IT Category Manager

Job Title: IT Category Manager
Location: Northbrook, IL 60062
Pay Rate: $50.00 - $53.75/hr
Work Schedule: Monday – Friday (8:00 AM – 5:00 PM)
Contract Status: Contract-to-Hire (FTE Salary conversion up to $130k)

Job Overview

UL Solutions is seeking a strategic IT Category Manager to lead the global procurement portfolio for Enterprise Technology. This is a high-visibility role acting as a trusted advisor to C-suite leadership, responsible for driving multi-year, multi-million-dollar negotiations across SaaS, hardware, and managed services. You will align procurement strategies with the corporate technology roadmap, rationalizing the supplier ecosystem to deliver best-in-class commercial terms while mitigating organizational risk.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Portfolio Leadership: Manage global technology procurement for all enterprise software (SaaS, Cloud, On-premise), hardware, communications platforms, and IT Professional Services.

• Full Lifecycle Sourcing: Lead all aspects of the sourcing process, including RFx development, complex negotiations, and legal agreement execution for new contracts and renewals.

• Supplier Relationship Management: Develop and expand key supplier partnerships; execute review processes and consolidate buying power to simplify the supplier ecosystem.

• Stakeholder Engagement: Build cross-functional partnerships with IT, Finance, Legal, and Cybersecurity to integrate strategic sourcing into the business case development and governance approval phases.

• Process Excellence: Lead key sourcing initiatives to achieve maximum value and implement toolset improvements while ensuring strict adherence to Global Sourcing policies.

• Data-Driven Analysis: Take a hands-on approach to analyzing spend data to identify innovative cost-reduction opportunities and support UL business objectives.

Qualifications & Requirements

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Business, IT, or a related field.

• Experience: * 5 years of experience in IT Sourcing (Software, Hardware, and Professional Services).

  • Preferred Negotiation Experience: Proven track record negotiating with major vendors such as Oracle, Salesforce, Microsoft, and ServiceNow, as well as consulting firms like Infosys and Accenture.

• Communication: Exceptional interpersonal and documentation skills; must be comfortable independently presenting to and influencing C-level executives.

• Technical Skills: * Strong financial analysis capabilities and advanced Excel skills.

  • Deep understanding of standard commercial contracting practices and best-practice sourcing methodologies.

• Problem Solving: Ability to solve complex problems independently and provide innovative solutions with a broad business perspective.

• Certifications (A Plus): CPM, CPSM, or PMP certifications.

What Makes You a Great Fit

• You are an experienced sourcing practitioner with a demonstrated track record of delivering significant, sustainable cost reductions.

• You possess strong process management and organizational skills with extreme attention to detail.

• You are a "follow-through" professional who thrives in a collaborative, fast-paced corporate environment.

Benefits:
Health insurance
Health savings account
Dental insurance
Vision insurance
Flexible spending accounts
Life insurance
Retirement plan

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.

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