Core Banking Services Category Manager

Key Responsibilities

• Category Strategy & Value Delivery
• Develop and execute multi-year category strategies aligned to business and enterprise objectives.
• Define category vision, value targets, performance expectations, and strategic guardrails.
• Maintain a comprehensive category strategy that includes demand forecasts, supplier and contract landscapes, market intelligence, and a savings and value roadmap.
• Own annual category value targets, including cost savings, cost avoidance, and productivity improvements.
• Identify opportunities for demand management, specification optimization, and supplier rationalization.
• Track, measure, and report realized savings and category performance outcomes.
• Inform Contract Negotiation
• Participate complex, cross-functional sourcing initiatives, including RFIs, RFPs, and supplier negotiations.
• Inform fact-based negotiation strategies supported by financial analysis and market insights.
• Persistently partner with Business, Strategic Sourcing, Risk, and Compliance teams to ensure appropriate commercial, regulatory alignment and performance levels and penalties.
• Supplier & Risk Management
• Manage strategic supplier relationships through structured governance, including performance scorecards and regular business reviews.
• Define and monitor supplier KPIs aligned to business outcomes.
• Proactively address supplier performance issues and mitigate operational, financial, concentration, and resiliency risks.
• Collaborate with third-party risk, compliance, and information security partners to support effective risk management in a regulated environment.
• Stakeholder Partnership & Influence
• Serve as a trusted advisor to senior business leaders.
• Influence sourcing and demand decisions early in the planning cycle.
• Constructively challenge demand and assumptions to optimize enterprise outcomes.
• Present clear, executive-ready insights and strategic recommendations.

Required Qualifications

• 7–10+ years of progressive experience in category management or vendor management.
• Demonstrated experience leading complex negotiations and enterprise-wide sourcing initiatives.
• Strong commercial acumen and financial modeling capability.
• Advanced analytical skills with the ability to translate data into actionable insights.
• Experience working cross-functionally and driving consensus across stakeholders.
• Structured, organized, and methodical planning skills.
• Executive-level communication and presentation skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in financial services or other regulated industries.
• Knowledge of third-party risk management frameworks and regulatory environments.
• Experience managing large, complex spend portfolios.
• MBA or professional certification (CPSM, CIPS, or similar).

Core Competencies

• Strategic thinking and long-term planning
• Negotiation and influencing skills
• Financial and analytical rigor
• Risk-aware decision making
• Stakeholder management and executive presence
• Change leadership in matrixed environments

Hours & Work Schedule

40 hours per week
Monday – Friday

Pay Transparency

The salary range for this position is $139,680- $248,320 per year, plus an opportunity to earn an annual discretionary bonus. Actual pay is based on various factors including but not limited to the work location, and relevant skills and experience.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Citizens, its parent, subsidiaries, and related companies (Citizens) provide equal employment and advancement opportunities to all colleagues and applicants for employment without regard to age, ancestry, color, citizenship, physical or mental disability, perceived disability or history or record of a disability, ethnicity, gender, gender identity or expression, genetic information, genetic characteristic, marital or domestic partner status, victim of domestic violence, family status/parenthood, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, pregnancy/childbirth/lactation, colleague’s or a dependent’s reproductive health decision making, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or any other category protected by federal, state and/or local laws. At Citizens, we are committed to fostering an inclusive culture that enables all colleagues to bring their best selves to work every day and everyone is expected to be treated with respect and professionalism.

Background Check

Any offer of employment is conditioned upon the candidate successfully passing a background check, which may include initial credit, motor vehicle record, public record, prior employment verification, and criminal background checks. Results of the background check are individually reviewed based upon legal requirements imposed by our regulators and with consideration of the nature and gravity of the background history and the job offered. Any offer of employment will include further information.

Benefits

We offer competitive pay, comprehensive medical, dental and vision coverage, retirement benefits, maternity/paternity leave, flexible work arrangements, education reimbursement, wellness programs and more.