Category Managers- IT/ Professional Services

My client in the San Francisco Bay area has immediate openings for Professional Services Category Managers. Salaries range from $125K to $170K depending on experience Bonus incentive. Paid pension, 401K match and full medical benefits. This position is remote initially but will require 3 days onsite at the East Bay office.

The department collaborates with internal clients and suppliers to develop mutually beneficial total cost solutions for goods and services. The department provides the following services to internal clients: procurement of goods and services, strategic sourcing and cost savings, contract management, supplier relationship management, supplier diversity planning, execution and outreach, compliance management, ongoing procurement field support and management of the procure to pay cycle.

Position Summary

The Expert Category Lead position develops and manages one or more sourcing spend categories and is responsible for effective contract management of all Tier 1 contracts associated with the categories.

Position develops strategic category plans to optimize cost savings, service excellence, diversity spend and total cost of ownership for the categories. He or she will effectively influence LOBs, including senior leadership, to achieve understanding, acceptance, and commitment of sourcing strategies.

This position works with the Line of Business to develop, source, and negotiate major contracts. He or she plays a key role in the Supplier Relationship Management and Scorecard process. Successful candidates will be required to sign non-disclosure agreement and complete compliance and ethics

You will lead strategic category planning, supplier negotiations, and contract management to drive value, resilience, and sustainability across the supply chain. Partnering with and influencing key internal stakeholders and leveraging market intelligence, you will develop and execute category strategies that align with business objectives, regulatory requirements, and industry best practices.

Job Responsibilities

· Develops and implements category plans and sourcing strategies for medium complexity categories that optimize cost, mitigate risk, and ensure supply continuity.

· Leads competitive bidding processes including RFPs, RFIs, and negotiations to secure best-value agreements.

· Negotiates, drafts, and manages contracts to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements, corporate policies, and industry standards.

· Develops and sustains mutually beneficial strategic relationships with category suppliers, conducting regular performance reviews, fostering collaboration on innovation and continuous improvement, and ensuring alignment with the company’s safety, reliability, and sustainability goals.

· Partners with and influences cross-functional stakeholders and teams in developing sourcing and negotiation strategies for medium complexity spend categories

· Maintains awareness of industry and market trends, supplier landscapes, and regulatory changes to drive informed decision-making and strategic sourcing initiatives.

· Conducts and documents market research and supplier risk analysis to verify the financial health of existing and potential suppliers.

Qualifications

· Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, Supply Chain Management or job-related discipline OR equivalent experience.

4 - 10 years of experience in strategic sourcing strategy for IT Enterprise and/or Professional Services , Consultants, Contingent Labor, etc.

· Proven ability to lead high-value negotiations, develop contract structures, and drive favorable outcomes

· Strong analytical skills with experience leveraging spend analytics, cost modeling, and digital procurement tools to optimize category strategies

· MS Office Suite and SAP, Ariba or similar software