Procurement Senior Category Lead - Office of Procurement

Position specifics

Penn State's Office of Central Procurement is searching for a Senior Category Lead who will have University-wide responsibility for creating and driving strategic sourcing and vendor management for the Scientific and Research Category Team.

The Senior Category Lead acts as a strategic business partner providing leadership in the designated category, providing strategic planning and sourcing and other procurement processes such as supplier relationship management, spend performance management, category contract management, internal spend and external market analysis, and category governance for all units/colleges that are active in the assigned category. The Senior Category Lead collaborates with stakeholders on the development and implementation of annual and multi-year category strategies in order to achieve category goals, business strategies, and deliver sustainable category value.

The successful candidate for this position will serve as the subject matter expert within a large, high performance category buying team, including assigning workload, monitoring cycle time, identifying efficiencies and providing status updates to procurement leadership and customers. The Senior Category Lead will also coach and mentor buying team members and provide a support structure for the team to excel.

• Extensive knowledge of category, market, and suppliers to drive value and savings for categories.
• High level of analytical skill to develop and maintain detailed reporting and analysis of proposals and vendor capabilities, negotiations, and supplier selection as well as ability to analyze purchasing data, trends and habits within the category.
• High level of communication skills to create and maintain sustainable partnerships and networks both within and outside of the University to ensure comprehensive strategy planning and implementation. This position communicates at all levels of the University and with external vendors and other stakeholders. These communications often involve significant and complex situations, and the successful candidate must be able to relay this information in a way that is objective and adaptive to the audience.

This position offers a flexible work arrangement that combines remote and on-campus work. Questions related to flexible work should be directed to the hiring manager during the interview process.

A degree in business administration, supply chain, finance, or related field is preferred. Professional certifications such as the CPSM (Certificate in Supply Chain Management) or the CPM (Certified Purchasing Manager) from the Institute for Supply Management Inc. are preferred. Recent experience with purchasing, data analysis, RFXs, negotiation, contracts, legal terms and conditions, and e‑procurement, as well as proficiency in MS Excel, Word, and Outlook is preferred.

• Bachelor’s Degree
• 8+ years of relevant experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience accepted
• Required
  
  Certifications:
  
  None

Employment with the University will require successful completion of background check(s) in accordance with University policies. Penn State does not sponsor or take over sponsorship of a staff employment Visa. Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S.

The salary range for this position, including all possible grades, is $68,200.00 - $.

Penn State provides a competitive benefits package for full‑time employees designed to support both personal and professional well‑being. In addition to comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, employees enjoy robust retirement plans and substantial paid time off which includes holidays, vacation and sick time. One of the standout benefits is the generous 75% tuition discount, available to employees as well as eligible spouses and children.

For more detailed information, please visit our Benefits Page.

Penn State is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. If you are unable to use our online application process due to an impairment or disability, please contact . Penn State is committed to and accountable for advancing equity, respect, and belonging.

We embrace individual uniqueness, as well as a culture of belonging that supports equity initiatives, leverages the educational and institutional benefits of inclusion in society, and provides opportunities for engagement intended to help all members of the community thrive. We value belonging as a core strength and an essential element of the university's teaching, research, and service mission.