Sr. Manager, Category Manager, Information Technology

Job Summary

This person is expected to influence technology strategy and understand both commercial and technical dimensions of the IT procurement environment. This individual must be experienced and comfortable in working with CIOs, CISOs, CTOs, enterprise architects, and global technology/software and services providers. This role serves as the strategic procurement lead for enterprise Information Technology spend categories including software, SaaS, cloud infrastructure, telecommunications, managed services, hardware, cybersecurity, engineering systems, and digital transformation initiatives. The IT Category manager partners closely with CIO/IT leadership, Information Security, Enterprise Architecture, Data Privacy, Legal, and Finance teams to optimize technology investments, manage supplier risk, and support scalable enterprise technology strategies.

More generally, the Senior Category Manager role is an experienced category management practitioner accountable for architecting and selling enterprise-wide strategies, orchestrating large and complex transformations, and communicating at the executive level. Leads multi-year value creation agendas, major negotiations, and supplier partnerships that deliver innovation, resilience, and measurable business outcomes across the enterprise.

This individual will also lead or oversee complex enterprise-level RFx and negotiations and stakeholder communications. Partners with senior and executive team members in transformation efforts. Works cross-functionally to manage contract pipelines and align sourcing and category plans with Business objectives. Maintains procurement governance and systems data in accordance with the above. May lead, coach, or mentor strategic sourcing and entry-level procurement professionals in support of the category plan. Partners with finance, accounting, legal, and IT governance to deliver measurable value and risk mitigation.

This role requires relevant market insight, cross-functional collaboration, and proactive stakeholder engagement. The ideal candidate is a trusted procurement advisor and collaborative partner who champions supplier excellence, procurement governance and continuous improvement through clear communication, operational excellence, and strategic influence

Position Overview:

Owns a complex, high‑spend IT category (or portfolio) with global scope and enterprise impact.

Influences IT leaders and enterprise technology roadmaps; presents recommendations and status at leadership forums.

Supports enterprise digital transformation initiatives through sourcing and contracting strategies aligned to cybersecurity, infrastructure modernization, cloud adoption, AI enablement, and operational scalability.

Leads cross‑functional project teams and external partners to deliver multi‑year roadmaps and operating model changes.

Primary procurement voice with senior/executive stakeholders; presents at executive committees.

Shapes policy, standards, and governance; mentors and develops the category talent bench.

Ensures category plans reflect stakeholder goals, market dynamics, and supplier capabilities

Champions adoption of preferred suppliers, standards, and policies across the business.

Leverages analysis to shape strategic insights and market intelligence frameworks that inform category strategy, RFx prioritization, supplier negotiations, and contract terms

Scrutinizes variable and complex data to identify and prioritize sourcing and planning opportunities that drive competitive advantage and long-term value

Leads sourcing waves and supplier business reviews; accountable for savings and value realization.

Key Responsibilities

Enterprise Strategy & Value Creation

Craft and socialize a bold, evidence‑based multi‑year category strategy tied to enterprise goals (growth, productivity, risk, ESG) in key IT spend domains including:

Software and SaaS

Cloud Infrastructure (IaaS/PaaS)

Telecommunications and networking

Managed services and outsourcing

Cybersecurity

End-user computing and hardware

Enterprise applications and platforms

Drive optimization initiatives related to software license utilization, cloud consumption, vendor consolidation, application rationalization, and enterprise standards adoption.

Identify and deliver step‑change value levers (portfolio simplification, demand challenge, supplier ecosystem redesign, digital automation).

Stand up structured value tracking with Finance; validate and publish results to executives.

Build and maintain a living category strategy (demand, market, supplier, risk, and should-cost).

Translate strategy into an annual sourcing wave plan and prioritized contract pipeline with mitigation actions for expirations/renewals.

Owns data quality across procurement systems (e.g., sourcing, CLM, P2P) and audit readiness records

Reviews and performs analytics and market research that inform strategic planning decisions, RFx, negotiation prep, and category direction

Manage intake queue; validate requirements; set expectations on timelines and next steps

Maintain project trackers, savings logs, contract records, and supplier profiles for audit readiness

Create, refresh, publish, and communicate preferred supplier lists and engagement playbooks

Critical Sourcing & Complex Negotiation

Experience negotiating with global technology suppliers such as Microsoft, Oracle, Salesforce, SAP, AWS, ServiceNow, Cisco, and primary technology resellers.

Conduct in-depth market analysis to inform RFx development, supplier negotiations, and contract terms

Identify and prioritize sourcing opportunities that drive competitive advantage and long-term value

Own and drive marquee RFx/sole‑source events and renewals with enterprise‑wide implications; negotiate creative commercial constructs (risk‑share, outcome‑based, gainshare).

Oversee and/or perform total Cost of Ownership (TCO) analysis to sourcing decisions and supplier evaluations

Set deal architectures and negotiation plays; coach deal teams; engage executive sponsors and legal counsel to closure.

Establish playbooks and guardrails for rebid/renewal strategies, indexation, benchmarking, and continuous improvement.

Demonstrated ability to negotiate favorable commercial protections related to data privacy, information security, SLAs, audit rights, intellectual property, indemnification, limitation of liability, price protections, renewal caps, etc.

Supplier Partnership, Innovation, & Risk Management

Chair executive governance with strategic partners; sponsor joint innovation roadmaps and transformation programs.

Oversee risk management for the portfolio (cyber, supply continuity, financial, regulatory, ESG) with proactive mitigation and incident response.

Segment suppliers (Tier 1/2) and implement governance (QBRs/ABRs, scorecards, corrective actions).

Perform AQSCIR assessments for key suppliers

Own and drive marquee RFx/sole‑source events and renewals with enterprise‑wide implications; negotiate creative commercial constructs (risk‑share, outcome‑based, gainshare).

Facilitate supplier-led innovation and continuous improvement initiatives aligned to business outcomes.

Hold quarterly and annual business reviews (QBRs/ABRs) with suppliers and relevant stakeholders

Drive adoption of preferred suppliers and manage change communication effectively

Partner with IT governance areas to ensure suppliers meet enterprise cyber security, regulatory, and data protection requirements.

Operational Excellence & Governance

Drive continuous improvement in P2P and CLM. Elevate standards, templates, and systems; automate analytics and reporting; ensure data fidelity and audit readiness.

Continuously improve ways of working across Legal, Security/Privacy, Finance/AP, and business units.

Track cost savings and avoidance progress against targets and pipeline forecasts

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