Category Manager
BH-330457-1
Posted: 23/03/2026
- Depends On Experience
- United States Texas Houston
- Contract
-
Oil & Gas
Category Manager – Drilling Rigs
Decarbonizing the energy sector is an urgent challenge, and with the right technology, geothermal energy can play a central role. We are expanding our team to help make this vision a reality. Our organization has developed technology to make geothermal power scalable and cost‑effective. Join us and work alongside world‑class engineers, researchers, investors, and developers in making geothermal a key pillar of a climate‑friendly energy future.
Position Description
The Category Manager – Drilling Rigs will own sourcing, supplier relationships, and commercial negotiations, ensuring a seamless flow of materials and services that meet high standards of cost, quality, safety, and sustainability. This role will support all phases of geothermal drilling operations and requires deep expertise in supply chain best practices, a proven track record with complex drilling projects, and the ability to lead cross‑functional teams in a fast‑paced environment. The Category Manager will report to the Senior Category Manager.
Strategic Sourcing and Category Management
Advanced Commercial and Contracting Strategy
Digital and Technology Integration
Performance Management and Value Creation
Cross‑Functional Leadership
Required Qualifications
Preferred Qualifications
Location
This role is headquartered in Houston, TX. The position is eligible for some hybrid work flexibility; however, regular in‑office presence at the Houston location is required. Although office‑based, some travel to operational sites may be necessary.
With over 90 years' combined experience, NES Fircroft (NES) is proud to be the world's leading engineering staffing provider spanning the Oil & Gas, Power & Renewables, Chemicals, Construction & Infrastructure, Life Sciences, Mining and Manufacturing sectors worldwide. With more than 80 offices in 45 countries, we are able to provide our clients with the engineering and technical expertise they need, wherever and whenever it is needed. We offer contractors far more than a traditional recruitment service, supporting with everything from securing visas and work permits, to providing market-leading benefits packages and accommodation, ensuring they are safely and compliantly able to support our clients.
Decarbonizing the energy sector is an urgent challenge, and with the right technology, geothermal energy can play a central role. We are expanding our team to help make this vision a reality. Our organization has developed technology to make geothermal power scalable and cost‑effective. Join us and work alongside world‑class engineers, researchers, investors, and developers in making geothermal a key pillar of a climate‑friendly energy future.
Position Description
The Category Manager – Drilling Rigs will own sourcing, supplier relationships, and commercial negotiations, ensuring a seamless flow of materials and services that meet high standards of cost, quality, safety, and sustainability. This role will support all phases of geothermal drilling operations and requires deep expertise in supply chain best practices, a proven track record with complex drilling projects, and the ability to lead cross‑functional teams in a fast‑paced environment. The Category Manager will report to the Senior Category Manager.
Strategic Sourcing and Category Management
- Own the regional category strategy for onshore drilling rigs, including long‑term sourcing models and supplier portfolio management
- Manage the full category lifecycle from strategy development through contract execution and supplier performance management
- Develop 3–5 year category strategies aligned with drilling program forecasts and corporate objectives
- Identify opportunities for cost reduction, cost avoidance, and value creation across drilling operations
Advanced Commercial and Contracting Strategy
- Lead development of next‑generation contracting models, including:
- Performance‑based and outcome‑driven contracts (ROP, NPT reduction, uptime)
- Incentive / penalty structures tied to drilling efficiency
- Integrated service models (rig + directional + digital services)
- Negotiate complex, multi‑year, multi‑rig agreements with top‑tier drilling contractors
- Drive standardization and modularization of contract frameworks to increase speed and flexibility
Digital and Technology Integration
- Partner with Drilling and Digital teams to incorporate:
- Real‑time drilling data integration (WITS / WITSML, SCADA, IoT‑enabled rigs)
- Automation technologies (auto‑drillers, remote operations, AI‑assisted drilling optimization)
- Predictive maintenance and rig performance analytics
- Ensure suppliers are aligned with digital interoperability and data‑sharing requirements
- Embed data‑driven decision‑making into sourcing and performance management
Performance Management and Value Creation
- Define and track category‑level KPIs, including:
- Cost per foot / cost per well
- Rate of penetration (ROP)
- Non‑productive time (NPT)
- Rig uptime and utilization
- Drive continuous improvement programs with suppliers and drilling teams
- Deliver measurable cost savings, cost avoidance, and value creation outcomes
Cross‑Functional Leadership
- Work closely with drilling engineers, field operations, finance, legal, and other stakeholders to align supply chain strategies with project timelines and budgets
- Align sourcing strategies with drilling program schedules and operational priorities
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management or related field
- Minimum 10+ years of experience in upstream oil & gas, with deep exposure to drilling operations or rig contracting
- Experience negotiating and managing drilling rig contracts
- Demonstrated experience managing large‑scale drilling service categories
- Strong knowledge of onshore drilling operations and rig performance metrics
- Experience in unconventional shale plays (Permian, Eagle Ford, etc.)
Preferred Qualifications
- Self‑starter with a track record of developing, implementing, and managing strategic supply chain initiatives
- Ability to influence management through high‑quality, well‑structured written and verbal communication
- Strong analytical, critical thinking, negotiation, and problem‑solving skills
Location
This role is headquartered in Houston, TX. The position is eligible for some hybrid work flexibility; however, regular in‑office presence at the Houston location is required. Although office‑based, some travel to operational sites may be necessary.
With over 90 years' combined experience, NES Fircroft (NES) is proud to be the world's leading engineering staffing provider spanning the Oil & Gas, Power & Renewables, Chemicals, Construction & Infrastructure, Life Sciences, Mining and Manufacturing sectors worldwide. With more than 80 offices in 45 countries, we are able to provide our clients with the engineering and technical expertise they need, wherever and whenever it is needed. We offer contractors far more than a traditional recruitment service, supporting with everything from securing visas and work permits, to providing market-leading benefits packages and accommodation, ensuring they are safely and compliantly able to support our clients.