Category Leader

Spectraforce Technologies; Oakland (CA); Hybrid; USD 83,000 - 138,000; Part time

Job summary

Spectraforce Technologies is seeking a Category Leader, Expert in Oakland, CA for a 3+ month hybrid assignment. Responsibilities include market research, category planning, supplier performance reviews, and cross-functional leadership in strategic sourcing.

The role demands strong negotiation skills and experience with software, hardware, and telecom sourcing. The position emphasizes building strategic supplier relationships and driving ongoing value discovery across Tier 1 and 2 IT suppliers.

Qualifications

• Sourcing lifecycle management experience with cost savings.
• Experience negotiating contracts and terms.
• Experience managing software, hardware, and/or telecom sourcing.

Responsibilities

• Conducts market research and supplier risk analysis.
• Creates and maintains category plans.
• Develops and reviews supplier performance data.
• Develops strategic relationships with Tier 1 and 2 IT suppliers.
• Leads cross-functional teams through strategic sourcing and negotiation planning.
• Develops category strategies for medium complexity spend.
• Maintains awareness of industry trends and market dynamics.
• Acts as subject matter expert for designated commodities.

Skills

Sourcing lifecycle management

Negotiation skills

Cost savings

Software procurement

Education

Bachelor's Degree or equivalent experience

Masters Degree in Business Administration or related

Tools

Ariba

Job description

Job Title: Category Leader, Expert

Duration: 3+ months with possibility of extension

Location: Oakland, CA- Assignment Is Hybrid and need to come to go 3-5 days a month depending on business needs.

Top three qualifications or attributes HM will prioritize when reviewing initial resumes.

• Sourcing life cycle management experience, strong negotiation skills with demonstrated cost savings, experience managing software, hardware, and /or Telecom

Top skill sets HM will be looking for in a candidate (technical expertise & soft skills)?

• Software, hardware, and /or Telecom sourcing experience, Ariba experience, and strong negotiation skills

Description:

• Conducts and documents market research and supplier risk analysis to verify the financial health of existing and potential suppliers
• Creates and maintains category plans.
• Develops and review performance data with suppliers. Works with suppliers to drive ongoing value discovery.
• Develops and sustains mutually beneficial strategic relationships with tier 1 and 2 IT software and hardware suppliers.
• Leads cross-functional team through strategic sourcing process and development/execution of negotiation strategies for mid-complexity spend categories
• Leads the development of category strategies of medium complexity
• Maintains awareness of industry and market trends through ongoing research
• Subject matter expert for particular commodities or services

Skills:

• Develops and manages one or more sourcing spend categories and manages on a dlegated portion of Tier 1 and 2 Software, Telecom, hardware contracts.
• Develops strategic category plans to optimize cost savings, service excellence, diversity spend and total cost of ownership for the categories.
• Effectively influences LOBs, including senior leadership, to achieve understanding, acceptance, and commitment of sourcing strategies. Works with Line of Business (LOB) to develop, source and negotiate major contracts.
• Plays a key role in Supplier Relationship Management / Scorecard process.
• Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and (Technical) Competencies Desired

• Ability to analyze and combine information from different sources and use logic to reach appropriate conclusions as needed to perform at the job level
• Ability to apply contract processes and procedures and relevant contracts and licensing - for example ESC, IBEW, tort, contract law - as needed to perform at the job level
• Ability to work independently with limited oversight
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office Products - for example Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Access - as needed to perform at the job level
• Competency in relating openly and comfortably with diverse groups of people
• Competency in building partnerships and working collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives
• Competency in building strong-identity teams that apply their diverse skills and perspectives to achieve common goals

Education Minimum

• Bachelors Degree or equivalent experience

Education Desired

• Masters Degree in Business Administration or job-related discipline or equivalent experience

License/Certification Desired

• ISM-Institute for Supply Management CPSM-Certified Professional in Supply Management certification
• LSS-Lean Six Sigma Certification

Experience Minimum

• Experience in supply chain, or related, 7 years

Experience Desired

• Experience in contract management
• Experience in strategic sourcing, 8 years
• Experience in procurement, or related, 8 years
• Strong-identity teams that apply their diverse skills and perspectives to achieve common goals
• Knowledge of the technical/functional aspects of the trade, occupation, or role as needed to perform at the job level
• Ability to apply project management theories, concepts, methods, best practices, and techniques as needed to perform at the job level
• Knowledge of database and information systems - for example SCADA, EMS, OMT, OIS, SAP, ERP, COSO, Teradata, COBIT, Question Mark - as needed to perform at the job level'