Category Manager

Cypress HCM; Northbrook (IL); On-site; USD 110,000 - 165,000; Full time

Job summary

Cypress HCM is seeking an experienced Category Manager to lead strategic sourcing initiatives for IT procurement, software licensing, and cloud services. You will drive end-to-end sourcing events, negotiate terms, negotiate with global technology vendors, and develop category strategies to optimize cost and mitigate risk.

You will partner with Legal, Finance, Security, and business leaders to align sourcing with business objectives, ensuring governance compliance and delivering measurable cost

Qualifications

• 7+ years in strategic sourcing or procurement roles.
• Experience leading large enterprise tech supplier negotiations.
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience.
• Strong understanding of enterprise software licensing models.
• Excellent stakeholder management and executive communication.
• Experience with cross-functional sourcing initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end strategic sourcing events for technology categories.
• Develop and execute category strategies aligning with business goals.
• Manage RFPs, RFQs, and complex contract negotiations.
• Negotiate multi-million-dollar software licensing, cloud services, infra, and services.
• Build partnerships with stakeholders to forecast procurement needs.
• Analyze proposals and perform TCO comparisons.
• Ensure compliance with governance and purchasing policies.
• Identify cost savings and process improvements while reducing risk.

Skills

Strategic sourcing

Category management

Enterprise software procurement

Spend analysis

Total Cost of Ownership

RFP/RFQ management

Cross-functional leadership

Commuting requirement

Flexible working hours

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience

Tools

Ariba

Coupa

Jaggaer

Oracle

SAP

Job description

Category Manager – Strategic Sourcing (IT Procurement)

Position Overview

• We are seeking an experienced Category Manager to lead strategic sourcing initiatives for complex technology and enterprise software spend. This individual will manage high-value procurement projects, negotiate large-scale commercial agreements, and develop sourcing strategies that optimize cost, mitigate risk, and strengthen supplier partnerships.
• The ideal candidate has extensive experience negotiating complex enterprise agreements with global technology vendors such as Microsoft, IBM, Oracle, SAP, Cisco, Salesforce, AWS, Google, or similar organizations.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end strategic sourcing events for assigned technology categories.
• Develop and execute category strategies that align with business objectives.
• Manage complex RFP, RFQ, and contract negotiation processes.
• Lead commercial negotiations for multi-million-dollar software licensing, cloud services, infrastructure, hardware, and professional services agreements.
• Build strong partnerships with business stakeholders to understand current and future procurement needs.
• Analyze supplier proposals and develop total cost of ownership (TCO) comparisons.
• Negotiate pricing, payment terms, renewals, licensing structures, and service-level agreements.
• Manage supplier performance and identify opportunities for continuous improvement.
• Conduct market research and benchmark pricing across strategic suppliers.
• Partner closely with Legal, Finance, Security, and business leaders throughout the sourcing lifecycle.
• Ensure procurement activities comply with internal governance and purchasing policies.
• Identify cost savings and process improvements while maintaining service quality and minimizing supplier risk.

Required Qualifications

• 7+ years of strategic sourcing, procurement, or category management experience.
• Experience leading large, complex procurement negotiations with enterprise technology vendors such as:
• Microsoft
• IBM
• Oracle
• SAP
• Cisco
• AWS
• Google Cloud
• Strong understanding of enterprise software licensing models and commercial contract structures.
• Experience managing high-value procurement projects from strategy through execution.
• Demonstrated success negotiating favorable commercial terms and delivering measurable cost savings.
• Excellent stakeholder management and executive communication skills.
• Strong analytical and financial evaluation skills.
• Experience leading cross-functional sourcing initiatives.
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting a global enterprise procurement organization.
• Knowledge of SaaS, Cloud, Infrastructure, Telecom, and IT Services procurement.
• Experience with supplier risk management.
• Familiarity with procurement platforms such as Ariba, Coupa, Oracle, SAP, Jaggaer, or similar.
• Professional certifications (CPSM, CPM, CIPS) are a plus.

Desired Skills

• Strategic sourcing
• Category management
• Enterprise software procurement
• Spend analysis
• Total Cost of Ownership (TCO)
• RFP/RFQ management
• Cross-functional leadership
• Candidates should reside within commuting distance of the office or be willing to commute three days per week.
• Flexible working hours, provided core business hours of 9:00 AM–3:00 PM are covered.