Category Manager, IT Software and Services

Description

The company is a large, mission-driven healthcare business with a Fortune 10 ranking, offering insights, products and services that support healthcare access and affordability.

This category manager role leads sourcing and category strategy for enterprise technology spend, covering software, SaaS, cloud, IT professional services, consulting, implementation, managed services and other tech-related services.

You will run the full sourcing lifecycle, from demand planning and market analysis through competitive sourcing, supplier evaluation, negotiation, supplier management and ongoing cost and performance work.

You will work closely with IT, Information Security, Privacy, Legal, Finance and business teams so sourcing decisions match technology roadmaps, business goals, risk requirements and financial targets.

The role suits a strategic, commercially minded procurement professional who can handle complex technology agreements, reduce total cost of ownership, manage third-party risk and build strong relationships with technology leaders and suppliers.

Responsibilities

• Build and carry out category strategies for IT software and technology services.
• Create multi-year sourcing plans and category roadmaps that line up with IT strategy, budgets, projects and upcoming renewals.
• Study spend, the supplier market, market conditions, new technologies and industry trends to find sourcing, consolidation and cost savings opportunities.
• Reduce supplier fragmentation and use the company's combined buying power.
• Track demand and upcoming technology initiatives so you source ahead of need instead of buying reactively.
• Lead full sourcing projects: gather requirements, build RFIs and RFPs, identify suppliers, run competitive bids, evaluate responses, negotiate, recommend awards and handle contracting.
• Lead complex commercial negotiations for software and IT services deals, covering pricing, licensing, service levels, renewal and termination terms, payment terms and other key provisions.
• Compare supplier offers using total cost of ownership.
• Build negotiation plans from market intelligence, competitive benchmarks, supplier leverage and business needs.
• Manage procurement across SaaS and cloud apps, enterprise and licensed software, cloud platforms and infrastructure, data and analytics, cybersecurity, IT professional services, consulting, implementation and integration, managed IT services, application development and support, technical staffing and other tech services.
• Lead drafting and negotiation of MSAs, SOWs, software and SaaS agreements, order forms, SLAs and related technology contracts, working with Legal and business teams to set sound terms.
• Review supplier pricing models, license metrics, resourcing models, rate cards, deliverables, milestones, service levels and acceptance criteria.
• Put commercial protections in place that hold suppliers to performance and keep flexibility as needs change.
• Manage renewals early to cut unneeded spend and avoid unfavorable auto-renewal terms.
• Act as the main sourcing partner to IT and technology leaders.
• Work with stakeholders to understand roadmaps, budgets, project pipelines, business needs and sourcing priorities.
• Coordinate with Information Security, Privacy, Legal, Finance and others through supplier evaluation and contracting.
• Give procurement advice and commercial insight that helps choose suppliers and guide business decisions.
• Run cross-functional sourcing teams with clear timelines, owners and decision criteria.
• Build and maintain strong strategic relationships with key technology suppliers.
• Run supplier business reviews and track contract commitments, service levels, pricing and overall performance.
• Find chances to consolidate, renegotiate, innovate and improve suppliers continuously.
• Handle supplier escalations on commercial or contract issues.
• Support supplier segmentation and strategic supplier management work.
• Work with Information Security, Privacy, Legal and others to find and reduce third-party technology risk.
• Make sure cybersecurity, privacy, regulatory and compliance reviews happen during sourcing and contracting.
• Assess risks from software licensing, supplier access to company data, data ownership, audit rights and regulatory duties.
• Keep sourcing and contract records current so procurement governance and audits are supported.
• Identify and deliver measurable savings, cost avoidance, demand management and supplier consolidation.
• Review supplier proposals and pricing structures to raise commercial value.
• Work with Finance to confirm sourcing benefits and financial impact.
• Track category spend, sourcing activity, renewals, savings and other relevant procurement metrics.

Requirements

• A bachelor's degree in Business, Supply Chain Management, Information Systems, Finance or a related field.
• A degree and typically 7+ years of relevant experience.
• 5, 7 years of procurement, strategic sourcing or category management experience, with significant time sourcing enterprise technology.
• Proven experience negotiating complex enterprise software, SaaS and IT services agreements.
• Solid understanding of software licensing, subscription pricing, technology services contracting and supplier commercial models.
• Proven ability to run competitive RFPs and complex supplier negotiations.
• Strong analytical, financial, negotiation and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to influence and work with senior business and technology leaders.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Preferred: a master's degree, MBA or advanced supply chain or procurement education.
• Preferred: CPSM, CSCP, CIPS or a similar procurement or supply chain certification.
• Preferred: experience sourcing technology in a large, complex or highly regulated organization.
• Preferred: familiarity with contract lifecycle management, procurement, spend analytics and supplier management platforms.

Conditions

Base pay range is $109,500 to $182,500 per year, with a 20% MIP target; total compensation is approximately $130,000 to $135,000 with the MIP.

Pay is set by performance, experience and skills, equity, regular market reviews and location, and is compliant with applicable regulations.

Annual bonus or long-term incentive opportunities may also be offered in addition to base pay.

Grade level P4.

The company is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Applications go through the company's career site at the company's site; the company's recruiters never ask for money or card details and do not use personal chat or free email accounts.

Benefits

• Access to the company's Total Rewards package, with details available on request.