Senior Category Operations Specialist

About this role

Lumen is the trusted network for the AI‑powered world, connecting people, data, and applications through our expansive fiber network and connected ecosystem. We enable secure, high‑performance connectivity across cloud, edge, and AI workloads for enterprises, governments, and communities.
At Lumen, you’ll work on infrastructure customers rely on today and build for what’s next, where performance, security, and resilience matter.
This is a high accountability environment where bold ideas drive real innovation for our customers, partners, and industry. The work is challenging, expectations are clear, and trust is built into how we operate. If you’re ready to take ownership, deliver meaningful impact, and help shape the future of AI‑ready connectivity, join us today.

The Role

The Sr. Category Operations Specialist assists in the sourcing, contracting, and supplier management activities for assigned categories at Lumen Technologies. This role specifically will work with the Network Construction team on Outside Plant Support Services, including locates, flagging and task based support. This role supports the development and execution of procurement strategies in alignment with business objectives, while helping to optimize supplier performance and value. The position contributes to market analysis, spend tracking, and supplier performance monitoring, and collaborates with internal teams to ensure effective procurement operations.

Work Location

This is a work from home position within the U.S.

The Main Responsibilities

Category Support and Analysis
Analyze spend, supplier performance, service demand, and market trends to identify sourcing opportunities, optimize costs, and mitigate risk.
Develop reports, dashboards, and performance metrics in partnership with the Reporting & Analytics team.
Maintain visibility into category spend, supplier utilization, service volumes, and financial performance.
Construction Support
Partner with Network Construction and regional stakeholders to align sourcing and supplier strategies with Outside Plant support requirements.
Support supplier sourcing, onboarding, and management for locates, flagging, and related field services.
Monitor supplier performance, capacity, quality, and service delivery, driving issue resolution and corrective actions as needed.
Manage RFI, RFQ, and RFP activities from requirements gathering through supplier selection and implementation.
Track operational issues, supplier commitments, and business priorities to support service continuity and project execution.
Strategy Implementation
Translate business, supplier, and market insights into actionable category strategies and execution plans.
Lead or support initiatives focused on cost optimization, supplier performance, demand management, and process improvement.
Monitor initiative progress, risks, and benefits, providing updates to stakeholders and leadership.
Contract Administration
Coordinate contracts, statements of work, amendments, and renewals in partnership with stakeholders, Legal, and Contracting Excellence.
Maintain contract records and ensure compliance with sourcing, legal, and approval requirements.
Monitor key commercial terms, obligations, pricing, and contract milestones.
Stakeholder Engagement
Build strong relationships across Network Construction, Operations, Finance, Legal, and other business partners.
Facilitate supplier and category reviews, align priorities, and drive issue resolution.
Deliver clear analyses, recommendations, and status updates to stakeholders and leadership.
Supplier Interaction
Serve as a primary point of contact for assigned suppliers, managing operational discussions, performance reviews, and escalations.
Maintain supplier scorecards and support ongoing governance and business reviews.
Identify and mitigate supplier risks related to capacity, compliance, financial stability, and service delivery.
Drive accountability for supplier commitments, corrective actions, and continuous improvement initiatives.

What We Look For in a Candidate

Requirements
Bachelor’s degree in supply chain, business, finance, operations, or a related field, or equivalent relevant experience.
Two to four years of experience in procurement, strategic sourcing, category management, supplier management, contract administration, or supply chain operations.
Demonstrated ability to analyze spend and performance data, identify trends, and communicate practical recommendations.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office, including intermediate Excel skills in data analysis, reporting, and presentation.
Ability to manage multiple priorities, deadlines, and stakeholder requests in a fast-paced, cross-functional environment.
Strong attention to detail, organization, problem-solving, and written and verbal communication skills.

Preferred
Experience supporting telecommunications, utility, construction, Outside Plant, or field-service categories, particularly locates or damage-prevention services.
Experience coordinating competitive sourcing events, contract reviews, supplier onboarding, and supplier performance discussions.
Familiarity with procurement and source-to-pay platforms such as SAP and Ariba.
Ability to work independently, exercise sound judgment, and escalate emerging risks with clear options and recommendations.

Compensation

This information reflects the anticipated base salary range for this position based on current national data. Minimums and maximums may vary based on location. Individual pay is based on skills, experience and other relevant factors.

Location Based Pay Ranges

$84,629 - $112,838 in these states: AL AR AZ FL GA IA ID IN KS KY LA ME MO MS MT ND NE NM OH OK PA SC SD TN UT VT WI WV WY
$88,860 - $118,480 in these states: CO HI MI MN NC NH NV OR RI
$93,092 - $124,122 in these states: AK CA CT DC DE IL MA MD NJ NY TX VA WA

Lumen offers a comprehensive package featuring a broad range of Health, Life, Voluntary Lifestyle benefits and other perks that enhance…