Category Lead & Sr. Sourcing Manager – IT

About the role

The IT Category Lead & Sr. Sourcing Manager is responsible for developing and executing sourcing strategies across key technology spend categories, driving commercial optimization, risk reduction, supplier performance, and alignment of IT investments with business objectives.

Responsibilities

• Develop multi-year category strategies across software, cloud, infrastructure, security, telecom, and services spend.
• Analyze market trends, pricing models, supplier consolidation opportunities, licensing changes, and emerging technologies (e.g., AI/ML tools, observability platforms, cloud-native architectures).
• Define category segmentation, sourcing levers, competitive landscape analysis, and long-term value creation opportunities.
• Build strategic roadmaps that align with enterprise architecture, IT operating models, and budget cycles.
• Lead complex RFPs/RFQs, competitive bids, direct negotiations, and supplier evaluations for high-value technology agreements.
• Negotiate commercial terms, service-level agreements (SLAs), data protection, usage rights, subscription models, cloud consumption frameworks, and cost-optimization structures.
• Drive savings outcomes and achieve continuous year-over-year cost optimization across the IT portfolio.
• Manage renewals and renegotiations for major platforms such as SaaS suites, hyperscale cloud, cybersecurity tools, observability/monitoring, and infrastructure technologies.
• Own the end-to-end commercial lifecycle: drafting, redlining, coordinating with Legal, and ensuring compliance with corporate policies.
• Evaluate contract risks related to data privacy, cybersecurity, regulatory frameworks, SLAs, termination rights, and vendor lock-in.
• Act as a trusted advisor to IT leadership teams across Security, Infrastructure, Engineering, Architecture, Product, and Operations.
• Translate business/technical requirements into sourcing strategies that balance cost, performance, security, and scalability.
• Facilitate business alignment sessions, and executive briefings on procurement strategy and sourcing initiatives.

Requirements

• 7–12 years of IT procurement, technology sourcing, category management, or IT vendor management experience.
• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain, IT Management, Finance, or related field. MBA or Master’s degree preferred.
• Certifications such as CIPS, CPSM, ITIL, or FinOps Practitioner are advantageous.
• Track record of delivering cost savings, supplier consolidation, and improved supplier performance.
• Experience managing global or enterprise-scale supplier portfolios.
• Strong understanding of technology domains: cloud (AWS, Azure, GCP), cybersecurity, networking, SaaS, enterprise software, observability, data platforms, AI/ML tools.
• Familiarity with usage-based pricing, subscription licensing, cloud consumption economics, and enterprise architecture considerations.
• Expertise in sourcing methodologies, category management frameworks, and competitive bidding processes.
• Strong commercial negotiation skills—able to deliver material cost reductions and mitigate contractual risks.
• Experience negotiating high-value enterprise agreements (> $500K+ annual spend).
• Strong stakeholder management and executive-level communication.
• Ability to lead cross-functional teams and influence without direct authority.
• Comfortable managing multiple workstreams simultaneously in a fast-paced environment.
• Proficiency with sourcing, CLM, spend, and procurement platforms (e.g., Zip, Oracle, Globality, SpendHQ and IronClad).

Benefits

Flexible paid time off
Hybrid work schedule
401(K) matching of 100% up to the first 6% with a discretionary supplemental contribution
Health & wellbeing benefits
Parental Leave benefits
Employee stock purchase plan