Category Manager (Global Real Estate & Construction Procurement)

Solugenix; Charlotte (NC); Remote; USD 117,000 - 167,000; Full time

Job summary

Solugenix is seeking a Category Manager, Global Real Estate (Design & Construction) to lead strategic sourcing for architectural, engineering, construction, furniture, and workplace services. You will manage RFx processes, negotiate master service agreements, and align procurement with global real estate objectives.

The role partners with Finance, Legal, Risk, and stakeholders to optimize cost, quality, and schedule certainty while ensuring governance and risk controls across a worldwide project

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a related field.
• 10+ years in strategic sourcing, procurement, or commercial management.
• Minimum 5 years supporting corporate real estate, workplace, design, or construction programs.
• Experience leading complex RFPs and global sourcing.
• Experience negotiating professional services, construction, and master service agreements.
• Strong financial acumen and contract management capabilities.
• Stakeholder management in a matrixed global organization.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute global category strategies for design, construction, furniture, and related spend.
• Lead RFIs, RFQs, RFPs, bid evaluations, and supplier interviews.
• Define structured evaluation criteria and defensible award recommendations.
• Partner with Legal and Risk Management to establish contract standards.
• Monitor supplier performance and drive continuous improvement across regions.
• Support global location strategy and procurement programs.

Skills

Strategic sourcing

Procurement

Commercial management

Stakeholder management

Negotiation

RFPs/RFx

Education

Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management or related field

Tools

Zip

Ariba

Job description

Charlotte, NC (Remote)

24-Month Contract

The Category Manager, Global Real Estate (Design & Construction) leads strategic sourcing, procurement, supplier management, and commercial contract activities supporting Client's global real estate portfolio. The role is responsible for developing and executing category strategies across architecture, engineering, project management, construction, furniture, technology infrastructure, and other workplace-related services.

This position partners closely with Global Real Estate, Finance, Legal, Risk, and business stakeholders to ensure client projects are delivered through best-in-class procurement practices that optimize cost, quality, schedule certainty, supplier performance, sustainability, and risk management. The role supports the firm's Global Location Strategy through disciplined sourcing, vendor governance, and commercial leadership across a diverse global portfolio of projects and services. The role manages strategic supplier relationships and leverages enterprise buying power to establish scalable procurement programs and master service agreements.

Qualifications

Required:

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Construction Management, Engineering, Architecture, Real Estate, or related field.
• 10+ years of strategic sourcing, procurement, or commercial management experience.
• Minimum 5 years of direct experience supporting corporate real estate, workplace, design, or construction programs.
• Demonstrated experience leading complex RFPs and global sourcing initiatives.
• Experience negotiating professional services agreements, construction contracts, consulting agreements, and master service agreements.
• Strong financial acumen, contract management expertise, and commercial negotiation skills.
• Strong stakeholder management capabilities within a matrixed global organization.
• Proficiency with sourcing intake, contract lifecycle, procurement workflow, and supplier management technology platforms, including Zip, Ariba, or comparable enterprise systems.

Preferred:

• Experience within asset management, banking, insurance, private equity, or other highly regulated financial services organizations.
• Experience supporting global office portfolios and enterprise workplace programs.
• Professional certifications such as CPSM, CIPS, PMP, MRICS, CCM, or LEED.
• Familiarity with construction delivery methods including Design-Bid-Build, CMAR, Design-Build, and Integrated Project Delivery.
• Experience working across North America, EMEA, APAC, and Latin America.

Success Measures:

• Savings and value creation versus approved budgets.
• Supplier performance and service quality metrics.
• Successful execution of global sourcing and procurement programs.
• Risk mitigation and contract compliance.
• Procurement cycle-time improvements and sourcing efficiency.
• Consistent adoption of ESO sourcing standards and technology-enabled processes, including accurate use of Zip, Ariba, and related procurement systems for pipeline tracking, sourcing execution, approvals, and reporting.
• Contribution to successful delivery of workplace client projects globally.

Responsibilities:

Category Strategy & Strategic Sourcing

• Develop and execute global category strategies for design, construction, project management, furniture, workplace technology, facilities services, and related real estate spend categories.
• Conduct spends analysis, market intelligence, supplier benchmarking, and risk assessments to identify sourcing opportunities and category optimization initiatives.
• Translate spend analysis, supplier market intelligence, and total cost of ownership insights into quantified savings targets and measurable value creation opportunities.
• Establish multi-year sourcing roadmaps aligned with Client's global workplace and real estate objectives.
• Monitor industry trends, construction markets, labor conditions, material pricing, and emerging supplier capabilities.
• Maintain current supplier market maps and external benchmarking to inform sourcing strategies, negotiation positions, and supplier selection decisions.
• Identify opportunities for standardization, supplier consolidation, and improved commercial terms across regions.

Design & Construction Procurement

• Lead sourcing activities for client projects globally, including consultant selection, design services, owner's representative services, furniture procurement, general contractors, and specialty vendors.
• Develop and manage RFIs, RFQs, RFPs, bid evaluations, supplier interviews, and recommendation packages.
• Define structured RFx evaluation criteria, scoring methodology, decision documentation, and defensible award recommendations based on price, quality, delivery, risk, and stakeholder requirements.
• Facilitate competitive procurement processes while balancing cost, quality, schedule, risk, and stakeholder requirements.
• Partner with project teams to establish procurement strategies aligned with project delivery objectives.
• Support project budgeting and forecasting activities through market pricing, benchmarking, and procurement planning.

Contract Negotiation & Commercial Management

• Lead commercial negotiations and contract execution activities for design and construction-related agreements.
• Partner with Legal and Risk Management to establish contract standards and negotiate favorable commercial terms.
• Negotiate master service agreements, statement of work templates, rate cards, and project-specific agreements.
• Ensure appropriate risk allocation, insurance requirements, indemnification provisions, performance obligations, and service-level expectations.
• Drive measurable value through commercial negotiations, scope optimization, and contract governance.
• Establish supplier governance programs for strategic design, construction, and workplace vendors.
• Conduct supplier performance reviews and business reviews with key vendors.
• Develop scorecards and performance metrics related to cost, quality, schedule, innovation, safety, sustainability, and service delivery.
• Collaborate with suppliers to drive continuous improvement initiatives and innovation opportunities.
• Manage supplier escalations and facilitate resolution of commercial or performance issues.

Capital Project Support

• Partner with Global Real Estate project managers, workplace planning teams, design leaders, and business stakeholders throughout the project lifecycle.
• Support project planning, budget development, procurement schedules, and risk management activities.
• Participate in design reviews, project governance meetings, and executive presentations as required.
• Provide commercial guidance related to change orders, contract modifications, claims management, and procurement-related decisions.
• Ensure procurement activities align with approved capital plans and governance requirements.
• Ensure compliance with Client’s procurement policies, delegated authority requirements, and financial controls.
• Promote ethical sourcing practices and transparency throughout procurement activities.
• Support supplier diversity, sustainability, and corporate responsibility initiatives where appropriate.
• Apply ESO standard sourcing processes, workflows, and controls consistently across sourcing activities, including intake, competitive events, approvals, contracting, supplier onboarding, and documentation.
• Use enterprise procurement and sourcing technology platforms (including Zip for intake and Ariba for contract management and payments) and related systems of record, to manage sourcing pipeline visibility, event execution, approvals, supplier records, and audit-ready documentation.
• Maintain procurement documentation and audit-ready records.
• Identify and mitigate supplier, commercial, operational, and geopolitical risks.

Leadership & Stakeholder Management

• Build trusted partnerships with senior business leaders, project sponsors, and cross-functional stakeholders.
• Influence sourcing decisions through data-driven analysis and sound commercial judgment.
• Mentor procurement team members and contribute to the development of procurement best practices.

Pay Range for CA, CO, IL, NJ, NY, WA, and DC: $103/hour to $103/hour. Starting rate of pay offered may vary depending on factors including but not limited to, position offered, location, education, training, and/or experience.

Solugenix will consider qualified applicants with a criminal history pursuant to the California Fair Chance Act and Ordinance. Applicants do not need to disclose their criminal history or participate in a background check until a conditional job offer is made to you. After making a conditional offer and running a background check, if we are concerned about conviction that is directly related to the job, applicants will be given the chance to explain the circumstances surrounding the conviction, provide mitigating evidence, or challenge the accuracy of the background report.

About Solugenix

Solugenix is a leader in IT services, delivering cutting-edge technology solutions, exceptional talent, and managed services to global enterprises. With extensive expertise in highly regulated and complex industries, we are a trusted partner for integrating advanced technologies with streamlined processes. Our solutions drive growth, foster innovation, and ensure compliance—providing clients with reliability and a strong competitive edge.

Recognized as a 2024 Top Workplace, Solugenix is proud of its inclusive culture and unwavering commitment to excellence. Our recent expansion, with new offices in the Dominican Republic, Jakarta, and the Philippines, underscores our growing global presence and ability to offer world-class technology solutions. Partnering with Solugenix means more than just business—it means having a dedicated ally focused on your success in today's fast-evolving digital world.