Category Manager – IT HW, SW, Telecom

A Category Manager for IT Hardware, Software, and Telecommunications develops and executes enterprise category strategies that optimize value, manage risk, and enable business growth through data-driven decision-making, digital procurement capabilities, and strategic supplier partnerships. Working collaboratively across Procurement COE, Information Technology, Information Security, Enterprise Architecture, Finance, Legal, and business stakeholders, the role leverages analytics, market intelligence, and modern procurement technologies to deliver measurable business outcomes, technology innovation, and continuous improvement across hardware, software, telecommunications, cloud, and related technology categories.

• Develop and execute multi-year category strategies for Information Technology hardware, software, telecommunications, cloud, and related technology categories aligned with enterprise objectives, balancing cost optimization, innovation, risk management, and business growth.
• Utilize enterprise procurement platforms, spend analytics, AI-enabled procurement capabilities, technology market intelligence, and digital procurement tools to develop data-driven category strategies and improve procurement decision-making.
• Leverage spend analytics, technology market trends, licensing models, demand forecasting, supplier benchmarking, and total cost of ownership analyses to identify sourcing opportunities.
• Evaluate emerging technologies, supplier capabilities, commercial models, and market developments to continuously improve category performance.
• Monitor category performance through financial, operational, supplier, contract, and technology performance KPIs.

• Lead end-to-end strategic sourcing initiatives in partnership with the Procurement COE and Strategic Sourcing Specialists, including market analysis, RFx development, supplier evaluation, commercial negotiations, and contract award.
• Develop sourcing strategies that balance commercial value, technical requirements, cybersecurity, supplier capabilities, operational performance, and enterprise risk.
• Lead cross-functional sourcing teams including Information Technology, Enterprise Architecture, Information Security, Finance, Legal, Compliance, and business stakeholders.
• Negotiate commercial agreements for software licensing, hardware procurement, telecommunications, cloud services, maintenance agreements, and related technology solutions that maximize enterprise value while managing financial, legal, operational, and technology risk.
• Ensure contracts support measurable business outcomes, supplier accountability, technology lifecycle management, and ongoing supplier performance.

• Develop strategic partnerships with technology suppliers that drive innovation, operational excellence, and continuous value creation.
• Foster supplier innovation by identifying opportunities for emerging technologies, automation, cloud optimization, digital capabilities, and technology modernization.
• Lead supplier performance reviews using data-driven scorecards, service levels, operational KPIs, contract performance, and business outcomes.
• Develop supplier improvement plans and corrective action initiatives where performance expectations are not achieved.
• Collaborate with Information Technology stakeholders and suppliers to continuously improve technology performance, service delivery, and user experience.

• Serve as the trusted procurement advisor for Information Technology and business stakeholders, aligning procurement strategies with enterprise technology priorities.
• Partner with…