Title:  Global Category Management Professional Services

Role Purpose

The Global Category Manager - Professional Services will lead the strategic management and optimization of professional services procurement on a global scale. This role requires a seasoned professional with strong negotiation skills, market expertise, and the ability to drive value through supplier relationships and category strategies.

Responsibilities

We are currently seeking an Executive Director to join the Sourcing Management Team. The Global Category Manager role requires a seasoned professional with strong negotiation skills, market expertise, and the ability to drive value through supplier relationships and category strategies.

Main responsibilities will include:

• Develop and execute global category strategies for professional services, including consulting, legal, HR services, and other specialized services, to support organizational objectives and drive cost savings.
• Identify, evaluate, and manage global suppliers, fostering strategic partnerships and driving continuous improvement in supplier performance, quality, and innovation.
• Lead contract negotiations with global suppliers to secure favorable terms and conditions, mitigate risks, and optimize pricing structures while ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements and industry standards.
• Conduct comprehensive market analysis and supplier assessments to identify trends, emerging technologies, and best practices, informing category strategies and driving competitive advantage.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders, including business units, legal, finance, and operations, to understand requirements, align category strategies with business needs, and drive stakeholder buy-in and support.
• Assess and mitigate risks associated with professional services procurement, including contractual, legal, financial, and reputational risks, to protect the organization's interests and ensure compliance with policies and regulations.
• Establish key performance indicators (KPIs) and metrics to monitor and evaluate category performance, supplier performance, cost savings, and other relevant metrics, providing regular reporting and insights to senior management.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to optimize procurement processes, streamline workflows, and enhance efficiency and effectiveness across the professional services category.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in business, finance, supply chain management, or a related field.
• Proven experience in global procurement, category management, or strategic sourcing, including experience managing global supplier relationships and implementing category strategies.
• Strong negotiation skills with a demonstrated ability to negotiate complex contracts and achieve favorable terms and pricing structures.
• Demonstrated knowledge of professional services markets, including industry trends, supplier capabilities, and emerging technologies, to inform category strategies and drive value.
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and influencing skills, with the ability to build strong relationships and align stakeholders around category strategies and initiatives.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to analyze data, identify insights, and make data-driven decisions to optimize category performance.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects and priorities simultaneously, meet deadlines, and drive results in a fast-paced and dynamic environment.
• Familiarity with procurement tools, e-sourcing platforms, and contract management systems, such as eg. SAP Ariba, etc, is preferred.