Strategic Sourcing Specialist

Description: The Director, Category Management in the Information Technology Outsourcing (ITO) and Consulting space is a senior leader within the Strategic Sourcing & Real Estate organization (SSRE) responsible for developing and executing category strategies for complex, high‐value spend categories. Reporting to the AVP, Category Lead for Professional Services and Claims, this role manages categories typically ranging from $75M-$150M in annual spend and plays a critical role in translating enterprise procurement strategy into actionable category plans and measurable business outcomes.

This role can have a hybrid or remote work arrangement. Candidates who live near Hartford will have an expectation of working in an office in alignment to our hybrid work schedule (currently three days per week (Tuesday through Thursday)). Candidates who live near other office locations may have a similar expectation or may have a remote work arrangement depending on location. Candidates who do not live near an office will have a remote work arrangement, with the expectation of coming into an office as business needs arise.

Key Responsibilities:

Lead the end‐to‐end sourcing and contracting strategy for Information Technology Outsourcing (ITO) and Consulting services, ensuring alignment with enterprise objectives, cost optimization, risk management, and performance outcomes.

Develop and execute multi‐year category strategies aligned with broader business and procurement goals.

Conduct market and supplier analysis to assess industry trends, cost drivers, risks, and opportunities.

Drive maturity and continuous improvement across outsourcing models, global delivery structures, and commercial frameworks, including managed services and outcome‐based agreements.

Establish category‐level objectives, KPIs, and value‐tracking mechanisms to measure performance and realized benefits.

Lead complex, high‐impact sourcing initiatives from strategy through execution.

Develop negotiation strategies and lead supplier negotiations focused on commercial value, risk mitigation, and service performance.

Draft and negotiate complex contracts in partnership with Legal, ensuring compliance with business, regulatory, and risk requirements.

Ensure consistent contract quality, documentation standards, and adherence to procurement policies.

Leverage spend analytics, performance dashboards, and sourcing insights to prioritize opportunities and inform decisions.

Utilize procurement technologies (e.g., sourcing platforms, CLM, analytics tools) to drive efficiency, transparency, and value.

Ensure accuracy and integrity of sourcing, supplier, and contract data across enterprise systems.

Identify and apply emerging tools and AI‐enabled capabilities to enhance category management effectiveness.

Partner closely with business and functional stakeholders to align sourcing strategies with operational and strategic needs.

Serve as a trusted advisor to the CIO, CDO, and other senior leaders, providing data‐backed insights and recommendations.

Support change initiatives and new ways of working, driving engagement, accountability, and adoption.

Model enterprise leadership behaviors by driving results with integrity, collaborating effectively across functions, using data to inform decisions, continuously improving processes, fostering an inclusive and high‐performing culture, and embracing change.

Qualifications & Experience

8+ years of experience in category management and strategic sourcing within a complex corporate environment.

Proven experience managing complex IT Professional Services spend , including leading the sourcing process as well as drafting and negotiating global outsourcing agreements.

Bachelor’s degree required, preferably in procurement, supply chain, finance or business. MBA or equivalent business-related experience preferred.

Skills and Capabilities:

Strong strategic and execution mindset with deep knowledge of category management and sourcing best practices.

Advanced analytical skills with the ability to interpret spend data, market insights, and performance metrics.

Demonstrated success negotiating and structuring complex commercial agreements.

Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to influence stakeholders at multiple levels.

Strong project management skills, including leading cross‐functional sourcing initiatives.

Knowledge of source‐to‐pay processes and strong attention to detail.

Familiarity with change management and continuous improvement methodologies (e.g., Lean, Six Sigma).

Innovative, curious mindset with an interest in modern procurement technologies and data‐driven approaches.

Ability to operate effectively in a matrixed environment and manage ambiguity through collaboration and influence.