Senior Category Strategist

Job Summary The Senior Category Strategist works with minimal supervision to develop, champion, implement, and communicate strategies aligned with business requirements, while maximizing optimized value from the overall spend. This position oversees many categories including, but not limited to IT, Facilities, HR, and Travel. Essential Job Functions Plans and analyzes for multiple categories, using internal and external category spend data, market trends, and insights. (40%) Collaborates with both internal and external procurement stakeholders, fostering long-term partnerships. (20%) Develops and implements strategies to track and monitor the progress of initiatives across categories. (15%) Manages the commercial issues relating to contracts, payments, and non-performance. (10%) Drives project closure from a procurement perspective, escalating issues to ensure resolution. (10%) Supports the procurement process for the development of RFX’s, supplier selection, and communication. (5%) Minimum Qualifications High School Diploma or GED. 5+ years of experience in budget cycles, lowest cost of ownership, lease/buy analyses, analytics tools such as OBIEE, Tableau, and expert level Excel user (pivot tables, macros, etc.). Preferred Qualifications Bachelor’s Degree in Finance, Business Administration, Business Analytics, Procurement, or Project Management. 7+ years of experience in a banking, insurance, or other regulatory environment. Experience with software, SaaS, PaaS, MFaaS, or AI contracting. Skills Software SaaS PaaS MFaaS AI Contracting Category Strategy Contract Management Financial Analysis Financial Budgeting Lease Analysis Microsoft Excel Macros Pivot Tables Project Management Essentials Risk Management Sourcing and Procurement Spend Analysis Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) Reports Work Environment Normal office environment. (Remote or Hybrid). 3 to 4 days per month are required in office if within 60 miles of a posted Bread Financial location. Physical and Mental Requirements Communicate/Hearing Communicate/Talking Stationary Position/Seated Typing/Writing Maintain focus in high pressure or fast-paced work environment Benefits Bread Financial offers medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, and other voluntary benefits (including basic and optional life insurance, supplemental medical plans, and short and long-term disability) to eligible associates (regular full-time associates scheduled to work 30 hours per week or more) and their spouses/domestic partners, and child(ren) under the age of 26. New associate elected coverage begins on date of hire (with the exception of disability coverage which has a 6-month waiting period). Six weeks of 100% paid parental leave for eligible parents is available after a 180-day waiting period. Hired associates can immediately enroll in Bread Financial’s 401(k) plan. All associates receive 11 paid holidays. Associates have discretion in managing their time away from work through the Flexible Time Off (FTO) program and may need to notify and receive approval from their manager prior to taking the time off. Associates (except those located in Illinois) receive 80 hours of Paid Sick and Safe Time (“PSST”) upon hire and at the beginning of each subsequent calendar year. Illinois associates receive 40 hours of Illinois PSST upon hire and at the beginning of each subsequent calendar year and 40 hours of Illinois Paid Leave upon hire and at the beginning of each subsequent calendar year. Illinois Paid Leave must be used before associates in Illinois will be approved to take FTO. Hired associates will be able to elect the purchase company stock during offering periods in June and December. You will be eligible for an annual incentive bonus based on individual and company performance. Equal Opportunity Employer Statement The Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Any applicant offered employment will be required to establish that they are legally authorized to work in the United States for the Company. The Company participates in E‑Verify. The Company will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with a criminal history, in a manner consistent with the requirements of all applicable federal, state, and local laws, including the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, and the New York City Fair Chance Act. Applicants with criminal histories are encouraged to apply. The Company complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), as amended, and all applicable state/local laws. The Company will provide accommodations to applicants needing accommodations to complete the application process. Applicants with disabilities may contact the Company to request and arrange for accommodations. If you need assistance to accommodate a disability, you may request an accommodation at any time. Please contact the Recruiting Team at View email address on click.appcast.io. #J-18808-Ljbffr