Category Manager, Strategic Procurement - Corporate Services

Job Description Summary

Identify and engage with the best suppliers to negotiate optimal contracts that balance speed to market, access to needed capabilities, organizational risk tolerance, cost containment, supplier-driven innovation, etc. Act as a trusted advisor to business stakeholders to deliver value through a comprehensive and ethical sourcing approach that supports business priorities and improves long-term partnerships with stakeholders and suppliers.

• 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 into 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 Services related categories (e.g., IT, Finance, HR, Legal & Compliance, Market Data, Marketing, Public Affairs, Facilities, Risk, Global Insurance, travel, etc.)
• Category Management experience with Market Data Subscription vendors (e.g., Bloomberg, Moody’s, Morningstar, S&P, Refinitiv, Murex, ICAP, etc.)
• MBA, JD, or equivalent combination of advanced education and experience
• Experience working in a Contracting Lifecycle Management System (CLM)
• Certified Sourcing Professional (CSP), Certified Outsourcing Professional (COP), or similar industry certification
• Participation in Sourcing, Procurement, and or Outsourcing Industry Associations such as Sourcing Industry Group (SIG), International Association of Outsourcing Professionals (IAOP), Procurement Foundry, Institute for Supply Management (ISM), or National Contract Management Association (NCMA)
• Global perspective and experience working with diverse customers and suppliers
• Experience managing outsourcing and/or professional services suppliers with global product/service provisioning models
• Experience in the financial services or similar highly regulated industry
• Understanding of outsourcing models, supplier, products and services

• Hybrid (Tuesday - Thursday)
• Occasional Travel