Job Summary:

The Category Manager is primarily responsible for strategically sourcing new and existing vendors, negotiating and administering contracts with vendors with varying degrees of complexity and/or sensitivity, ensuring that cost, quality, and delivery terms are adhered to and met. This Category Manager will be a key resource for all procurement and purchasing issues related to various software applications and Professional Services. This role is accountable for collaborating with various internal departments (such as IT, Information Security, etc) to understand their procurement needs.  We are seeking a professional with strong experience in Sourcing, supplier negotiations, and data gathering.  A key aspect of the role is building collaborative relationships with internal business partners, as well as strategic relationships with suppliers, developing category plans and presenting strategies on a regular basis. The Category Manager will be selecting and conferring with vendors to obtain products and service information including price, product availability, and delivery schedules; coordinate with the representatives from vendor companies and internally to construct, negotiate, and assess all category contracts and services.  This role reports to the Sr. Sourcing Manager in Procurement.

Essential Functions:

• Deep working and demonstrable knowledge of the IT category
• Detailed experience and knowledge of the strategic sourcing process lifecycle
• Develop, coordinate, and implement category procurement sourcing plans that provide maximum value to the business while effectively managing organizational spend
• Engage internal stakeholders in order to understand business objectives and desired market related outcomes (10k+ total internal employees, in over 300 global locations)
• Develop and maintain relationships with key stakeholders, leadership, and Executives, and influence decisions to align with good procurement practices
• Lead procurement projects including negotiation of contracts & commercial terms consistent with maximizing business value for the company as a whole
• Measure and report value delivered
• Perform in-depth analysis of supply markets and sources from globally capable and competitive suppliers
• Expert level in conducting strategic supplier sourcing activities including RFx, negotiations, contracting, price analyses, and program management to support new strategies
• Oversee complex procurement projects across a variety of geographies and functions
• Research industry benchmarks (pricing, quality, product changes, service levels, trends)
• Involved in wide ranging planning cycles from short term to multi-year sourcing activities
• Build TCO cost modeling and baseline documentation
• Develop and negotiate vendor SLAs, KPIs and performance metrics
• Ensure that adequate price competition exists, and favorable supply arrangements are met
• Manage customer's expectations through timely feedback and proactive communication
• Recommend and implement cost saving and cost avoidance measures
• Review contract compliance, identify problem situations and recommend corrective measures
• Identify risk situations and coordinate solutions with management.
• Develop relationships with other business units and understand their business plans
• Maintain vendors and contract files in our internal vendor database
• Responsible for using independent judgment and making decisions that require a great degree of creative, analytical, and problem-solving ability
• Develop and maintain metrics of vendor performance for use in placement of repeat or new business
• Negotiate and support SLA agreements with new and existing vendors to ensure expected performance levels are maintained

• BS in supply chain/purchasing, BA in business-related field, or equivalent substantive experience
• At least 4-6 years in procurement or strategic sourcing organization
• Extensive complex contract procurement experience. 
• Working with and/or managing cross functional teams

Skills and Abilities:

• Strong negotiation skills
• Excellent organization and customer service skills
• Ability to handle multiple projects and tasks concurrently
• Excellent interpersonal skills (written and verbal) required with the ability to interact with and influence stakeholders at all levels of the organization
• Experience in implementation of processes, policies, and methodologies
• High degree of attention to detail
• Strong analytical skills including advanced use of Excel
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Visio, and related computer skills

• Build relationships
• Develop people
• Lead change
• Inspire Others
• Think critically
• Communicate clearly
• Create accountability