Procurement Sourcing Category Strategist (Remote)

Kforce's client, a large financial services organization in Birmingham, AL, is seeking an experienced Procurement Sourcing Category Strategist to lead complex, high-visibility sourcing initiatives across business and technology categories. This is a strategic sourcing role rather than a transactional procurement position. You will research markets, develop sourcing and RFP strategies, evaluate suppliers, negotiate agreements, align business stakeholders, and present recommendations to senior and executive leadership. The ideal candidate can clearly explain not only what sourcing decision was made, but how and why they arrived at that recommendation. What You'll Do:

• Develop sourcing strategies for complex business and technology initiatives
• Lead end-to-end RFP and competitive bidding processes
• Research supplier markets, identify providers, and gather competitive intelligence
• Evaluate vendor capabilities, pricing, solutions, and overall business value
• Partner with business and technology stakeholders to define requirements and align priorities
• Lead negotiations with suppliers to drive favorable business outcomes
• Develop and present sourcing recommendations to senior and executive stakeholders
• Serve as a strategic advisor to business leaders throughout the sourcing process
• Mentor and support less-experienced sourcing professionals
• Demonstrated strategic sourcing or procurement experience
• Experience developing sourcing strategies rather than solely executing procurement transactions
• Experience leading end-to-end RFPs or competitive bidding initiatives
• Ability to research markets, evaluate vendors, gather competitive intelligence, and translate findings into actionable recommendations
• Experience negotiating complex supplier, business, or technology agreements
• Strong executive communication, presentation, and stakeholder-management skills
• Ability to clearly articulate the analysis and decision-making behind sourcing recommendations
• Experience aligning cross-functional stakeholders around requirements and sourcing decisions
• Banking/financial services experience OR relevant technology sourcing/procurement experience
• Strong analytical, relationship-building, organizational, and communication skills

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in business, supply chain, procurement, engineering, or a related discipline
• MBA or professional certification in procurement, sourcing, or supply chain management
• Banking or financial services sourcing/procurement experience
• Experience presenting strategic recommendations to executive leadership
• Experience mentoring or training sourcing professionals

Strategic sourcing experience involving one or more of the following:

• Payment networks and card processing
• Merchant services
• Banking or lending technology
• Decisioning platforms
• Financial, lending, or other data providers
• ATM hardware or software