The Sr. Category Manager leads complex, high value negotiations and establishes category plans across the insurance, investments, and technology portfolios, while ensuring contracting strategies align with business objectives, compliance standards and risk tolerance. This role leverages market insights to optimize value while balancing speed to market. With a mastery in redlining and navigating complex terms, this role will gain consensus among diverse stakeholders, and drive negotiations to closure through a disciplined, project based approach with clear milestones. The ideal candidate will be action oriented, comfortable with ambiguity, exhibit a high degree of agency, and demonstrate strong commercial acumen and stakeholder management.

Responsibilities

  • Lead end‑to‑end, high‑stakes negotiations (often multi‑million, multi‑year) for professional services, SaaS/software/technology, data & analytics, outsourcing (BPO/ITO/managed services), etc.; structure and execute RFx, evaluation and award strategies to deliver measurable value, speed and risk‑balanced outcomes.

  • Serve as the primary point of contract for assigned business partners, translating business goals and risk appetite into contracting strategies and decision frameworks; facilitate cross‑functional alignment and executive updates.

  • Immerse in the assigned business area to understand its drivers, challenges, and success metrics; proactively engage with stakeholders to learn what makes the function tick, and tailor procurement strategies to align with its unique needs and objectives.

  • Own the redline to signature lifecycle by driving issue logs and closure plans; draft, redline, and reconcile master terms, SOWs/work orders, order forms, and amendments with precise change control.

  • Help the business understand risk by translating contracting language to business terms with quantified trade-offs.

  • Partner with internal stakeholders to ensure contracts and supplier agreements support operational efficiency, innovation and scalability.

  • Develop and execute category strategies that optimize value, manage risk and support corporate priorities. Act as a trusted advisor to business stakeholders for procurement decisions related to the category. Spearhead the greenfield development of category strategies where necessary.

  • Use market intelligence (benchmarks, supplier stratification, consolidation opportunities and innovation scouting) to shape category strategies and supplier partnerships that improve capabilities and total cost of ownership.

  • Track and report outcomes (savings, avoidance, and broader value creation) in line with department reporting standards.

  • Mentor and provide guidance to fellow team members on negotiation tactics, contracting best practices and category trends.

  • Assure continuous improvement of category process, strategies, data sources, tools, and metrics.


Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree in business administration, supply chain management or a related field, or equivalent experience

  • Five years of experience category management, procurement, strategic sourcing, supplier management, and contract management

  • Strong supplier identification, evaluation, and selection skills

  • Excellent negotiation skills with the ability to build good rapport with suppliers, while keeping the company’s interests in mind

  • Skilled in supplier management, procurement, and category management best practices and industry trends for relevant technology space

  • Strong written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills requiring a balance of assertiveness, tact and diplomacy

  • Strong business acumen and ability to put strategic plans into operations, influence others, and drive change

  • Ability to influence and lead conversations, collaborate, facilitate, and achieve consensus among key stakeholders

  • Ability to work effectively and cultivate relationships across all levels of the organization and external parties

  • Ability to work effectively with teams across geographic locations and time zones

  • Ability to manage ambiguous situations and drive towards clarification

  • Analytical and problem-solving skills, and attention to detail

  • Ability to work under pressure, set priorities, and meet deadlines in a rapid-paced environment

  • Self-motivated and the ability to manage multiple projects and support activities within a single job function


Preferred Qualifications

  • MBA, JD, or equivalent combination of advanced education and experience.

  • Experience in the financial services (insurance or investment) industry.

  • Experience managing outsourcing and/or professional services suppliers with global product/service provisioning models

  • Global perspective and experience working with diverse customer and suppliers

  • Understanding of outsourcing models, supplier, products and services

  • Experience working in a Contracting Lifecycle System (CLM)

  • Certified Sourcing Professional (CSP), Certified Outsourcing Professional (COP), or similar industry certification

  • Participation in Sourcing, Procurement, and/or Outsourcing Industry Associations such as Sourcing Industry Group (SIG), International Association of Outsourcing Professionals (IAOP), Procurement Foundry, institute for Supply Management (ISM), or National Contract Management Association (NCMA)


Working Conditions

  • Hybrid (Tuesday - Thursday)

  • Occasional Travel <10% - Travel for business meetings

The Salary for this position generally ranges between $94,000 - $120,000 annually. Please note that the salary range is a good faith estimate for this position and actual starting pay is determined by several factors including qualifications, experience, geography, work location designation (in-office, hybrid, remote) and operational needs. Salary may vary above and below the stated amounts, as permitted by applicable law.

Additionally, this position is typically eligible for an Annual Bonus based on the Company Bonus Plan/Individual Performance and is at the Company’s discretion. 


This job description is not a contract of employment nor for any specific job responsibilities. The Company may change, add to, remove, or revoke the terms of this job description at its discretion. Managers may assign other duties and responsibilities as needed. In the event an employee or applicant requests or requires an accommodation to perform job functions, the applicable HR Business Partner should be contacted to evaluate the accommodation request.