Category Lead (IT Procurement)

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES:
Duties and Responsibilities

Lead Stakeholder Engagement and Sourcing Initiatives:
* Collaborates with business stakeholders and procurement management to determine sourcing category strategy.
* Responsible for working with business stakeholders and procurement management to frame and develop project objectives, requirements, and sourcing strategy prior to supplier engagement.
* Drafts and leads the applicable sourcing process through scoring and completion (e.g. RFx, sole source, etc.).
* Acts as primary contact with potential suppliers during the RFx, selection, and negotiation process.
* Leads supplier negotiations throughout RFx and contracting process to achieve optimal savings, value, and risk profile.

Negotiate and Draft Contracts:
* Implements the sourcing strategy and negotiation and redlining process with the supplier to draft contracts that accurately capture business, technical, and legal requirements (including contractual and purchase order documentation).
* Acts as liaison with business owner and supplier during negotiations.
* Works closely with legal and risk groups to ensure consistent communication and socialization of significant legal and risk issues throughout the negotiation process.
* Interacts routinely with legal and business owner to resolve issues.
* Responsible for the preparation and submission of documentation for consent from the Federal Government (as applicable).
* Ensures and adheres to corporate purchasing policy directives and Federal Government regulations.
* Ensures compliance with contractual requirements for Federal Employee Program and other state and local contracts specifically related to MBE/WBE requirements and reporting.
* Consolidates requirements and coordinates with management to determine the most suitable method of purchase such as spot purchase orders, contracts, blanket orders and supplier stocking arrangements.

Supplier Management:
* Ensures procurement process is followed and all documentation is complete and accessible in the Ariba source to pay system.
* Analyzes and compares service and/or product offerings and specifications, investigates future renewal requirements and options, and resolves contract and invoice discrepancies.
* Manages existing contracts to anticipate and prepare for ongoing renewals.
* Provides other services related to the sourcing, contracting, and supplier management function as required.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:
Required: This position requires a Bachelors degree or equivalent experience; and four (4) to six (6) years experience in a relevant functional assignment (e.g. Professional Services, Facilities, HR, Marketing, IT, IT Services, or other applicable procurement focus area).
* Extensive experience in managing the end to end sourcing process from requirements gathering through RFx and contracting.
* Robust pricing and contractual negotiations with suppliers.
* Effective presentation and influencing skills to interface with multiple levels of management.
* Experience in analyzing pricing and determining price reasonableness.
* Proven experience with key category suppliers.

Skills and Abilities:
* Excellent project and time management skills including but not limited to risk assessment, workplan development and management.
* Developed analytical, organizational and coordination skills.
* Able to apply complex problem-solving abilities to achieve problem ad process solutions.
* Ability to spot, communicate and mitigate issues.
* Flexibility and ability to work independently as well as part of a team.
* Must be able to effectively work in a fast-paced environment with frequently changing priorities, deadlines, and workloads that can be variable for long periods of time.
* Must be able to meet established deadlines and handle multiple customer service demands from internal and external customers, within set expectations for service excellence.
* Must be able to effectively communicate and provide positive customer service to every internal and external customer.

Desirable:
* Experience in the Health Insurance industry.
* Knowledge of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR).
* Knowledge of Ariba or similar procurement automation tools.