Sr. Category Manager, Procurement

The Professional Services Category is part of Americans Procurement organization and manages end-to-end sourcing for Contact Centers Consulting Services Benefits Contingent Labor Marketing Legal and Financial Services. The Category Manager/Sr Category Manager plays a pivotal role in developing and implementing sourcing strategies leading contract negotiations optimizing stakeholder engagement and driving vendor value creation. The responsibilities range from building relationships with internal partners and vendors leading sourcing events that deliver measurable savings & improvements and navigating the complexities of contracting financial analysis risk legal and regulatory requirements.

Why youll love this job

• Join a growing high-performing team of Strategic Sourcing Professionals with a passion for continuous improvement

• Work alongside highly driven energetic and collaborative team members

• Develop strategies that achieve cost control cost reduction and cost containment targets

• Expand your professional skill set by partnering with cross-functional teams on high-impact projects

• Engage with senior leadership on key sourcing and transformation projects

• Enhance your procurement expertise by utilizing a mix of critical skills - analytics relationship building collaboration and project management

• Build a strong professional network by engaging with vendors and internal stakeholders

• Never have a boring day at work again!

What youll do

• Lead end-to-end strategic sourcing activities including category strategy development RFx execution supplier evaluation market research negotiations and vendor performance monitoring.

• Manage sourcing activity across the benefits vendor ecosystem including medical carriers PBMs TPAs/ASO administrators stop-loss carriers brokers/consultants benefits administration platforms wellness vendors voluntary benefits providers and specialty point solutions.

• Run structured RFIs RFPs RFQs renewals benchmarks and market checks that support fair supplier comparisons documented decision-making competitive leverage and defensible sourcing outcomes.

• Negotiate commercial and contractual terms including pricing administrative fees rebates guarantees SLAs implementation obligations audit rights data-access rights market-check language termination terms confidentiality and renewal protections.

• Analyze supplier proposals claims/utilization trends renewal projections administrative fees PEPM/PMPM structures PBM economics rebate arrangements stop-loss terms service levels and total cost of ownership to support data-driven levers for negotiation.

• Deliver hard savings cost avoidance value protection and working-capital improvements through competitive sourcing contract optimization vendor consolidation fee transparency market checks rebate and performance guarantee improvements and process optimization.

• Partner with Legal Finance consultants IT/security and business stakeholders to align sourcing strategies contract terms implementation plans financial impacts and risk considerations.

• Support compliance-aware vendor management by recognizing when ERISA fiduciary concepts DOL service-provider oversight broker/consultant compensation disclosures voluntary benefit safe harbor requirements RxDC gag clause attestation Transparency in Coverage HIPAA ACA COBRA or plan-document considerations require review.

• Create and manage vendor governance tools including scorecards performance guarantee trackers SLA dashboards QBR/BR materials corrective action plans escalation paths renewal dashboards and contract compliance reviews.

• Monitor vendor performance against contractual operational financial service implementation reporting member-experience and compliance expectations and drive timely issue resolution when performance gaps arise.

• Maintain organized audit-ready documentation including sourcing strategies RFx materials evaluation records negotiation summaries business cases financial improvement reports contract documents and vendor governance records.

• Demonstrate strong project management executive communication stakeholder influence analytical storytelling negotiation and problem-solving skills with the ability to manage high-visibility and regulatory-complex projects in a dynamic environment.
  

All youll need for success

Minimum Qualifications- Education & Prior Job Experience

• Bachelors degree in relevant field
• 3 years related work experience - Sourcing experience specifically for indirect categories (not IT or Contingent Labor)
• Basic financial analysis / cost savings (Excel)
• Strong project management skills
• Excellent problem solving skills customer service and communication

Preferred Qualifications- Education & Prior Job Experience

• Degree in Procurement Supply Chain Business Administration Business Management Finance Accounting or other related field
• Knowledge of Source to Pay systems
  • Knowledge of Coupa and Levelpath
• Experience with Benefits (Medical Pharma etc.)
• Process Mapping abilities
• Supplier Risk Analysis
• Vendor Relationship Management

Skills Licenses & Certifications

• Energetic and ambitious individual looking for a career developing opportunity in Procurement field
• Skilled communicator and problem-solver capable of navigating ambiguity complex stakeholder dynamics and change
• Self-directed organized and resourceful person with the ability to handle multiple simultaneous tasks with proven record of prioritizing managing and executing as outlined.
• Strong business acumen
• Understanding of supply chain concepts with work experience applying those concepts
• Negotiating and influencing skills
• Understanding and use of technical tools for analysis problem solving forecasting and quality improvement
• Proficient in Microsoft Office (e.g. Word Excel PowerPoint)
• Previous experience with Source to Pay systems
• High ethical standard

A great candidate will have:

• Good work ethic and a positive attitude
• Strong communication
• Executive presence
• Ability to work in a fast paced enviornment and juggle many projects