Category Manager - Indirect Procurement

Introduction

IBM is seeking highly motivated individuals with prior procurement experience to join our Procurement BPO team of procurement consulting professionals. Our team provides procurement services to IBM’s external clients across all industry segments.

Specifically, we are seeking to fill the role of a Category Manager to support our clients’ procurement and strategic sourcing requirements in indirect spend categories such as: Facilities, MRO, Capital Equipment, Real Estate, Corporate & Professional Services, Information Technology, Marketing, Travel, Logistics, and Fleet. This role requires regular business travel to remote client locations based on project requirements.

Your Role And Responsibilities

• Develops category strategies and/or sourcing strategies for the assigned areas of responsibility.
• Builds deep relationships with cross-functional client stakeholders including retained Procurement teams, business stakeholders, Legal, and Finance.
• Identifies cost savings opportunities across one or more of the client’s indirect spend categories
• Acts as a trusted advisor and SME in the areas of sourcing and negotiating contracts for Technology and other Indirect categories.
• Achieves cost savings, risk mitigation, and process efficiencies through various value levers.
• Leads supplier selection process across multiple simultaneous projects within the category.
• Leads negotiations with current and potential suppliers as part of the contract renewal or vendor selection process.
• Collects and analyzes internal/external category data, metrics, and reports to track performance against targets and identify new sourcing opportunities or category insights.
• Innovates within the procurement space; looking at new ways to structure programs or categories, benefit from changes in supply market, or modify tools/processes to add value.
• Provides support throughout the sourcing and contracting process when necessary, ensuring seamless handoff to our clients when appropriate.
  
  

Preferred Education

Bachelor's Degree

Required Technical And Professional Expertise

• A minimum of 7 years of strategic sourcing and category management experience
• 4+ years sourcing Indirect categories in areas such as: Facilities, MRO, Capital Equipment, Real Estate, Corporate & Professional Services, Information Technology, Marketing, Travel, Logistics, and Fleet.
• Candidates must be willing and able to travel to client locations based on business requirements
• The preferred location for this Hybrid position (minimum 3-days per week in an IBM or client office) is Research Triangle Park / Raleigh, North Carolina. Austin, Texas is also pre-approved office locations for the role
  
  

Preferred Technical And Professional Experience

• Previous experience in a client facing / consultative role
• Degree in Business, Law, Supply Chain Management or other applicable field