Technology Category Manager

About the role

As our Technology Category Manager, you will lead the end-to-end sourcing strategy and supplier management lifecycle for Avalara's technology spend, including enterprise SaaS, software, and hardware. You will be a trusted advisor to IT, Security, Legal, Finance, and business leaders on commercial strategy and market insights, including AI and other industry trends. Reporting to the Head of Procurement, you will collaborate with senior leadership including the SVP of Finance, CIO, and CFO. Your goals will be to guide value, manage risk, improve spend, ensure ROI, and lead supplier performance. This is a high-visibility, individual contributor role where you will work with partners to support technology standardization and rationalization efforts. This is a remote position in the United States.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain multi-year category strategies for SaaS, software, and hardware, keeping at the forefront of industry trends in consideration of financial, business, and IT roadmaps
• Lead complex sourcing plans, including RFPs, renewals, and the negotiation of enterprise technology agreements such as SaaS subscriptions, licensing, maintenance, and hardware
• Guide total cost of ownership (TCO) optimization and cost savings, focusing on driving total cost reduction at contract renewal through price holds and true-downs
• Establish and lead regular Supplier Business Reviews (SBRs) with strategic technology suppliers, holding them accountable to performance, service levels, and innovation commitments
• Monitor supplier risk in partnership with Security, Vendor Risk, and Legal teams, ensuring contracts meet compliance, security, and risk management standards
• Collaborate with Finance on budgeting, forecasting, and spend transparency projects
• Build executive-level relationships with main suppliers to support long-term strategic value

Requirements

• 5+ years of progressive experience in strategic procurement or category management, with a strong focus on technology categories (particularly SaaS)
• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Supply Chain, or a related field
• Experience negotiating enterprise-level technology agreements that maximize value, flexibility, and scalability, with a strong understanding of software licensing models, cost drivers, and levers
• Proven experience leading supplier governance programs and conducting executive-level supplier reviews
• A strong foundation in driving measurable impact from using AI, with familiarity leveraging generative and agentic AI tools (including OpenAI and Glean) to improve efficiency
• Proficiency with NetSuite, Zip, Jira, ServiceNow, and IronClad, along with experience using similar ERP, P2P, Project Management, and Contract Lifecycle Management tools
• Excellent stakeholder management skills with the ability to partner effectively with IT, Finance, Legal, Security, and senior business leaders

AI at Avalara

Avalara is an AI-first company. AI is embedded in our workflows, decision-making, and products. Success here requires:

• Embracing AI as an essential capability, bringing experience using AI and AI-related technologies
• Applying AI every day to business challenges—improving efficiency, contributing solutions, and driving results for your team, our company, and our customers
• Growing with AI by staying curious about new trends and best practices, and sharing what you learn so others can benefit

Benefits

In addition to a great compensation package, paid time off, and paid parental leave, many Avalara employees are eligible for bonuses. Benefits vary by location but generally include private medical, life, and disability insurance.

• Inclusive culture and diversity: Avalara strongly supports diversity, equity, and inclusion, integrating them into business practices and organizational culture
• 8 employee-run resource groups, each with senior leadership and executive sponsorship

Pay

The base pay range(s) below are provided in compliance with state-specific laws. Pay ranges may be different in other locations.

• Colorado: $126,000-$201,600 (annually)
• Washington: $126,000-$222,800 (annually)
• California: $126,000-$244,000 (annually)
• New York City: $152,600-$244,000 (annually)

The successful candidate’s actual salary/wage may be based on various factors, such as geographic location, candidate experience and qualifications, as well as market and business considerations. This role is eligible for an annual bonus based on individual and company performance, depending on the terms of the applicable plan and the employee’s role.

About Avalara

We’re defining the relationship between tax and tech. We’ve already built an industry-leading cloud compliance platform, processing over 54 billion customer API calls and over 6.6 million tax returns a year. Our growth is real—we're a billion-dollar business—and we’re not slowing down until we’ve achieved our mission: to be part of every transaction in the world. We’re bright, innovative, and disruptive, like the orange we love to wear. It captures our quirky spirit and optimistic mindset, showing off the culture we’ve designed that empowers our people to win.