Category Manager

Overview

Job Summary:

The Category Manager is primarily responsible for strategically sourcing new and existing vendors, negotiating and administering contracts with vendors with varying degrees of complexity and/or sensitivity, ensuring that cost, quality, and delivery terms are adhered to and met. This Category Manager will be a key resource for all procurement and purchasing issues related to Front Office Technologies including Recruiting and Interviewing Tools, various software applications including Job Boards and Job Tracking, and Professional Services. This role is accountable for providing procurement leadership with a strong focus in these categories that are driven directly by Allegis Group Operating Companies (OpCos).  We are seeking a professional with strong experience in Sourcing, supplier negotiations, and data gathering in support of the OpCos' technology and services needs.  A key aspect of the role is building collaborative relationships with internal business partners, as well as strategic relationships with suppliers.  International experience within this category is desired.  This role is also responsible for building a relationship with operating company contacts and internal departments, developing category plans and presenting strategies on a regular basis, reviewing purchase requisitions, ensuring appropriate authorization and adequate documentation from key members within the organization. The Category Manager will be selecting and conferring with vendors to obtain products and service information including price, product availability, and delivery schedules; coordinate with the representatives from vendor companies and internally to construct, negotiate, and assess all category contracts and services.  This role reports to the Sourcing Manager in Procurement.

Responsibilities

Essential Functions:

• Deep working and demonstrable knowledge of the IT category (including but not limited to recruiting software and job boards)
• Detailed experience and knowledge of the strategic sourcing process lifecycle
• Develop, coordinate, and implement category procurement sourcing plans that provide maximum value to the business while effectively managing organizational spend
• Engage internal stakeholders globally in order to understand business objectives and desired market related outcomes (10k total internal employees, in over 300 global locations)
• Develop and maintain relationships with key stakeholders, leadership, and Executives, and influence decisions to align with good procurement practices
• Lead procurement projects including negotiation of contracts & commercial terms consistent with maximizing business value for the company as a whole
• Understand and apply principles of information security, data protection, and privacy concerns with a global view
• Measure and report value delivered
• Perform in-depth analysis of supply markets and sources from globally capable and competitive suppliers
• Expert level in conducting strategic supplier sourcing activities including RFx, negotiations, contracting, price analyses, and program management to support new strategies
• Oversee complex procurement projects across a variety of geographies and functions
• Research industry benchmarks (pricing, quality, product changes, service levels, trends)
• Responsible for monitoring global supply solutions and expenditures
• Involved in wide ranging planning cycles from short term to multi-year sourcing activities
• Build TCO cost modeling and baseline documentation
• Develop and negotiate vendor SLAs, KPIs and performance metrics
• Ensure that adequate price competition exists, and favorable supply arrangements are met
• Manage customer's expectations through timely feedback and proactive communication
• Recommend and implement cost saving and cost avoidance measures
• Review contract compliance, identify problem situations and recommend corrective measures
• Identify risk situations and coordinate solutions with management
• Develop relationships with other business units and understand their business plans
• Maintain vendors and contract files in our internal vendor database
• Responsible for using independent judgment and making decisions that require a great degree of creative, analytical, and problem-solving ability
• Develop and maintain metrics of vendor performance for use in placement of repeat or new business
• Negotiate and support SLA agreements with new and existing vendors to ensure expected performance levels are maintained

Qualifications

Minimum Education and/or Experience:

• BS in supply chain/purchasing, BA in business-related field, or equivalent substantive experience
• At least 4-6 years in procurement or strategic sourcing organization
• Extensive complex contract procurement experience. 
• Working with and/or managing cross functional teams

Skills and Abilities:

• Strong negotiation skills
• Excellent organization and customer service skills
• Ability to handle multiple projects and tasks concurrently
• Excellent interpersonal skills (written and verbal) required with the ability to interact with and influence stakeholders at all levels of the organization
• Experience in implementation of processes, policies, and methodologies
• High degree of attention to detail
• Strong analytical skills including advanced use of Excel
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Visio, and related computer skills

Core Competencies:

• Build relationships
• Develop people
• Lead change
• Inspire Others
• Think critically
• Communicate clearly
• Create accountability