Category Sourcing Manager - IT

About the role

The Category Sourcing Manager (“CSM”) is responsible for developing, executing, and managing corporate sourcing initiatives for a variety of direct and indirect categories, depending on expertise. Categories would include, but not limited to: Electrical, Mechanical, Capital Improvement Projects, SG&A, IT, MRO, Facilities Maintenance, Data Center Infrastructure Fit-outs and Data Connectivity.

Responsibilities

• Lead ongoing category management activities within assigned scope of spend categories to achieve business objectives and benefit target
• Drive development of supplier and industry category profiles and strategies to a “best in class” Supply-Chain for data center providers
• Identify and leverage company-wide spend opportunities
• Coordinate Facilities’ purchasing activities across national portfolio of data centers
• Lead supplier selection & recommendation activities including qualitative/quantitative analysis, selection criteria, long/short lists, RFI/RFP development, and bid analysis
• Develop and execute sourcing strategies for highest spend, greatest complexity, and most critical/strategic categories
• Provide strategic guidance to profiles and Total Cost of Ownership models used to support sourcing decisions
• Develop implementation strategy, responsibility assignments, communications plans, and timeline
• Lead implementation activities for categories with critical impacts to business and internal customers
• Monitor compliance with supplier agreements related to high spend scope area
• Develop long range sourcing plans for assigned categories to reduce total costs, optimize value from suppliers, and meet internal customer requirements
• Conduct thorough spend analysis, develop methodology and metrics tools to track progress
• Negotiate, review, and execute implementation of contractual arrangements per company policy and business objectives
• Identify and implement system solutions and best practices that optimizes indirect sourcing and procurement work practices
• Builds relationships with key stakeholders to gather category requirements and specifications from departments and category subject matter experts
• Ensure tactical execution of purchasing activities to meet routine business needs
• Drive value through innovation and collaboration with strategic suppliers and internal customers

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Procurement, Supply-Chain, or Engineering or related field or equivalent professional experience
• Seven or more years of relevant experience in Sourcing / Procurement / Supply-Chain
• Experience in contract development, execution, negotiation and management
• Skilled in building relationships with key stakeholders to gather category requirements, specifications from departments, and category subject matter experts
• Experience in managing and leading change initiatives involving significant impacts to organization
• Demonstrated company-wide procurement leadership experience within one or more indirect categories or an equivalent combination of education, training or experience

Preferred Qualifications

• MBA or Master’s degree in Supply Chain
• Experience working for or supporting a data center provider (multi-tenant data center, hyperscale user, or equipment provider)
• Procurement certification (e.g. ISM CPSM)

Skills and Abilities

• Exhibit excellent interpersonal skills with all levels of the organization
• Use organizational skills to determine prioritization and appropriate multitasking
• Perform necessary and timely follow-up, escalating appropriately if necessary
• Strong planning, organization, decision-making, and problem-solving skills
• Ability to work independently, with minimal supervision, on multiple, concurrent projects of varying complexity and competing priority
• Ability to resolve conflicts and solve problems
• Self-motivated and goal driven