IT Category Manager

About the role

The American Red Cross (ARC) spends ~$2 billion annually on goods and services, with $1.2 billion strategically sourced (sourceable) including regulated and non-regulated materials, supplies, facilities and equipment maintenance, consulting, and IT hardware and software. The IT Category Manager will support the Strategic Procurement leadership, focusing on the ~$150M annual spend on IT goods and services. This role is 100% virtual/work from home, requiring an East Coast schedule (8am – 5pm) and daily video appearance for meetings.

Responsibilities

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

Scope: Individual contributor with comprehensive knowledge in a specific area, executing highly complex or specialized projects. Adaptable to develop innovative solutions.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Supply Management, Economics, Computer Science, or Information Systems.
• 7+ years of professional experience in Supply Management, Procurement, or IT Business Office roles, with responsibility for IT supplier or category management.
• Experience overseeing IT services and suppliers, with strong 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 clear presentations, and communicate with stakeholders.
• Solid business acumen with understanding of business structures, processes, and information flow in multi-line organizations.
• Proficiency with common Supply Management tools for procure-to-pay and contract lifecycle management.
• Must be authorized to work in the United States (no visa sponsorship provided).

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 or professional certification (e.g., C.P.M., CPSM, CIRM, CPIM).
• Prior experience in nonprofit, humanitarian, or mission-driven organizations.

Physical Requirements

Standard office environment conditions. Operational flexibility required for sudden needs. Ability to use a personal computer, software, and office equipment for sustained periods. May include sitting for long durations, driving, or working under challenging conditions.

Pay

The annual salary range for this position is $110K - $120K, based on geographic location, skills, and experience. No annual bonus is offered for this role.

Benefits

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