At EY, you’ll have the chance to build a career as unique as you are, with the global scale, support, inclusive culture and technology to become the best version of you. And we’re counting on your unique voice and perspective to help EY become even better, too. Join us and build an exceptional experience for yourself, and a better working world for all.

The opportunity

As part of EY’s commitment to becoming a data-driven organization, it is investing in the development and global operations of a data fabric that enables provision of enhanced data services and solutions to our internal and external clients.

The Category Management Leader (Associate Director) will be at the forefront in working with our internal and external clients, to understand data needs and support strategic and cost-effective sourcing of that data.

This position is a for a senior member of the Data Office extended leadership team and will input into the design of the global vision and strategy for the data usage, data fabric roadmap and its operational capacity and demand.

We are seeking a professional with data knowledge, skilled in strategy development and the procurement process looking to partner with business stakeholders to meet EY’s enterprise-wide goals and priorities.

EY is committed to growth and development for all its people, and your skills will be harnessed and developed throughout EY’s areas.

Your key responsibilities

The Category Management leader (Associate Director) will be responsible for:

framing the overall strategy and approach for sourcing external data based on stakeholders’ input and EY’s strategy and priorities
providing oversight on the execution of the enterprise content acquisition approach for external content
sourcing relevant content from the marketplace
managing third-party data providers
monitoring and ensuring practice take-up, impact and value of data sourced

This position is a member of the Data Sourcing leadership team (Associate Director) which is part of EY’s Data Office. The position will provide input into the design of the global vision, strategy, and execution for data sourcing. This position understands the importance of connecting data to achieve higher value insights and the importance of easy access to data through automation and optimization.

This position partners with business stakeholders across all of EY’s service lines and regions to develop and execute sourcing strategies to acquire or renew external content aligned to EY priorities. This position will be expected to align all external data sourcing activities and programs to bring optimum value and impact for the business, in concert with oversight from EY’s Data Governance.

This position manages the global operations of a virtually dispersed team to ensure that the external content sourcing strategy for service lines, markets, sectors, and the enterprise is executed effectively and that practitioners have easy access to information that they need to provide distinctive service and insights to clients. This position manages relationships with Data Office Leaders and works collaboratively with other global firm functions (e.g., EY Knowledge, Global Procurement, Global Finance) to acquire content that complies with firm policies and ensures vendor selection aligns with approved firm business relationships.

Skills and attributes for success

Responsible for the data sourcing planning and execution for supplying external content that benefits the full enterprise (cross firm). Provides insights to EY's service lines, sectors, and geographic areas on specialized and local external content needs.
Determine content needs of global business units by liaising with key stakeholders, soliciting inputs and needs to help source and buy relevant content; and conducting proper evaluations of content vendors to determine and recommend suitable content sources.
Oversee the business case development process, vendor evaluation and selection, management of request for proposals (RFPs), funding approvals, contract negotiation and invoice coordination,
Coordinate deployment, develop catalog plans, and design and monitor usage / value measures that realize desired return of investment.
Establish external content sourcing plans, determine priorities, manage the processes needed to achieve the required objectives, proactively offer a variety of relevant considerations, and drive effective implementation to achieve the desired end result
Oversee and manage the operating model/structure to support the business' enterprise content priorities. This includes staffing, organizing and motivating a team of professionals, assigning work and managing people processes (performance management, recruiting, coaching and mentoring).
Ability to build an in-depth knowledge of EY's business strategy and of the critical issues and drivers of the domains supported. Work with key stakeholders on funding strategies where needed.
Partner with other EY business units involved in content acquisition process (e.g., Procurement, Finance, etc.) and work collaboratively to optimize value and cost to the firm.
Keep apprised of vendor roadmaps and pricing approaches to enable appropriate planning, and to minimize potential surprises.
Work across service lines, sectors, and geographies to develop and drive common external sourcing strategies, consistency of content acquisition process, and cohesive use of common tools, where appropriate
Fiduciary responsibility for operating budgets, including the development of annual budgets and plans, and management of expenditures in compliance with approved funding
Understand and communicate the value of the Data Sourcing strategy and its strategic relevance to firm leaders
Proactively provide perspectives on the external data marketplace to Data Office and firm leadership and key stakeholders to help drive understand of key impacts with vendors, cost, use, and innovative new approaches. Assist Service Line, Sector, and Area Knowledge Leaders in explaining to stakeholders any changes (cost, content, vendor changes, etc.) relevant to that domain.
Collaborates and shares best practices across Knowledge Services and serves as a role model for collaboration and knowledge sharing.
Sets priorities and determines strategies based on the business units' goals and objectives
Understands the business vision and identifies relevant external content options
Conducts ongoing analysis and evaluations of ROI to determine effectiveness of external content; proactively identifies recommendations and opportunities
Understands the firm's go-to-market strategy and service delivery models, how core business services support the service lines, and how the Data Office contributes to the firm's strategies.
Understands the firm's strategy and ensures key external content sourcing strategies are aligned to it.
Serves as the authority in the firm with respect to vendor selection of content sources

To qualify for the role you must have

Bachelor’s degree or 12+ years of relevant work experience
Exceptional consulting experience – with strong communication and analytical skills
Working knowledge in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint, Microsoft Teams and in addition knowledge of analytical tools such as Power BI will be helpful
Ability to quickly analyze issues, develop solutions and effectively communicate recommendations
Previous knowledge and strong understanding of the complexities and pressures of data sourcing marketplace (vendor, open data sources, aggregators)
Strong executive presence, relationship and project management, team development, strategic planning and budgeting skills
Ability to quickly analyze issues, develop solutions and effectively communicate recommendations
Ability to effectively participate in workshops to gather requirements and gain consensus
Strong analytical skills, good knowledge of data pipelines, data models, data processes and strong team leadership
Deep knowledge of the latest data tools and technologies, including cloud capabilities.
Ability to constructively challenge requirements and current state to increase overall value to the firm
Ability to abstract real world scenarios into easy to understand models
Ability to balance what is “right” with what is “realistic”
Flexibility to adjust and make decisions in situations with multiple demands, shifting priorities, ambiguity and rapid change
Ability to translate business and functional needs into data requirements, and estimate their impact across the data lifecycle
Excellent sense of operational efficiency, judgment and tact
Ability to work and team with a multitude of different people - including business customers, Functional managers, IT project managers and IT engineers - to balance demands

Ideally, you’ll also have

Possesses strong understanding of the firm’s business, organizational structure and operations and leverages it to effectively identify opportunities to support the firm’s strategy and key initiatives.
A customer-focused mindset
Demonstrated strategic leadership capabilities, managing globally dispersed, virtual teams and global programs
Ability to direct a team and create an environment which supports generating and sharing creative ideas and solutions
Understanding of and desire to strive for technical excellence
A demonstrated commercial acumen using commercial language that presents knowledge activities in the context of business objectives
Ability to assert ideas and influence others to gain support and commitment
A self-starter attitude, with the ability to strategically and consider a broad range of factors when solving/prioritizing issues and making decisions
Strong project management, time management and organizational skills. Ability to coordinate multiple projects and initiatives at one time
Ability to identify, influence and leverage internal subject matter resources
Experience in successfully supporting large complex projects
Strong relationship and project management skills
Strong execution discipline
Strong verbal and written communication skills, including ability to display a range of communication approaches for diverse community needs skills and to talk about programs in a clear, compelling manner with professional/executive presence

What we look for

As a Category Management Leader, you should have the ability to constructively challenge requirements and current state to increase overall value to the firm. Be able to analyze complex situations and derive workable actions and have experience of being able to engage with a multi-cultural, multi-disciplined, globally dispersed team, have strong relationship building skills. Have the ability to understand and integrate cultural differences and motives, lead virtual cross-cultural/cross-border teams, flexibility to adjust to multiple demands, shifting priorities, ambiguity and rapid change. Provide formal and informal coaching on-the-job to grow team members to their full potential.

Along with the above mentioned niche skills, you should possess supervisory attributes which are critical in reviewing performance, deliverables, work/responsibility assignment etc.

Ability to direct and complete multiple projects that meet deadlines in the fast-paced environment. Operational excellence is expected of this role to ensure proper project management, technical support, awareness, communications through relationships with key support organizations in Supply Chain Services, EY Client Technology, Transformation Zone and the Data Office.

What we offer

As part of this role, you'll work in a highly integrated, global team with the opportunity and tools to grow, develop and drive your career forward. Here, you can combine global opportunity with flexible working. The EY benefits package goes above and beyond too, focusing on your physical, emotional, financial and social well-being. Your recruiter can talk to you about the benefits available in your country. Here’s a snapshot of what we offer:

Continuous learning: You’ll develop the mindset and skills to navigate whatever comes next.
Success as defined by you: We’ll provide the tools and flexibility, so you can make a meaningful impact, your way.
Transformative leadership: We’ll give you the insights, coaching and confidence to be the leader the world needs.
Diverse and inclusive culture: You’ll be embraced for who you are and empowered to use your voice to help others find theirs.

Please apply to this role only through the ‘Apply’ link (not through the local office). Your application will then be routed to the appropriate recruiting team.

The exceptional EY experience. It’s yours to build.

What we offer

The compensation ranges below are provided in order to comply with United States pay transparency laws. Other geographies will follow their local salary guidelines, which may not be a direct conversion of published US salary range/s.

We offer a comprehensive compensation and benefits package where you’ll be rewarded based on your performance and recognized for the value you bring to the business. The salary range for this job in most geographic locations in the US is $129,600 to $242,400. The salary range for New York City Metro Area, Washington State and California (excluding Sacramento) is $155,600 to $275,500. Individual salaries within those ranges are determined through a wide variety of factors including but not limited to education, experience, knowledge, skills and geography. In addition, our Total Rewards package includes medical and dental coverage, pension and 401(k) plans, and a wide range of paid time off options. Under our flexible vacation policy, you’ll decide how much vacation time you need based on your own personal circumstances. You’ll also be granted time off for designated EY Paid Holidays, Winter/Summer breaks, Personal/Family Care, and other leaves of absence when needed to support your physical, financial, and emotional well-being.

Continuous learning: You’ll develop the mindset and skills to navigate whatever comes next.
Success as defined by you: We’ll provide the tools and flexibility, so you can make a meaningful impact, your way.
Transformative leadership: We’ll give you the insights, coaching and confidence to be the leader the world needs.
Diverse and inclusive culture: You’ll be embraced for who you are and empowered to use your voice to help others find theirs.

If you can demonstrate that you meet the criteria above, please contact us as soon as possible.

The exceptional EY experience. It’s yours to build.

EY | Building a better working world

EY exists to build a better working world, helping to create long-term value for clients, people and society and build trust in the capital markets.

Enabled by data and technology, diverse EY teams in over 150 countries provide trust through assurance and help clients grow, transform and operate.

Working across assurance, consulting, law, strategy, tax and transactions, EY teams ask better questions to find new answers for the complex issues facing our world today.

EY is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer providing equal employment opportunities to applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, or any other legally protected basis, including arrest and conviction records, in accordance with applicable law.

EY is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If you are a qualified individual with a disability and either need assistance applying online or need to request an accommodation during the interview process, please call 1-800-EY-HELP3, type Option 2 (HR-related inquiries) and then type Option 1 (HR Shared Services Center), which will route you to EY’s Talent Shared Services Team or email SSC Customer Support at ssc.customersupport@ey.com .