to secure continuity of supply and cost optimization.
If you are a results-driven individual with a passion for supply chain management, we encourage you to apply for this exciting opportunity to join our team!

Working with Austin Energy provides a number of health and welfare benefits such as low-cost medical, dental, vision, paid leave time, a highly competitive retirement plan, career development opportunities and more. Please click HERE for more information.

Employment Application:

• The City of Austin employment application is an official document; incomplete applications will not be considered.
• Please be sure to detail on the application all current and previous employment that you wish to be considered as part of your qualifications.
• The Employment Record should be complete with job titles, employment dates, job duties, functions, and responsibilities for each position held. Starting salary will be based on overall relevant experience from your application.
• Résumés will not be accepted and statements such as “see résumé” will not be accepted. You may use “N/A” for fields that are not applicable.
• Please note that Austin Energy may close the job posting at any time after 7 days from the date of the initial advertisement. Once the job posting has closed, applications cannot be changed.

If you are selected as a top candidate:

• Verification of your education (which may include high school graduation or GED , undergraduate and/or graduate degrees) will be required. You must provide proof of education from an accredited organization/institution.
• If you are identified as a top candidate and are in the military or a veteran, you will need to provide a copy of your DD-214 prior to confirming a start date.
• This position requires a criminal background investigation.

Good Standing Employees
Employees, in Good Standing, who are candidates within the department/division that the position resides in and who meet the minimum and all of the preferred qualifications (if any) of the position will be included in the initial interview. Department/division employee must remain in Good Standing through the Top Candidate Selection phase at which time the Good Standing status will be re-verified.

Travel:
If you are selected for this position, and meet the Driver Safety Standards in the City of Austin Driver Safety Program, you may drive when necessary to multiple locations as part of your regular job duties. Otherwise, you are responsible for getting to and from these locations.

Fair Labor Standards Act:
This position is considered FLSA Exempt. Exempt employees are salaried and, except as provided, are not eligible for overtime compensation.

Critical:

This position has been designated as a Critical Employee position. Critical Employees are considered necessary and vital and supports activities that impact City or department operations. This work can be done while at a designated work site or while working at an alternate work location. Critical employees who are able to work at an alternative work location are required to do so. Schedules may be modified, and employees may be reassigned to another area during extraordinary situations or emergency conditions to provide essential services.

To view the City of Austin recruitment video, please click here.
Pay Range
Commensurate
Hours
Monday - Friday (8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.)
City of Austin 60% telework policy in effect
Job Close Date 05/12/2025 Type of Posting External Department Austin Energy Regular/Temporary Regular Grant Funded or Pooled Position Not Applicable Category Professional Location 4815 Mueller Blvd, Austin Texas 78723 Preferred Qualifications
Preferred Experience:

• Current or have the ability to obtain Supply Chain Procurement Certification through the Association of Supply Chain Management ( ASCM ) within 6 months of hire
• Experience in progressive sourcing and contracting experience; including extensive experience developing and executing strategic sourcing plans.
• Self-starter with assertive approach
• Utility sector experience - Electric preferred
• Strong sense of team, comfortable with debate and buying in to aligned strategies
• Strong presentation skills influencing C-Suite decision makers
• Strong analytical skills
• Ability to travel to more than one work location

Duties, Functions and Responsibilities
Essential duties and functions, pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, may include the following. Other related duties may be assigned.
Acts as global supply management leader for assigned commodities. In coordination and collaboration with FSD - Central Procurement, initiates supplier identification, and makes recommendations for the assessment, selection, and development processes. Develops recommendations for sourcing strategies to meet customer and business unit objectives. Leads cross functional teams and manage supply chain goals improving value-to-cost relationship by focusing on total cost of ownership, quality, delivery, and service. Provides technical guidance and consultation to FSD - Central Procurement on supply chain negotiations with commodity supply partners. Manages supplier base proactively, ensuring supply with no adverse impact on the business. Analyzes, identifies, and understands supply chain risks and develops contingency plans to mitigate in collaboration with FSD - Central Procurement. Utilizes formal benchmarking methods to determine best in class processes and drives improvement maintaining at the forefront of emerging industry practices. Measures and tracks supply performance within assigned commodities. Resolves and/or escalates issues in a timely fashion. Effectively communicates with appropriate management levels both internally and externally.

Responsibilities- Supervision and/or Leadership Exercised:

• Provide leadership, work assignments, evaluation, and guidance to others.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Must possess required knowledge, skills, abilities, and experience and be able to explain and demonstrate, with or without reasonable accommodations, that the essential functions of the job can be performed.

• Knowledge of working with government procurement processes and monitoring compliance with contractual obligations.
• Knowledge and understanding of contract negotiations.
• Knowledge of financial reporting concepts and preferred business practices.
• Knowledge of business planning, performance measurement, and program/project management.
• Knowledge of business strategies, objectives, departmental goals, and initiatives.
• Knowledge of logistical process of planning and executing a supply chain.
• Knowledge of pertinent Federal, State, and Local laws, codes, and regulations.
• Skill in analyzing forecasting to determine trends and changes in demand, sales, and pricing of goods.
• Skill in negotiating with vendors and suppliers
• Skill in decision-making to guide and advise procurement decisions.
• Skill in supply chain management including tracking inventory levels, production cycles and forecasted customer demand.
• Skill in oral and written communication.
• Skill in developing and making effective presentations.
• Skill in determining needs and gathering, analyzing, and presenting data to provide accurate information for management’s use.
• Skill in analyzing and solving complex problems.
• Skill in handling conflict and uncertain situations.
• Skill in handling multiple tasks and prioritizing.
• Skill in using computers and related software applications.
• Ability to work with frequent interruptions, manage competing high priority work demands, and maintain attention to detail.
• Ability to train others.
• Ability to quickly recognize and analyze irregular events.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective communication and working relationships with City employees and the public.

Criminal Background Investigation This position has been approved for a Criminal Background Investigation. EEO/ADA
The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. If you require reasonable accommodation during the application process or have a question regarding an essential job function, please call (512) 974-3210 or Texas Relay by dialing 7-1-1.

The City of Austin will not discriminate against any applicant or employee based on race, creed, color, national origin, sex, gender identity, age, religion, veteran status, disability, or sexual orientation. In addition, the City will not discriminate in employment decisions on the basis of an individual’s AIDS , AIDS Related Complex, or HIV status; nor will the City discriminate against individuals who are perceived to be at risk of HIV infection, or who associate with individuals who are believed to be at risk.

Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).
* The minimum qualifcations requires graduation with a bachelors degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in a related field plus four (4) years of experience in Global Sourcing Category/ Commodity Managemenet. Graduation with a Master's degree from an accredited college or university in a related field may substitute for experience up to two (2) years. Do you meet these minimum qualifications?

• Yes
• No

* This position requires a criminal background check. By selecting the following, you are acknowledging that you understand if you are selected as a top candidate for this position, you will need a successful Criminal Background Investigation (CBI) to be hired.

• I acknowledge and understand this position requires a Criminal Background Investigation (CBI).

* Describe your demonstrated experience in progressive sourcing and contracting; including extensive experience developing and executing strategic sourcing plans.
(Open Ended Question)
* Explain which attributes make you a self starter with assertive approach
(Open Ended Question)
* Select the statement that best describes your Supply Chain Procurement certification through the Association of Supply Chain Management (ASCM), or your ability to obtain one within six (6) months of employment?

• Current Supply Chain Procurement Certification through ASCM
• In the process of obtaining a Supply Chain Procurement Certification through ASCM
• Have the ability to obtain a Supply Chain Procurement Certification through ASCM within 6 months of employment

* Please describe your experience working in a utility sector (oil, gas, electric, water, etc.) or similarly regulated entity, and indicate the position(s) listed on your application that support(s) your answer.
(Open Ended Question)
* Explain how you value a strong sense of team, why you are comfortable with debate and buying in to aligned strategies.
(Open Ended Question)
* Please explain your demonstrated strong presentation skills to influence C-Suite decision makers.
(Open Ended Question)
* Please describe your analytical skills, attention to detail and research capabilities.
(Open Ended Question)


Optional & Required Documents

Required Documents Optional Documents

• 

• City of Austin

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