Senior Category Manager- Professional Services

Senior Category Manager
- Professional Services

1 day ago Be among the first 25 applicants

At UKG, the work you do matters. The code you ship, the decisions you make, and the care you show a customer all add up to real impact. Today, tens of millions of workers start and end their days with our workforce operating platform. Helping people get paid, grow in their careers, and shape the future of their industries. That’s what we do.

We never stop learning. We never stop challenging the norm. We push for better, and we celebrate the wins along the way. Here, you’ll get flexibility that’s real, benefits you can count on, and a team that succeeds together. Because at UKG, your work matters—and so do you.

The purpose of this role is to lead sourcing and supplier management for the Outside Services category, which includes consulting firms, implementation partners, professional services, and other external service providers. This position is responsible for developing and executing category strategies that maximize value, optimize total cost of ownership, and ensure supplier performance and compliance with UKG standards.

The Senior Category Manager partners closely with key stakeholders across functions—such as Professional Services, Product, IT, HR, and Finance—to identify opportunities for efficiency, manage supplier risk, and drive strategic outcomes in alignment with business objectives.

• Category Leadership:
  Lead the strategic sourcing and supplier management activities for Outside Services, including consulting, advisory, and implementation partners.
• Category Strategy Development:
  Develop and maintain comprehensive category strategies based on market analysis, business needs, and risk assessment. Identify opportunities to consolidate suppliers, leverage scale, and reduce total cost of engagement.
• Stakeholder
  
  Collaboration:
  
  Partner with UKG functional leaders to understand service needs, forecast demand, and ensure alignment on sourcing initiatives. Drive cross‑functional collaboration to balance cost, quality, and delivery expectations.
• Supplier Selection and Negotiation:
  Lead competitive sourcing events, evaluate proposals, negotiate commercial and legal terms, and award contracts that drive best value outcomes for UKG.
• Supplier Relationship Management:
  Manage strategic supplier relationships, conduct quarterly business reviews, and drive continuous improvement in service delivery, innovation, and performance.
• Spend and Performance Analysis:
  Monitor supplier spend, savings, and performance metrics. Provide insights and dashboards to senior leadership highlighting trends, compliance, and value delivery.
• Risk and Compliance:
  Partner with Legal, Security, and Risk functions to ensure supplier compliance with contractual, financial, and regulatory obligations.
• Cost Optimization:
  Develop and track cost‑saving initiatives and productivity improvements within the Outside Services spend category.
• Governance and Best Practices:
  Contribute to the Procurement Center of Excellence by defining sourcing standards, templates, and policies for service‑based categories.
• Team Leadership:
  Select, coach, train, and develop team members. Conduct performance reviews and mentor procurement fundamentals.

• Education:
  
  Bachelor's Degree in Supply Chain, Business, Finance, or a related field.
• Experience:
  
  Minimum of 8+ years of progressive experience in procurement or strategic sourcing, with at least 5 years focused on professional services, consulting, or other service‑based categories.
• Proven success in developing and executing sourcing strategies for external service providers, including consulting, implementation, and professional service firms.
• Experience leading large‑scale procurement initiatives, managing supplier relationships, and negotiating high‑value contracts.
• Strong understanding of cost drivers and market dynamics related to professional services, labor‑based engagements, and statement of work (SOW) management.
• Demonstrated ability to influence cross‑functional stakeholders and drive alignment between Procurement, Legal, and business units.
• Advanced…