Category Manager, Strategic Procurement - Corporate Services

We’re empowered by a vast agent network covering North America, with diversity to match. Together with our nonprofit research institute and foundation, we tune in, step up, and are a force for good — for our customers and the communities where we live, work, and play. United in our purpose, we help people create the financial freedom to live life on their terms.

Transamerica is organized into three distinct businesses. These include
1) World Financial Group, including Transamerica Financial Advisors,
2) Protection Solutions and Savings & Investments, comprised of life insurance, annuities, employee benefits, retirement plans, and Transamerica Investment Solutions, and
3) Financial Assets, which includes legacy blocks of long term care, universal life, and variable and fixed annuities. These are supported by Transamerica Corporate, which includes Finance, People and Places, General Counsel, Risk, Internal Audit, Strategy and Development, and Corporate Affairs, which covers Communications, Brand, and Government and Policy Affairs.
* Serve as the primary procurement point of contact for assigned business stakeholders and categories, translating business goals and risk appetite into contracting strategies and decision frameworks
* Provide guidance to fellow team members on negotiation tactics, contracting best practices and category trends.
* Provide valued insight of the external marketplace dynamics, trends, spend analysis, and benchmarks to inform decision- makers and create category strategies for acquisition of performance and outcome-based contracts.
* Optimize category value through strategies such as supplier stratification, supply base rationalization, supply chain business continuity, category or strategy roadmap/supplier alignment, supplier-driven innovation/value creation, directed buys, and competitive bidding.
* Lead and coordinate procurement of assigned categories managing the entire lifecycle from strategy through execution, including RFx solicitation, bid evaluation, and supplier negotiations.
* Communicate professionally with internal stakeholders and external suppliers at all levels from operational through executive as the "face of procurement."
* Act as a trusted advisor to business stakeholders for all procurement decisions related to the category.
* Maintain current knowledge of the supplier marketplace, emerging technologies, diverse suppliers, regulatory changes, pricing trends, and other relevant market dynamics.
* Assure year-over-year supplier productivity improvements via contractual process improvement, automation, and innovation investments.
* Deploy successful engagement model with suppliers, partnering with VMO, Legal, and business stakeholders
* Negotiate contracts, and contract change orders.
* Assure continuous improvement of category process, strategies, data sources, tools, and metrics.
* Bachelor’s degree in business administration, supply chain management or a related field, or equivalent experience
* Minimum 3 years of experience in category management, procurement, strategic sourcing, supplier management, and contract management
* Knowledge of supplier identification, evaluation, and selection skills
* Understanding of supplier management, procurement, and category management best practices and industry trends for assigned categories.
* Excellent negotiation skills with the ability to build good rapport with suppliers, while keeping the company’s interests in mind
* Strong written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills requiring a balance of assertiveness, tact and diplomacy
* Ability to work effectively and cultivate relationships across all levels of the organization and external parties
* Ability to work effectively with teams across geographic locations and time zones
* Ability to manage ambiguous situations and drive towards clarification
* Analytical and problem-solving skills, and attention to detail
* Ability to work under pressure, set priorities, and meet deadlines in a rapid-paced environment
* Self-motivated and the ability to manage multiple projects and support activities within a single job function
* Procurement experience managing Corporate…