Job Description

Senior Category Manager – Professional Services (Procurement)- REMOTE- US CITIZEN ONLY

About the Opportunity

We are seeking four experienced Senior Category Managers – Professional Services to support strategic procurement initiatives for a large enterprise organization.

This is a highly visible, fully remote opportunity for accomplished procurement professionals who excel in strategic sourcing, complex contract negotiations, supplier relationship management, and professional services category management.

The ideal candidate brings 7+ years of progressive procurement experience, strong financial and analytical skills, and the ability to partner with senior leadership to deliver measurable business value.

This role will focus heavily on managing high-value professional services engagements, including consulting and managed services, while leveraging procurement technology, advanced analytics, and emerging AI capabilities to optimize sourcing strategies and supplier performance.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Category Management

• Develop and execute comprehensive, multi-year category strategies for high-value professional services spend.

• Lead strategic sourcing initiatives involving consulting, managed services, and other complex service agreements.

• Conduct market research, supplier assessments, risk analysis, and scenario planning to identify opportunities for cost optimization and innovation.

• Perform Total Cost of Ownership (TCO), should-cost, and lifecycle cost analyses to support sourcing decisions.

• Develop supplier consolidation, diversification, and optimization strategies.

• Identify opportunities to leverage AI, automation, and emerging technologies within procurement.

Strategic Sourcing & Contract Negotiations

• Lead complex, high-value sourcing initiatives from initial requirements through contract execution.

• Develop and execute sophisticated negotiation strategies to maximize commercial value.

• Manage RFx processes, contract renewals, renegotiations, and sole-source justifications.

• Negotiate professional services agreements, including rate cards, time-and-materials contracts, milestone-based agreements, and Statements of Work (SOWs).

• Develop and evaluate Service Level Agreements (SLAs), contract terms, and performance requirements.

• Partner with Legal, Finance, and business stakeholders to ensure contracts meet business objectives and mitigate risk.

Supplier Relationship & Performance Management

• Build and maintain strategic relationships with key suppliers and executive-level stakeholders.

• Develop supplier scorecards, performance metrics, and executive business reviews.

• Monitor supplier performance, contractual compliance, and opportunities for continuous improvement.

• Identify and address contract value leakage, supplier risks, and performance issues.

• Drive supplier optimization initiatives that improve quality, efficiency, and financial outcomes.

Stakeholder Engagement & Leadership

• Serve as a trusted strategic advisor to Directors, VPs, and senior business leaders.

• Partner with cross-functional teams to align procurement strategies with enterprise priorities.

• Present sourcing recommendations, business cases, financial analyses, and risk assessments to leadership.

• Lead challenging negotiations and resolve complex stakeholder or supplier issues.

• Mentor junior procurement professionals and promote sourcing best practices.

Procurement Technology & Analytics

• Leverage enterprise procurement platforms such as Coupa, Oracle, Icertis, Archer, Sievo, and Fairmarket.

• Utilize spend analytics and financial modeling to identify savings opportunities and improve sourcing outcomes.

• Explore AI and machine learning applications to enhance procurement strategies and decision-making.

• Develop standardized procurement documentation, negotiation plans, SOW templates, and financial models.

• Support process improvements and procurement transformation initiatives.

Required Qualifications

• 7+ years of progressive experience in strategic procurement, category management, strategic sourcing, or supply chain management.

• Extensive experience managing high-value, complex professional services categories, including consulting and managed services.

• Proven success independently leading complex sourcing initiatives and delivering measurable cost savings and business value.

• Advanced expertise in strategic sourcing, supplier negotiations, contract management, and supplier relationship management.

• Strong experience developing and negotiating Statements of Work (SOWs), Service Level Agreements (SLAs), rate cards, and professional services contracts.

• Demonstrated expertise in TCO analysis, should-cost modeling, financial analysis, and strategic cost optimization.

• Experience utilizing enterprise procurement technologies such as Coupa, Oracle, Icertis, Sievo, Archer, or similar platforms.

• Strong project management skills with experience leading cross-functional initiatives.

• Exceptional communication, negotiation, presentation, and executive stakeholder management skills.

• Ability to independently manage competing priorities in a fast-paced enterprise environment.

• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making capabilities.

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Supply Chain Management, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field, or equivalent education and experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in Business, Supply Chain Management, Finance, or a related discipline.

• Experience working in a regulated industry, particularly healthcare or financial services.

• Advanced procurement certification such as CPSM or C.P.M.

• Experience with Sievo spend analytics or other advanced procurement analytics platforms.

• Knowledge of AI/ML applications and emerging technologies within procurement.

• Experience supporting enterprise procurement transformation and continuous improvement initiatives.

What Makes This Opportunity Attractive

• 100% remote opportunity with a consistent Monday–Friday schedule.

• Opportunity to support high-impact, enterprise-level strategic procurement initiatives.

• Direct collaboration with senior business leaders and key stakeholders.

• Exposure to innovative procurement technologies, AI-driven analytics, and strategic sourcing methodologies.

• Initial 6-month contract with the possibility of extension.

If you are an accomplished Senior Category Manager with deep professional services sourcing expertise, strong negotiation skills, and a passion for delivering strategic business value, we encourage you to apply!