Category Manager, Procurement

** Company :*
* Highmark Health

** Job Description :*
* ** JOB SUMMARY*
* The Category Manager is responsible for developing, implementing, and managing category strategies for assigned spend areas, with a significant emphasis on professional services. This role drives value through strategic sourcing, expert negotiation, and robust supplier relationship management. The Category Manager is expected to apply practical, scenario-based skills in areas such as intake shaping, market approach selection, negotiation planning & execution, and contract performance enablement, acting as a value-added partner to internal stakeholders, driving measurable outcomes, and actively contributing to critical procurement artifacts.

** ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES*
* +  
** Category Strategy & Management:*
* + Develop and implement data-driven category strategies for assigned spend, especially professional services (e.g., consulting, managed services), leveraging market intelligence and internal needs.

+ Conduct spend analysis, market research, and competitive intelligence to identify sourcing opportunities and optimize categories.

+ Apply Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) principles and should-cost analysis to evaluate sourcing decisions, producing relevant models and worksheets.

+ Contribute to supplier rationalization/diversification strategies aligned with Highmark's risk profile & continuity objectives.

+ Identify and integrate innovation, AI-driven solutions, digital transformation, and sustainable practices into strategies to maximize long-term outcomes.

+ Champion the integration of supplier diversity initiatives into category strategies and supplier selection processes.

+ Accountable for delivering validated financial impact aligned to enterprise savings, cost avoidance, and margin improvement in partnership with Finance.

+ Continuously benchmark supplier, pricing, and category strategies against external market data and industry standards to ensure competitiveness

+  
** Strategic Sourcing & Negotiation Expertise:*
* + Lead end-to-end strategic sourcing, including intake shaping, RFx development, rigorous supplier evaluation, and optimal selection.

+ Develop and execute effective negotiation strategies, including detailed pre-negotiation planning (objectives, walk-away, concessions, stakeholder alignment).

+ Master services negotiation mechanics (e.g., rate cards, labor mix optimization, T&M vs. milestone, change control, total cost value optimization).

+ Manage contract lifecycle in Icertis from drafting to execution, ensuring compliance, favorable terms, and effective SOW/SLA drafting aligned to desired outcomes to mitigate pitfalls & protect Highmark's interests.

+ Leverage procurement tools (Coupa e-sourcing, Fair market) for sourcing optimization and market approach decisioning.

+ Conduct pre-award risk assessments, integrating stakeholder insights and data to mitigate contractual and operational risks.

+ Holds decision authority on sourcing strategy, supplier selection, and commercial approach within defined financial and risk thresholds.

+  
** Supplier Performance & Relationship Management:*
* + Nurture strong, strategic, and collaborative relationships with key suppliers to foster innovation and continuous improvement.

+ Stakeholder Management & Business Partnership:

+ Cultivate strong, collaborative relationships with internal business partners across departments.

+ Proactively engage stakeholders to understand needs, clarify complex requirements (intake shaping), and build consensus.

+ Act as a trusted advisor, offering insights and recommendations to optimize spend and enhance value.

+ Practice effective negotiation outcome delivery, emphasizing common ground and relationship building.

+ Translate complex business requirements into actionable & innovative procurement strategies.

+ Effectively manage conflicts with internal stakeholders and suppliers, seeking mutually beneficial resolutions.

+ Partner with business and Finance stakeholders to review and optimize spend requests, ensuring investments are necessary, appropriately scoped, and aligned to business priorities before sourcing.

+  
** Process & Technology Optimization:*
* + Ensure consistent application of procurement policies, procedures, and best practices.

+ Leverage and optimize procurement technology (Oracle, Coupa, Archer, Icertis, Sievo) for efficiency and data-driven decision-making.

+ Consistently produce and utilize critical procurement artifacts (e.g., detailed negotiation plans, SOW/SLA…