Category Manager

Category Manager – Professional Services Category Manager will drive end-to-end sourcing execution and category management for Professional Services spend, including consulting, advisory, IT services, legal, staffing, and BPO. The role combines hands‑on sourcing delivery with category strategy & execution, commercial structuring, and stakeholder engagement to deliver cost, quality, and business outcomes Responsibilities Support development and execution of category strategies for professional services spend Identify opportunities for rate optimization, vendor consolidation, and scope rationalization Manage demand pipelines and align sourcing with organizational priorities Execute sourcing engagements across consulting firms, system integrators, staffing vendors, legal firms, and BPO providers Develop and manage rate cards, benchmarking, and pricing frameworks across service providers Negotiate resource mix, utilization assumptions, and delivery models (onshore/offshore) Managed end‑to‑end sourcing cycle, understand business needs, perform vendor research to identify potential participants and getting the contract signed Develop and publish RFP in AARI Conduct market research and analysis to identify potential suppliers, evaluate their capabilities, and gather market intelligence to support decision‑making Lead supplier selection and qualification processes, including issuing RFIs, RFPs, and conducting supplier evaluations and negotiations Collaborate with internal stakeholders to understand their requirements and ensure the sourcing strategy meets their needs Negotiate contracts, terms, and pricing with suppliers to secure favorable agreements that optimize value while mitigating risks Manage project plan for all assigned sourcing requests from requirement gathering to contracting Negotiate contracts, terms, and pricing with suppliers to secure favorable agreements (MSA/SOW) that optimize value while mitigating risks Liaise with legal, business and supplier to finalize contracts Document and analyze supplier responses to ensure it contains valid and detailed information Co‑ordination with various stakeholders (business, procurement, suppliers) for setting up meetings, presentations and other sessions Liaising with business stakeholders, procurement team and suppliers to ensure timely and successful completions of tasks and activities (related to RFx events, NDA management and contracting) Partner with business stakeholders, Finance, Legal, and delivery teams to understand requirements and drive sourcing outcomes Maintaining project plans/ tracker for all requests and sourcing events, including timely reporting to all stakeholders Track and report savings, cost avoidance, and spend visibility across professional services categories Qualifications Bachelor’s Degree 5+ years of sourcing/procurement experience with a focus on professional services, consulting, advisory, BPO Proven experience as a Sourcing Specialist, Procurement Specialist, or similar role Strong knowledge of strategic sourcing methodologies, procurement best practices, and supplier management Must possess excellent verbal and written communication skills Good project management, business analysis, process analysis skills Strong organizational skills with attention to detail and ability to manage multiple priorities Professional certifications such as Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM) or Project Management Professional (PMP)® Certification will be a plus #J-18808-Ljbffr