Category Specialist

Lyten is leading an industrial revolution through Lyten 3D Graphene™, a breakthrough supermaterial unlocking a new generation of products — from lithium–sulfur batteries and energy storage systems to concrete admixtures, lightweight composites, and next-generation sensors that are revolutionizing industries. Together, these innovations are making a massive global improvement and driving real-world impact across energy, mobility, construction, and defense.

At Lyten, we believe the most meaningful careers begin with purpose — and with people who want to make a difference. We’re not just developing advanced supermaterials — we’re about to change the world as we know it, reshaping how energy is stored, how products are built, and how progress is made.

We’re entering an exciting growth phase, scaling production across the U.S. and Europe and expanding our team of engineers, scientists, and innovators.

Apply now to join our team and be part of something bigger than yourself — where collaboration, creativity, and purpose come together to build the technologies that will define the next century.

High level purpose of function.

The Category Specialist is responsible for managing the sourcing and contracting of goods and services that support the entire organization's operations, excluding direct materials (raw materials).

The specialist drives value through strategic sourcing, negotiation, and process optimization to achieve cost savings and ensure continuity of business operations.

Overall areas of responsibilities and activities

· Category Sourcing: Execute the Source-to-Contract process for assigned indirect categories, including developing RFI/RFPs, conducting competitive bidding, and evaluating supplier proposals based on TCO (Total cost of Ownership).

· Negotiation & Contracting: Lead commercial negotiations with suppliers to secure optimal pricing, favorable payment terms, and strong contractual language (SLAs, Warranties) for goods and services.

· Cost Management & Analysis: Identify, track, and deliver verifiable cost savings and value-capture opportunities (PIR) within the assigned spend portfolio. Conduct spends analysis and market research to inform sourcing strategies.

· Supplier Relationship Management (SRM): Manage operational and strategic relationships with key indirect suppliers, monitor performance against KPIs and drive continuous improvement in service delivery.

· Stakeholder Alignment: Collaborate with internal business partners (e.g., Finance, IT, HR) to understand their requirements, enforce procurement policy compliance, and ensure sourcing activities meet their operational needs.

· Procure-to-Pay (P2P) Optimization: Support the continuous improvement of procurement processes and tools, helping to streamline requisitions, purchasing, and invoicing flows.

· Budget Responsibility: Directly accountable for achieving specific annual cost savings targets (PIR) within the assigned indirect spend categories. Responsible for spending compliance and controlling maverick spending. Holds no direct CAPEX budget authority.

· Direct Reports: No. This is an individual contributor role, typically reporting to a Category Manager or Procurement Manager.

· Decision Authority: Authorized to recommend and approve supplier selection for contracts below a defined threshold. Can commit company funds via Purchase Orders (PO) within defined Procurement Authority Level and approve new suppliers for onboarding after successful qualification.

Requirements

Educational background and previous experience required for the role.

· Education: Bachelor’s degree in supply chain management, Business Administration, Finance, or a related field.

· Experience: Minimum of 3 years of experience in Procurement, Purchasing, or Strategic Sourcing, with at least 2 years of direct experience managing Indirect Spend categories.

Technical Skills:

• Strong demonstrated proficiency in commercial contract negotiation and risk mitigation.
• Expertise in financial analysis, TCO modeling, and spend analysis tools.
• Working knowledge of ERP systems (SAP, ORACLE) and e-sourcing/$\text{P2P}$ platforms.
• Knowledge of relevant legal contract terms (IP, Indemnification, Warranties).

· Personal Success Factors: Excellent analytical skills, attention to detail, and a results-oriented focus. Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to influence stakeholders without direct authority and manage multiple priorities effectively.

Why Work at Lyten

At Lyten, you’ll be part of a team that’s redefining what’s possible in energy, materials, and manufacturing. We’re not just imagining the future — we’re building it today with breakthrough technologies that are changing how products are made and how industries innovate.

Our people are the heart of that mission. From world-class scientists and engineers to creative problem-solvers in operations, manufacturing, and commercialization, every member of the Lyten team plays a role in turning bold ideas into real-world impact. We believe that the best work happens when you’re doing great things in the world — with people you like. Collaboration, curiosity, and a shared sense of purpose drive everything we do.

What You’ll Find at Lyten

• A mission that matters: Contribute directly to solving complex challenges in energy, mobility, and materials innovation.

• Cutting-edge innovation: Work on technologies at the intersection of materials science, energy storage, and advanced manufacturing that strengthen energy security and local supply chains.

• Extraordinary people: Join a team of talented, friendly, and down-to-earth innovators who support, challenge, and inspire one another every day.

• Teamwork and culture: Experience a workplace built on trust, respect, and shared success — where collaboration fuels breakthroughs and everyone’s ideas are heard.

• Global impact: Help scale new materials and energy solutions that reinforce industrial resilience across the U.S. and Europe.

• Career growth: Be part of a fast-moving company entering a commercial growth phase, with opportunities to lead, learn, and make your mark.

• Purpose-driven values: Thrive in an environment that celebrates ingenuity, optimism, and meaningful progress — together.

Lyten offers the opportunity to do the most important work of your career — helping build the technologies that will power the next century of innovation.

Join us, and help transform industries, communities, and the planet with friends who share your drive to make a difference.