Strategic Sourcing Category Manager

Strategic Sourcing Manager

Amex GBT is a place where colleagues find inspiration in travel as a force for good and – through their work – can make an impact on our industry. We're here to help our colleagues achieve success and offer an inclusive and collaborative culture where your voice is valued.

The Strategic Sourcing Organization at American Express Global Business Travel (Amex GBT) serves as the enterprise catalyst for vendor strategy and third-party partnerships, ensuring alignment with organizational policy while driving competitive advantage across all business units. The Strategic Sourcing Manager functions as a strategic business partner and thought leader, developing and executing comprehensive sourcing strategies in close collaboration with Vendor Relationship Managers (VRMs) and cross-functional stakeholders.

This position drives measurable value creation and organizational savings through disciplined category management, vendor optimization, and strategic negotiation. The role operates within a collaborative ecosystem that includes legal, risk & compliance, information security, privacy, technology, and payments functions to ensure a robust, compliant, and strategically aligned vendor program.

What You'll Do:

• Own the External Resource (Labor) category strategy, establishing standardized processes, governance frameworks, and best practices that drive consistency and excellence across the enterprise
• Demonstrate thought leadership through executive-level communication on category performance, commercial opportunities, strategic initiatives, and vendor performance metrics
• Partner with business functions to align on requirements, budgets, and strategic priorities, translating organizational needs into actionable sourcing strategies
• Drive EBITDA improvement through disciplined cost management, savings identification, and cost avoidance initiatives; document and communicate value creation through comprehensive metrics and reporting
• Lead ongoing performance management, strategic negotiations, and partnership development with key vendors and internal stakeholders
• Leverage eSourcing platforms and vendor management systems to enhance portfolio management, reporting, and operational efficiency
• Model accountability, strategic thinking, problem solving and collaborative leadership; mentor team members and drive organizational capability
• Serve as a trusted advisor to stakeholders through insightful market analysis, competitive benchmarking, and forward-thinking category strategies that align with organizational objectives
• Drive continuous improvement through rigorous performance metrics, strategic negotiations, and capability enhancement initiatives
• Validate competitive positioning, identify cost optimization opportunities, and recommend strategic initiatives that deliver measurable savings and incremental value
• Embed sustainability and ethical sourcing principles into all vendor decisions, supporting Amex GBT's Corporate Sustainability commitments and Responsible Sourcing goals

What We're Looking For:

• 5–7 years in strategic sourcing, procurement, vendor management, negotiations, contracting, or equivalent roles
• Bachelor's degree required; MBA preferred
• Demonstrated people leadership experience with ability to influence and drive results across organizational levels
• Proven expertise in financial analysis, commercial negotiations, partnership development, and value creation
• Strong executive presence, strategic orientation, change management competency, and situational leadership skills
• Proven track record of owning complex initiatives, optimizing processes, and delivering measurable results through personal accountability and self-directed prioritization
• Exceptional communication and collaboration skills with demonstrated ability to navigate complex, cross-functional environments and manage challenging scenarios with diplomacy and strategic insight
• Hands-on experience with procurement and sourcing technology platforms (eSourcing, Vendor Management Systems, ERP systems, etc.)

Location

United States

The US national base salary range for this position is from

$88,200.00 - $163,800.00

The national range provided includes the base salary that Amex GBT expects to pay for the role. Actual base salary will be based on factors including the scope and complexity of the role and the successful candidate's relevant experience, skills, knowledge, and work location.

In addition to base salary, the anticipated range of which is posted above, this role is eligible for a discretionary annual bonus, which rewards participants based on company and individual performance.

For information about our comprehensive US benefits programs and eligibility, please review our Benefits-at-a-Glance document.

• Flexible benefits are tailored to each country and start the day you do. These include health and welfare insurance plans, retirement programs, parental leave, adoption assistance, and wellbeing resources to support you and your immediate family.
• Travel perks: get a choice of deals each week from major travel providers on everything from flights to hotels to cruises and car rentals.
• Develop the skills you want when the time is right for you, with access to over 20,000 courses on our learning platform, leadership courses, and new job openings available to internal candidates first.
• We strive to champion Inclusion in every aspect of our business at Amex GBT. You can connect with colleagues through our global INclusion Groups, centered around common identities or initiatives, to discuss challenges, obstacles, achievements, and drive company awareness and action.
• And much more!

All applicants will receive equal consideration for employment without regard to age, sex, gender (and characteristics related to sex and gender), pregnancy (and related medical conditions), race, color, citizenship, religion, disability, or any other class or characteristic protected by law.

What if I don't meet every requirement? If you're passionate about our mission and believe you'd be a phenomenal addition to our team, don't worry about "checking every box;" please apply anyway. You may be exactly the person we're looking for!