IT Category Manager

The Sr. Manager or Manager, Global Strategic Sourcing, IT is responsible for cross-brand procurement and strategic sourcing activities for information technology products and services, including Hardware, Software, Telecommunication Services, and Professional Services. This role involves daily collaboration with technology vendors and IT professionals across all operating companies to build holistic, high-value procurement solutions., * Sourcing Portfolio Management (20%): Manage and strategically source a dedicated portfolio of IT products and services following established sourcing processes.

• RFP/RFI Development (15%): Author, issue, and evaluate RFQs, RFIs, and RFPs to analyze supplier bids based on cost, quality, and commercial terms.
• Scale & Value Creation (15%): Partner with leadership and operating companies to leverage scale, simplify the supplier base, and reduce the total cost of ownership.
• Stakeholder Engagement (10%): Build deep relationships with key internal stakeholders to thoroughly understand their technical needs and leverage points.
• Project Management (10%): Oversee quality delivery of assigned projects while collecting, measuring, and reporting progress to stakeholders.
• Operating Company Support (10%): Assist individual operating companies’ sourcing teams with strategic planning and procurement execution.
• Business Unit Alignment (5%): Maintain close ties with senior business unit management to align sourcing with annual goals and economic strategies.
• Market Intelligence (5%): Monitor macroeconomic conditions and external market drivers to anticipate business impacts and maximize strategic opportunities.
• Analytics & Reporting (5%): Participate in developing business analytics and reporting structures for targeted areas of responsibility.
• Cost Optimization (5%): Deliver against materials savings and total cost of ownership targets by managing internal demand behavior.

• Education: Bachelor’s Degree required (IT, Cloud, Cybersecurity, Network, Finance, Business Administration, or Supply Chain disciplines preferred). An advanced degree or CPM certification is a plus.
• Experience: 5-7 years of related experience with a Bachelor’s degree, or 5-10 years with a Master’s or advanced degree.
• Technical Sourcing Skills: Strong experience creating and executing sourcing strategies (e.g., 7-Step sourcing methodology) and utilizing procurement software.
• IT Industry Knowledge: Solid understanding of information technology ecosystems, cloud environments, cybersecurity, networks, and hardware.
• Commercial Acumen: Proven ability to negotiate commercial terms, interpret technology contracts, and conduct complex analyses to distill them into clear business allocations.
• Communication & Leadership: Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to interface effectively with stakeholders and senior executives. Direct work direction may be provided to Analyst roles.