Category Manager

Category Manager

Location: San Diego, CA (4 days onsite / 1 day WFH)
Schedule: 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Duration: 2-year contract (possible conversion to FTE)
Pay Range: $70–$80/hr

Our client is seeking a Category Manager to join their Purchasing department in San Diego, CA. This role owns a portfolio of cross‑functional spend categories, driving cost reduction strategies, supplier negotiations, and total cost of ownership savings across multiple concurrent sourcing projects. The ideal candidate is a senior contracting contributor with strong RFP and negotiation experience who is comfortable engaging stakeholders across the business, Legal, Risk, and Senior Management.

In this role, you will manage and support a variety of strategic sourcing and category management initiatives within the Purchasing department.

Key responsibilities include:

• Managing portfolio spend and developing cost reduction strategies
• Conducting rigorous market analyses and recommending short- and long‑term sourcing opportunities
• Providing risk/benefit analysis to support sourcing decisions
• Leading and facilitating supplier evaluations, negotiations, and change management efforts
• Managing cost reduction programs and transactional activities to drive total cost of ownership savings and enhanced service levels

• Oversee a portfolio of cross‑functional categories with multiple concurrent projects
• Manage cross‑functional teams to execute category‑specific sourcing strategies, including development of requirements
• Develop market intelligence for the assigned category portfolio, including supplier capabilities, competitive landscape, market trends, and factors impacting cost, price, and availability
• Track and report on category portfolio performance and manage any portfolio modifications
• Develop project plans for relatively complex sourcing projects
• Establish or support the establishment of contracts for strategic purchases and large spot buys when no existing contract is in place
• Develop and sustain processes and procedures for efficient sourcing and procurement
• Partner closely with internal stakeholders and the Manager of Purchasing to identify and achieve category goals

• Senior‑level contracting contributor with experience drafting, negotiating, assembling, and strategizing contracts and RFPs
• Customer‑focused, with the ability to speak and interact with business stakeholders, Legal, Risk, and Senior Management personnel
• Detail‑oriented
• Proficiency in Ariba, or ability to quickly learn the Ariba system
• Demonstrated success leading project teams to achieve quantifiable savings through various sourcing methods
• Strong project management skills and results‑oriented approach
• First‑hand working knowledge of strategic sourcing methodology
• Knowledge of eProcurement and eSourcing systems a plus
• Category content knowledge in Travel, IT, Facilities, and Marketing preferred
• Strong negotiation experience with excellent interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills

• Bachelor's degree required (Business or related field); MBA strongly preferred
• 4–8 years of strategic sourcing or supply chain‑related experience with a major company preferred
• Insurance industry experience preferred;
  Certified Purchasing Manager (CPM) certification a plus
• Level III: 5–8 years of experience