H-1B Visa Category Specialist Jobs
Category Specialist jobs with H-1B visa sponsorship sit at the intersection of procurement, supplier management, and strategic sourcing, fields that qualifying employers file Labor Condition Applications to support. Roles built around a degree in supply chain, business, or a related field meet USCIS specialty occupation standards, making this a viable H-1B visa pathway for analytically focused professionals.
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Get Access To All JobsAt ABB, we help industries run leaner and cleaner—and every person here makes that happen. You’ll be empowered to lead, supported to grow, and proud of the impact we create together. Join us and help run what runs the world.
This position reports to:
Procurement & Purchasing Manager
In this role you will lead sourcing and procurement activities for electronics commodities supporting ABB’s Bartlesville Analytical manufacturing operations. This role will develop and execute commodity strategies for electronic components, cables, and related products, ensuring suppliers can meet current and future business requirements while optimizing cost, quality, delivery, reliability, and sustainability.
The work model for the role is: Hybrid in Bartlesville, OK. #LI-Hybrid
The successful candidate will partner closely with Engineering, Manufacturing, Planning & Fulfillment, Quality, Logistics, and suppliers to ensure supply continuity, improve supplier performance, identify cost reduction opportunities, and manage supply chain risks.
Your role and responsibilities:
- Develop and execute commodity strategies for electronic components, cables, and related products, aligned with business and procurement objectives.
- Lead strategic sourcing activities, including RFQs, supplier evaluations, negotiations, contract management, and market analysis.
- Manage supplier relationships and performance, driving improvements in cost, quality, delivery, responsiveness, capacity, and reliability.
- Identify and mitigate supply risks, including capacity constraints, long lead times, single-source suppliers, raw material availability, and geopolitical risks, while developing appropriate contingency plans.
- Drive cost optimization through competitive sourcing, negotiations, value engineering, should-cost analysis, and supplier productivity initiatives.
- Partner cross-functionally with Engineering, Manufacturing, Planning & Fulfillment, Quality, Logistics, and Operations to resolve supply issues and support business requirements.
- Support engineering changes, product transfers, supplier changes, and product lifecycle management to ensure continuity of supply.
- Drive supplier development and continuous improvement initiatives while ensuring compliance with ABB procurement policies, contracts, and applicable regulations.
Qualifications for the role:
Required
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Supply Chain, Operations Management, Business, or a related field.
- 8+ years of progressive experience in strategic sourcing, procurement, commodity management, or supply chain within a manufacturing or industrial environment.
- Demonstrated experience sourcing PCBA, electronic components, cables, or similar electronic/technical commodities.
- Proven experience with supplier negotiations, supplier relationship management, cost reduction, and supplier performance improvement.
- Strong analytical, negotiation, project management, and stakeholder management skills.
- Experience using SAP and Microsoft Excel.
- Candidates must already have work authorization that would permit them to work for ABB in the US permanently.
Preferred
- Experience reading and interpreting engineering drawings, technical specifications, and Bills of Materials (BOMs), with a strong understanding of manufacturing processes.
- Experience working in a global, highly engineered manufacturing environment and managing complex or international supply chains.
What's in it for you
We empower you to take initiative, challenge ideas, and lead with confidence. You’ll grow through meaningful work, continuous learning, and support that’s tailored to your goals. Every idea you share and every action you take contributes to something bigger.
ABB is an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer for protected Veterans and Individuals with Disabilities at ABB.
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to their sex (gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation), marital status, citizenship, age, race and ethnicity, inclusive of traits historically associated with race or ethnicity, including but not limited to hair texture and protective hairstyles, color, religious creed, national origin, pregnancy, physical or mental disability, genetic information, protected Veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal and state law.
For more information regarding your (EEO) rights as an applicant, please visit the following websites: https://www.eeoc.gov/sites/default/files/2023-06/22-088_EEOC_KnowYourRights6.12ScreenRdr.pdf
As an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer for Protected Veterans and Individuals with Disabilities, applicants may request to review the plan of a particular ABB facility between the hours of 9:00 A.M. - 5:00 P.M. EST Monday through Friday by contacting an ABB HR Representative at 1-888-694-7762.
Protected Veterans and Individuals with Disabilities may request a reasonable accommodation if you are unable or limited in your ability to use or access ABB's career site as a result of your disability. You may request reasonable accommodations by calling an ABB HR Representative at 1-888-694-7762 or by sending an email to US-AskHR@abb.com. Resumes and applications will not be accepted in this manner.
ABB Benefit Summary for eligible US employees
[excludes ABB E-mobility, Athens union, Puerto Rico]
Go to MyBenefitsABB.com and click on “Candidate/Guest” to learn more.
Health, Life & Disability
- Choice between two medical plan options: A PPO plan called the Copay Plan OR a High Deductible Health Plan (with a Health Savings Account) called the High Deductible Plan.
- Choice between two dental plan options: Core and Core Plus.
- Vision benefit.
- Company paid life insurance (2X base pay).
- Company paid AD&D (1X base pay).
- Voluntary life and AD&D – 100% employee paid up to maximums.
- Short Term Disability – up to 26 weeks – Company paid.
- Long Term Disability – 60% of pay – Company paid. Ability to “buy-up” to 66 2/3% of pay.
- Supplemental benefits – 100% employee paid (Accident insurance, hospital indemnity, critical illness, pet insurance).
- Paid Parental Leave.
- Employee Assistance Program.
- Health Advocate support resources for mental/behavioral health, general health navigation and virtual health, and infertility/adoption.
- Employee discount program.
Retirement
- 401k Savings Plan with Company Contributions.
- Employee Stock Acquisition Plan (ESAP).
Time off
ABB provides 11 paid holidays. Salaried exempt positions are provided vacation under a permissive time away policy.
Building a cleaner, smarter future takes all kinds of minds: the curious, the courageous, and the creative. That's why we welcome people from all backgrounds and experiences.
Ready to make an impact?
Apply today or visit https://www.abb.com to learn more about the impact of our solutions across the globe.
At ABB, we help industries run leaner and cleaner—and every person here makes that happen. You’ll be empowered to lead, supported to grow, and proud of the impact we create together. Join us and help run what runs the world.
This position reports to:
Procurement & Purchasing Manager
In this role you will lead sourcing and procurement activities for electronics commodities supporting ABB’s Bartlesville Analytical manufacturing operations. This role will develop and execute commodity strategies for electronic components, cables, and related products, ensuring suppliers can meet current and future business requirements while optimizing cost, quality, delivery, reliability, and sustainability.
The work model for the role is: Hybrid in Bartlesville, OK. #LI-Hybrid
The successful candidate will partner closely with Engineering, Manufacturing, Planning & Fulfillment, Quality, Logistics, and suppliers to ensure supply continuity, improve supplier performance, identify cost reduction opportunities, and manage supply chain risks.
Your role and responsibilities:
- Develop and execute commodity strategies for electronic components, cables, and related products, aligned with business and procurement objectives.
- Lead strategic sourcing activities, including RFQs, supplier evaluations, negotiations, contract management, and market analysis.
- Manage supplier relationships and performance, driving improvements in cost, quality, delivery, responsiveness, capacity, and reliability.
- Identify and mitigate supply risks, including capacity constraints, long lead times, single-source suppliers, raw material availability, and geopolitical risks, while developing appropriate contingency plans.
- Drive cost optimization through competitive sourcing, negotiations, value engineering, should-cost analysis, and supplier productivity initiatives.
- Partner cross-functionally with Engineering, Manufacturing, Planning & Fulfillment, Quality, Logistics, and Operations to resolve supply issues and support business requirements.
- Support engineering changes, product transfers, supplier changes, and product lifecycle management to ensure continuity of supply.
- Drive supplier development and continuous improvement initiatives while ensuring compliance with ABB procurement policies, contracts, and applicable regulations.
Qualifications for the role:
Required
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Supply Chain, Operations Management, Business, or a related field.
- 8+ years of progressive experience in strategic sourcing, procurement, commodity management, or supply chain within a manufacturing or industrial environment.
- Demonstrated experience sourcing PCBA, electronic components, cables, or similar electronic/technical commodities.
- Proven experience with supplier negotiations, supplier relationship management, cost reduction, and supplier performance improvement.
- Strong analytical, negotiation, project management, and stakeholder management skills.
- Experience using SAP and Microsoft Excel.
- Candidates must already have work authorization that would permit them to work for ABB in the US permanently.
Preferred
- Experience reading and interpreting engineering drawings, technical specifications, and Bills of Materials (BOMs), with a strong understanding of manufacturing processes.
- Experience working in a global, highly engineered manufacturing environment and managing complex or international supply chains.
What's in it for you
We empower you to take initiative, challenge ideas, and lead with confidence. You’ll grow through meaningful work, continuous learning, and support that’s tailored to your goals. Every idea you share and every action you take contributes to something bigger.
ABB is an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer for protected Veterans and Individuals with Disabilities at ABB.
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to their sex (gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation), marital status, citizenship, age, race and ethnicity, inclusive of traits historically associated with race or ethnicity, including but not limited to hair texture and protective hairstyles, color, religious creed, national origin, pregnancy, physical or mental disability, genetic information, protected Veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal and state law.
For more information regarding your (EEO) rights as an applicant, please visit the following websites: https://www.eeoc.gov/sites/default/files/2023-06/22-088_EEOC_KnowYourRights6.12ScreenRdr.pdf
As an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer for Protected Veterans and Individuals with Disabilities, applicants may request to review the plan of a particular ABB facility between the hours of 9:00 A.M. - 5:00 P.M. EST Monday through Friday by contacting an ABB HR Representative at 1-888-694-7762.
Protected Veterans and Individuals with Disabilities may request a reasonable accommodation if you are unable or limited in your ability to use or access ABB's career site as a result of your disability. You may request reasonable accommodations by calling an ABB HR Representative at 1-888-694-7762 or by sending an email to US-AskHR@abb.com. Resumes and applications will not be accepted in this manner.
ABB Benefit Summary for eligible US employees
[excludes ABB E-mobility, Athens union, Puerto Rico]
Go to MyBenefitsABB.com and click on “Candidate/Guest” to learn more.
Health, Life & Disability
- Choice between two medical plan options: A PPO plan called the Copay Plan OR a High Deductible Health Plan (with a Health Savings Account) called the High Deductible Plan.
- Choice between two dental plan options: Core and Core Plus.
- Vision benefit.
- Company paid life insurance (2X base pay).
- Company paid AD&D (1X base pay).
- Voluntary life and AD&D – 100% employee paid up to maximums.
- Short Term Disability – up to 26 weeks – Company paid.
- Long Term Disability – 60% of pay – Company paid. Ability to “buy-up” to 66 2/3% of pay.
- Supplemental benefits – 100% employee paid (Accident insurance, hospital indemnity, critical illness, pet insurance).
- Paid Parental Leave.
- Employee Assistance Program.
- Health Advocate support resources for mental/behavioral health, general health navigation and virtual health, and infertility/adoption.
- Employee discount program.
Retirement
- 401k Savings Plan with Company Contributions.
- Employee Stock Acquisition Plan (ESAP).
Time off
ABB provides 11 paid holidays. Salaried exempt positions are provided vacation under a permissive time away policy.
Building a cleaner, smarter future takes all kinds of minds: the curious, the courageous, and the creative. That's why we welcome people from all backgrounds and experiences.
Ready to make an impact?
Apply today or visit https://www.abb.com to learn more about the impact of our solutions across the globe.
See all 49+ H-1B Visa Category Specialist Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new H-1B Visa Category Specialist Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding H-1B Visa Sponsorship as a Category Specialist
Align your degree to sourcing duties
USCIS scrutinizes whether your specific degree field directly supports the role's duties. Frame your supply chain, business, or economics degree against the analytical and strategic sourcing responsibilities in your offer letter, not just the job title.
Use OFLC Wage Search before negotiating
Your employer must certify your salary meets the prevailing wage for the specific SOC code and worksite location. Run the OFLC Wage Search for the Category Specialist occupation code in your city before you receive an offer, so you know the floor.
Find sponsors through Migrate Mate
Target employers with verified H-1B LCA filing history in procurement and sourcing roles. Migrate Mate lists those employers by role and location so you're not guessing which companies actually file for Category Specialist positions.
Confirm each worksite gets its own LCA
If the role involves working across multiple supplier or distribution sites, each distinct worksite requires a separately certified LCA. Flag this early with your employer's HR or legal team, a single LCA doesn't cover unlisted locations, and working there without certification creates compliance risk.
Check the O*NET profile before your petition
The O*NET occupation profile for purchasing and category management roles documents the analytical and degree-level tasks USCIS expects to see. Use it to ensure your job description reflects those duties, reducing the chance of a Request for Evidence on specialty occupation.
File during your 60-day grace period strategically
If you're transitioning from another employer, your 60-day grace period starts the day your previous H-1B job ends. Your new employer must file a cap-exempt transfer petition before that window closes, timing the offer and petition filing is critical, not just the start date.
H-1B Visa Category Specialist: Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Category Specialist role qualify as an H-1B specialty occupation?
Yes, when the position is built around degree-level duties in supply chain management, strategic sourcing, or procurement analytics. USCIS requires that the role normally requires at least a bachelor's degree in a directly related field. Employers who structure the job description around quantitative analysis, vendor contract management, and category strategy, rather than general purchasing tasks, consistently support successful H-1B petitions for this title.
Which degree fields support an H-1B petition for Category Specialist roles?
Supply chain management, business administration, economics, finance, and industrial engineering are the most defensible fields because they align directly with the analytical and strategic duties USCIS expects. A general business degree can work if your coursework included procurement or operations coursework. Degrees in unrelated fields face a higher risk of a Request for Evidence, so your petition should explicitly map your coursework to the role's core responsibilities.
How do I find employers who actively sponsor H-1B visas for Category Specialist positions?
Migrate Mate shows employers with verified H-1B LCA filing history for procurement and sourcing roles, searchable by city and role type. DOL's public LCA disclosure data confirms which companies have certified positions at this title, so you can prioritize outreach to employers who have already navigated the filing process for similar roles rather than starting from scratch with companies that may never have done it before.
Can my H-1B cover Category Specialist work at multiple supplier sites or warehouses?
No. Each worksite where you'll perform work for a material portion of the year requires its own certified Labor Condition Application. If your role involves rotating across distribution centers or supplier facilities in different metro areas, your employer must file a separate LCA for each location before you work there. Confirm this with your employer's immigration counsel when you receive your offer, not after you start.
How long does H-1B status last for a Category Specialist role?
H-1B status is initially granted for up to three years and can be extended to a maximum of six years. Extensions beyond six years are possible only if you're on an approved immigrant visa petition or have a pending PERM labor certification that has been filed for at least 365 days. If you're planning to stay longer term, talk to your employer about starting the PERM process well before you approach the six-year cap.