Category Manager, IT Procurement Position Profile

The Manager, Category is responsible for the strategic execution of sourcing and procurement activities across assigned indirect spend categories, including professional services, IT, marketing, facilities, and travel. . The category Manager leads end-to-end procurement activities, including market analysis, supplier selection, contract negotiation, and performance management, ensuring alignment with business objectives and IT infrastructure requirements. This role partners with business units to align procurement strategies with organizational goals, drive cost savings, foster supplier innovation, and mitigate risk while ensuring quality and service standards.

Job Duties and Responsibilities Strategic Sourcing & Category Management

Develop and implement category strategies aligned with business objectives. Conduct market analysis and supplier benchmarking to identify sourcing opportunities. Lead RFPs, RFIs, and contract negotiations for assigned categories. Monitor contract repository and support renewals or terminations.

Supplier Relationship Management

Build and maintain strong relationships with strategtic suppliers. Monitor supplier performance and ensure compliance with contractual obligations. Drive continuous improvement and innovation through supplier collaboration. Ensure suppliers maintain compliance with relevant industry certifications and standards, proactively addressing gaps identified during review cycles.  Lead supplier risk assessments and develop mitigation strategies for critical IT and technology vendors. Lead quarterly vendor reviews, utilizing comprehensive scorecards to assess supplier performance and gather structured business feedback from internal stakeholders.

Stakeholder Engagement

Partner with internal stakeholders to understand business needs and ensure alignment. Provide guidance on procurement best practices and policy compliance. Serve as a trusted advisor to senior leadership and business units, providing expert guidance on sourcing decisions, supplier selection and risk management. Identify and assess opportunities, develop business cases, and present  Identify and assess opportunities, develop business cases, and present recommendations to leadership.

Cost Management & Value Delivery

Identify and deliver significant cost-saving opportunities, leveraging advanced analytics and total cost of ownership (TCO). TCO is essential in sourcing decisions. Track and report on category performance, savings, and risk mitigation. Ensure total cost of ownership (TCO) is considered in sourcing decisions.

Risk & Compliance

Ensure procurement activities comply with company policies and regulatory requirement and industry best Practices. Lead proactive supply chain risk management, including supplier diversification and contingency planning for assigned categories. Champion supplier development and sustainability initiatives. Mitigate supply chain risks through proactive planning and supplier diversification.

Education & Experience

Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Supply Chain Management, or related discipline.(e.g., CPSM, CIPS) preferred. 5+ years of professional experience in strategic sourcing, contract negotiation, pricing analysis, or commodity management. 5+ years of experience in IT-related procurement or technology sourcing for category manager assigned to IT or technology categories. 

Skills & Competencies

Strong negotiation, analytical, and project management skills. Proficiency in procurement tools and systems (e.g., SAP Ariba, Coupa). Excellent communication and stakeholder management abilities. Results-oriented, with a relentless focus on value creation, innovation, and continuous improvement. Experience in a matrixed or global organization is a plus. Strategic thinking and commercial acumen. Results-oriented with a focus on value creation. Ability to influence across functions and levels. Comfortable working in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Expert knowledge of sourcing, supplier management, market analysis, bid evaluation, and contract negotiations. Demonstrated ability to manage categories and business relationships to create value and minimize risk. Expert knowledge of sourcing activities including market analysis, RFP development, bid evaluation, and contract negotiations. Understanding of Supply Chain, Purchasing, Supplier Diversity, and Strategic Sourcing functions including Procure-to-Pay, and Procurement best  Practices. Advanced problem-solving skills and a track record of driving change in dynamic, fast-paced environments. Ability to perform complex financial analysis of supplier data and organizational spend. Strong problem-solving skills and ability to drive change. Excellent verbal, written, and presentation skills. Planning and organizational skills to manage multiple projects simultaneously. Advanced negotiating and influencing skills. Customer service orientation with the ability to build productive relationships with internal stakeholders.