Category Management Specialist

Founded in 2007, DTI (Diversified Technology, Inc.) is a successful African American owned IT Consulting/Staffing firm based in Chicago's Loop.

WHAT WE DO:

We focus on providing delivery, staffing, and supported services such as enterprise integration/implementations including, but not limited to, CRM, EAM, ERP, PMO, and QA. We service clients in SLED (state/local gov't & education), financial services, fortune, public utility, as well as regularly partnering with Big 4 SI partners.

Job Title:

Category Lead - Intermediate - VF

Work Authorization: Must be authorized to work in the U.S. on a W2 basis (No C2C)

Employment Type: 12 Months Contract

We are seeking an experienced Category Lead to support strategic sourcing and supplier relationship management initiatives for a leading public utility organization. This role is responsible for leading enterprise sourcing projects, managing supplier relationships, negotiating contracts, analyzing spend data, and partnering with cross-functional stakeholders to deliver measurable business value.

The ideal candidate will possess strong analytical, negotiation, supplier management, and project leadership skills with experience driving sourcing strategies and category performance.

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and relevant work experience
• Experience in strategic sourcing, category management, procurement, or supply chain
• Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams and drive business results
• Strong analytical, financial, and problem-solving skills
• Experience negotiating supplier contracts and commercial agreements
• Ability to build strong stakeholder relationships and influence decision-making
• Excellent communication and presentation skills
• Strong project management and organizational abilities
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment while managing multiple priorities

• Experience managing large supplier agreements
• Experience working within a Shared Services organization
• Utility industry supply chain or procurement experience
• Knowledge of category management methodologies and strategic sourcing best practices

• Lead strategic sourcing initiatives from planning through contract execution
• Develop and execute category management strategies to improve supplier performance and reduce total cost of ownership
• Analyze spend data, market trends, supplier performance, and cost models to identify sourcing opportunities
• Build business cases and present recommendations to leadership and stakeholders
• Lead cross-functional sourcing and category management teams
• Facilitate supplier negotiations, contract renewals, and commercial discussions
• Develop and maintain supplier relationships, including managing critical suppliers and conducting Quarterly Business Reviews (QBRs)
• Monitor supplier performance metrics and implement continuous improvement initiatives
• Collaborate with internal business partners to define sourcing requirements and priorities
• Develop category forecasts, savings targets, and performance improvement plans
• Manage sourcing and category-related projects from initiation through implementation
• Resolve supplier issues and ensure contract compliance
• Drive stakeholder alignment and consensus throughout sourcing initiatives

• Strategic Sourcing
• Category Management
• Contract Negotiation
• Procurement
• Supply Chain
• Spend Analysis
• Cost Modeling
• Project Management
• Stakeholder Management
• Data Analysis
• Cross-functional Leadership
• Microsoft Excel

Pay rate:

Please click on the link below for our company benefits

DTI is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, marital status, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic under Illinois state or federal law. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply, and employment decisions are based solely on merit, qualifications, and business needs.