IT Category Manager

About the role

The American Red Cross (ARC) spends approximately $2 billion annually on goods and services, with $1.2 billion strategically sourced. This includes regulated and non-regulated materials, supplies, facilities and equipment maintenance, consulting, and IT hardware and software. The IT category represents nearly $150 million of this spend. Supply Management at the Red Cross is transforming to become a top-performing function, and the IT Category Manager will play a key role in this effort by working with IT leadership to execute planned spend.

This position is 100% virtual/work from home, with an East Coast schedule (8am – 5pm). Daily and frequent video appearance is required for meetings.

Responsibilities

• Align demands and priorities with expectations of IT, business clients, and Supply Management leadership in collaboration with the Sr. Director and Director of IT Strategic Procurement.
• Manage a portfolio of assigned suppliers, including agreements, renewals, and third-party risk management activities.
• Engage with a portfolio of assigned clients to understand procurement demands, develop relationships, and influence procurement strategies.
• Develop and implement category strategies to manage assigned portfolios, control costs, and ensure continuity of supply.
• Lead negotiations for supplier agreements and renewals, collaborating with internal partners from the Office of the General Counsel, Risk Management, IT, and business clients.
• Negotiate statements of work and ordering documents with clients and suppliers to support positive project outcomes.
• Assess, identify, and mitigate third-party agreement risks in collaboration with internal partners (e.g., Office of the General Counsel, Risk Management, IT Governance, Risk and Compliance, and Information Security).
• Contribute to business cases, manage spend, and plan project procurement timelines alongside the CIO, IT VP leaders, and project teams.
• Participate in Supply Management processes, including Supplier Onboarding (SOBRA), Third-Party Risk Management (TPRM), Stakeholder Advisory Board (SAB), Risk Council, and P&L Improvement.
• Communicate with leaders, contribute to team performance, emphasize P&L improvement, and support diversity goals in IT Strategic Procurement.

Scope: Individual contributor with comprehensive knowledge in a specialized area. Ability to execute highly complex or specialized projects, adapt precedent, and develop innovative solutions.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in related disciplines such as Finance, Supply Management, Economics, Computer Science, or Information Systems.
• 7+ years of professional experience in Supply Management, Procurement, or IT Business Office roles responsible for IT supplier or category management.
• Information Technology experience overseeing IT services and suppliers.
• Strong working knowledge of the IT marketplace, terminology, and industry norms.
• Demonstrable experience with application development, managed services agreements, and statements of work.
• Adept negotiation skills, including pay-for-performance and shared risk allocation in agreements.
• Strong problem-solving, collaboration, and influence skills.
• Ability to lead cross-functional meetings, develop and deliver clear presentations, and communicate effectively with stakeholders.
• Solid business acumen with an understanding of business structures, processes, and information flow in multi-line organizations.
• Experience with common Supply Management tools for procure-to-pay and contract lifecycle management.
• Must be authorized to work in the United States; the American Red Cross does not sponsor employment visas.

Preferred Qualifications

• Combined experience in both Supply Management and IT professions.
• Experience with major IT service providers and suppliers.
• Experience authoring and contracting professional services statements of work.
• Experience with Coupa P2P and/or Ironclad CLM.
• Master’s degree preferred.
• Professional certification (e.g., C.P.M., CPSM, CIRM, CPIM) preferred.
• Prior experience in nonprofit, humanitarian, or mission-driven organizations.

Physical Requirements

Physical requirements are typical of an office environment. Operational flexibility is required to meet sudden and unpredictable needs. Ability to:

• Use a personal computer, applicable software, and office equipment for sustained periods.
• Sit for long periods.
• Drive a vehicle and work under challenging conditions as needed.

Pay

The annual salary range for this position is $110,000 - $120,000. Salaries are aligned to the specific geographic location where the work is primarily performed and may vary based on skills, experience, and market comparison. This role does not include an annual bonus.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision plans.
• Health Spending Accounts and Flexible Spending Accounts.
• Paid Time Off (PTO): Starting at 19 days per year, based on job type and tenure.
• Holidays: 11 paid holidays (6 core holidays + 5 floating holidays).
• 401K with up to 6% employer match.
• Paid Family Leave.
• Employee Assistance Program.
• Short-term and Long-term Disability and Insurance.
• Service Awards and recognition.