Category Leader, IT

Sterling Kohler; United States; Remote; USD 98,000 - 126,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company is seeking a Category Leader for IT to support financial and operational performance in managing an IT spend of $175M. This remote position involves strategic purchasing, supplier negotiations, and vendor management, requiring a Bachelor's degree and substantial experience in IT purchasing.

Benefits

Medical benefits

Dental benefits

Vision benefits

401k

Qualifications

• At least 10 years of IT and/or strategic purchasing experience.
• Experience managing contracts with $1-10M annual spend.
• Familiarity with purchasing practices.

Responsibilities

• Develop Category Strategies for IT Categories.
• Support Project Management for IT and business projects.
• Manage vendor relationships and propose process improvements.

Skills

Negotiation

Value Analysis

Supplier Management

Project Management

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Supply Chain, Operations, IT, Business, or related field

Advanced degree preferred

Tools

Supplier and contract management platforms

Job description

Category Leader, IT

Work Mode: Remote

Location: Remote - United States

Opportunity

This role will support the financial and operational performance within specific areas of IT Categories, including a share of the $175M IT spend. Responsibilities include negotiating XaaS, telecom, infrastructure, security, AI, and IT service agreements globally across all business units. The role involves supplier selection, value analysis, and go/no-go decisions, acting as a liaison between legal, privacy, risk, IT, and business stakeholders and suppliers. Analyzing quotations, SOWs, and contracts to determine optimal solutions based on value and total cost of ownership. Familiarity with purchasing practices is essential.

Specific Responsibilities

1. Develop Category Strategies by understanding market and company current states, identifying gaps, issues, and challenges, and proactively seeking future opportunities for cost savings and value creation.
2. Support Project Management by executing IT and business projects, developing sourcing strategies, managing costs, and supporting negotiations and evaluations of new providers and technologies.
3. Handle Administration and Continuous Improvement by managing vendor relationships, reporting on savings and risks, training stakeholders, and proposing process improvements.

Skills/Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in Supply Chain, Operations, IT, Business, or related field; advanced degree preferred.
• At least 10 years of IT and/or strategic purchasing experience, with specific IT purchasing experience a plus.
• Experience managing contracts and projects with $1-10M annual spend.
• Experience with supplier and contract management platforms (Jaggaer a plus).

Applicants must be authorized to work in the US without sponsorship. Salary range: $98,900 - $125,600. Benefits include medical, dental, vision, and 401k.

Why Choose Kohler?

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About Us

Kohler is committed to equal opportunity employment. Reasonable accommodations are available for individuals with disabilities during the recruitment process. Contact [e-mail] for assistance.