Global Category Manager

We are seeking to hire a Global Category Manager to join our client's senior procurement team responsible for sourcing strategy across critical infrastructure categories. Reporting to a Global Category Director, you will participate in end-to-end category management activities within a high-value, complex infrastructure category: developing sourcing strategy, leading supplier negotiations, and managing long-term supplier agreements with some of the largest names in the global supply chain. This is a high-visibility, high-impact role. You will work directly with senior leadership and cross-functional partners across engineering, operations, supply chain, and finance. Your ability to communicate clearly, present confidently to executives, and build trust across a matrixed global organization will be as important as your sourcing expertise. This is not a tactical buying or purchasing coordination role. This is a strategic seat at the table.

What You'll Do

Category Strategy

• Develop and execute a comprehensive global sourcing strategy for a high-value, complex infrastructure category — aligned to organizational goals, supply market dynamics, and long-term business requirements
• Build and maintain multi-year category roadmaps with clear objectives around cost optimization, supply continuity, risk mitigation, and value creation
• Analyze spend data, external market intelligence, and business requirements to continuously update and sharpen category strategy
• Identify and drive value beyond cost — including supply chain resilience, innovation, and operational efficiency improvements
• Collaborate with business stakeholders to gain buy-in for category strategy and influence the status quo

Strategic Sourcing & Negotiations

• Lead complex, multi-party global sourcing events (RFx)
• Develop negotiation strategies that optimize total cost of ownership (TCO) without compromising quality, delivery, or supplier relationships
• Lead negotiations and establish robust long-term supplier agreements, Master Service Agreements (MSAs), and SLAs that protect the organization's interests while building durable, mutually beneficial partnerships
• Prepare and present business cases, should-cost models, ROI analyses, and sourcing recommendations to senior and executive leadership
• Draft executive summaries for internal business approvers following strategic sourcing projects

Supplier Relationship Management

• Build and manage strategic supplier relationships including regular governance meetings, business reviews, and KPI tracking
• Monitor supplier compliance with contractual obligations and proactively identify and manage supply chain risk
• Develop supplier risk response plans to ensure uninterrupted supply of critical components
• Drive continuous improvement and innovation with key suppliers
• Implement supplier consolidation strategies that increase financial and contractual benefits

Stakeholder Engagement & Communication

• Partner cross-functionally with engineering, data center operations, finance, legal, and supply chain to align procurement strategy with technical requirements and business priorities
• Build strong, trust-based relationships with senior business stakeholders and navigate complex organizational dynamics
• Present strategy, sourcing outcomes, and executive-ready recommendations to VPs and above — clearly, confidently, and with command of the data
• Manage demand and intake for assigned categories and ensure compliance with internal procurement policies and controls

Market Intelligence

• Continuously monitor industry trends, supplier landscapes, technology developments, and market dynamics within your category
• Translate market intelligence into actionable sourcing decisions and proactive risk mitigation strategies
• Benchmark supplier pricing and capabilities to ensure the organization maintains a competitive advantage

What You Bring Required

• 5+ years of progressive experience in strategic sourcing, category management, or procurement within a large, complex enterprise environment
• Proven track record of leading complex supplier negotiations and managing long-term, multi-year supplier agreements and SLAs — not just participating in them
• Experience in data center infrastructure, fiber, network components, telecommunications, or connectivity supply chains - this is the critical category filter for this role
• Executive presence — you present to VPs and above, defend a position with data, and influence without formal authority
• Demonstrated ability to develop and own category strategy from assessment through execution — not just tactical purchasing
• Strong financial and commercial acumen: TCO analysis, ROI modeling, should-cost development, savings tracking and benefits realization
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills — you write clearly, present confidently, and produce executive-ready materials without heavy editing
• Proficiency with procurement systems, spend analytics tools, and Microsoft Office suite
• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Engineering, Business, or a related field

Preferred

• Master's degree in Supply Chain Management, Engineering, or MBA
• Prior experience working within or alongside a major technology company's procurement or vendor ecosystem
• Experience on the supplier side within network infrastructure, fiber, optical connectivity, or telecommunications
• Familiarity with contract lifecycle management (CLM) tools
• CPSM, CIPS, or equivalent professional procurement certification

Pay rate $50-60/hour W2 DOE No C2C The Ideal Candidate You have been the go-to person for a strategic category at a Fortune 500 or global enterprise. You have sat across the table from major global suppliers and negotiated agreements that mattered, deals measured in years and tens of millions of dollars. You know how to build a sourcing strategy from the ground up and you know how to sell it to leadership. You are organized, analytically sharp, commercially aggressive, and completely comfortable operating independently in a large, matrixed organization. You understand that procurement at this level is not about processing POs, it is about shaping how a global company buys, and the impact shows up in the P&L. You thrive working remotely with minimal handholding. You manage your own time, communicate proactively, and deliver without being chased. Apply To This Job