IT Sourcing Category Manager

Key Responsibilities

Category Strategy & Sourcing

• Develop and execute multi‑year IT category strategies aligned to business and technology objectives (software, SaaS, cloud, infrastructure, telecom, IT services, etc.).
• Lead strategic sourcing events (RFPs, RFQs, and negotiations) for IT solutions, ensuring competitive pricing, clear scope, and measurable outcomes. 
• Evaluate market trends, licensing models, and emerging technologies to make informed sourcing decisions.

Supplier & Contract Management

• Manage strategic IT supplier relationships, including MSPs, system integrators, software publishers, and hardware providers. 
• Negotiate commercial terms, SLAs, service credits, renewal structures, and risk protections in coordination with Legal and IT stakeholders.
• Drive contract standardization, renewal governance, and supplier performance reviews.

Stakeholder Partnership

• Act as the primary procurement partner to IT leadership, translating technical requirements into sourcing and contracting strategies.  
• Collaborate with Finance on budgeting, forecasting, cost transparency, and savings validation.
• Support IT project initiatives by ensuring sourcing timelines align with delivery milestones.

Financial & Risk Management

• Deliver measurable cost savings, cost avoidance, and value creation across the IT portfolio.
• Identify and mitigate vendor, data security, compliance, and continuity risks within IT contracts.
• Ensure adherence to procurement policies, approval thresholds, and audit requirements. 

Process & Continuous Improvement

• Improve IT sourcing processes, tools, and reporting to increase efficiency, visibility, and compliance. 
• Provide guidance and mentorship to buyers and supply coordinators supporting IT spend.
• Support automation and analytics initiatives (e.g., spend analysis, sourcing pipeline tracking).

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Business, Information Systems, or related field.
• 7+ years of strategic sourcing or category management experience, with a strong focus on IT spend.
• Proven experience negotiating complex IT contracts (software licensing, SaaS, cloud, managed services).
• Strong stakeholder management skills with the ability to influence technical and executive audiences.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to collect, organize, analyze, and interpret complex data accurately.
• Financial acumen with experience in tracking actual spend against approved budgets. 
• Highly organized and detail‑oriented; able to manage multiple requests in a fast‑paced environment.
• Experience working within ERP / procurement platforms and sourcing tools.

Success Metrics

• IT cost savings and cost avoidance
• Contract compliance and risk reduction
• Supplier performance and service quality
• Stakeholder satisfaction and sourcing cycle time
• Alignment to IT and enterprise strategy

Physical Job Requirements 
(The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.)

General office environment; may be required to travel as much as twice per quarter or more. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to sit (remain stationary within work area) and use hands to finger, handle, feel and reach. The employee is occasionally required to move about (stand, walk). The employee must occasionally lift and/or transport up to 10 pounds.

The above job description is intended to describe the general content of and requirements for the performance of this job. It is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities or requirements.

Work Environment 
General office environment. Expected to be punctual and in the office when not traveling on business. Tactical functions of the job can be performed remotely and periodic remote working days will be considered.

·         Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Business, Information Systems, or related field.

·         7+ years of strategic sourcing or category management experience, with a strong focus on IT spend.

·         Proven experience negotiating complex IT contracts (software licensing, SaaS, cloud, managed services).

·         Strong stakeholder management skills with the ability to influence technical and executive audiences.

·         Strong analytical skills with the ability to collect, organize, analyze, and interpret complex data accurately.

·         Financial acumen with experience in tracking actual spend against approved budgets.

·         Highly organized and detail‑oriented; able to manage multiple requests in a fast‑paced environment.

·         Experience working within ERP / procurement platforms and sourcing tools.

• IT cost savings and cost avoidance
• Contract compliance and risk reduction
• Supplier performance and service quality
• Stakeholder satisfaction and sourcing cycle time
• Alignment to IT and enterprise strategy