Category Manager, Global Real Estate & Construction Procurement

Skill; Charlotte (NC); On-site; USD 131,000 - 134,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Subsidized health plans

Vision and dental plans

Retirement plan with match

Aquent Gymnasium training

Job summary

Aquent Talent partners with a premier global investment management organization to hire a visionary procurement leader for global real estate and capital projects. This temporary role focuses on strategic sourcing, contractor selection, and end-to-end procurement for a worldwide workplace portfolio.

You will negotiate contracts, drive governance, and advise project teams while championing ethical sourcing and cost optimization in a matrixed environment. Start date Sep 21, 2026; hourly pay.

Qualifications

• 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.
• Proven experience negotiating professional services agreements, construction contracts, consulting agreements, and master service agreements.
• Strong financial acumen, contract management expertise, and commercial negotiation skills.
• Robust stakeholder management capabilities within a matrixed global organization.
• Proficiency with sourcing intake, contract lifecycle, procurement workflow, and supplier management technology platforms, including comparable enterprise systems.

Responsibilities

• Develop global category strategies for design, construction, project management, furniture, workplace technology, and facilities services.
• Lead all sourcing activities for capital projects worldwide, including consultant selection, design services, owner's representative services, furniture procurement, general contractors, and specialty vendors.
• Drive commercial negotiations and execute contracts for all design and construction-related agreements.
• Establish and oversee governance programs for strategic design, construction, and workplace vendors.
• Act as a trusted commercial advisor to project managers, workplace planning teams, design leaders, and business stakeholders throughout the project lifecycle.
• Ensure strict adherence to corporate procurement policies, delegated authority, and financial controls; promote ethical sourcing and supplier diversity.
• Utilize procurement platforms to manage sourcing pipeline visibility, event execution, approvals, supplier records, and audit-ready documentation.
• Build strong partnerships with senior leaders and mentor team members to evolve procurement practices.

Skills

Strategic sourcing

Procurement

Contract negotiations

Stakeholder management

Data-driven analysis

Mentorship

Education

Bachelor's degree in related field

Job description

Overview

Placement Type:

Temporary

Salary:

$95-97 Hourly

Start Date:

Sep 21, 2026

Aquent is thrilled to partner with a premier global investment management organization, a leader in empowering clients to achieve their long-term financial aspirations. Renowned for its deep research, enduring perspective, and unwavering commitment to delivering exceptional value, this organization offers a stable and impactful environment where strategic decisions truly drive global success. This is an unparalleled opportunity to leverage your expertise and leave a tangible, global mark on the operational efficiency and physical presence of a leading financial enterprise.

Are you ready to make a profound impact on the global footprint of a leading financial enterprise? We are seeking a visionary procurement leader to take the helm in shaping the physical infrastructure of dynamic global operations. This pivotal role will empower you to spearhead strategic sourcing and procurement for an expansive global real estate portfolio, directly influencing the design, construction, and operation of workplaces worldwide. You'll be instrumental in optimizing costs, ensuring unparalleled quality, and driving innovation across all capital projects, from initial architectural concepts to final construction and cutting-edge workplace technology. This is an exceptional opportunity to leverage your commercial acumen and strategic foresight to implement best-in-class procurement practices, leaving a tangible mark on global presence and operational efficiency.

What You'll Do: Drive Global Impact and Innovation

• Develop and execute comprehensive global category strategies for design, construction, project management, furniture, workplace technology, and facilities services. Conduct in-depth spend analysis, market intelligence, and risk assessments to pinpoint significant sourcing opportunities and lead optimization initiatives.
• Lead all sourcing activities for capital projects worldwide, including consultant selection, design services, owner's representative services, furniture procurement, general contractors, and specialty vendors. Manage competitive processes (RFIs, RFQs, RFPs) with clear evaluation criteria, balancing cost, quality, schedule, and risk for optimal outcomes.
• Drive commercial negotiations and execute contracts for all design and construction-related agreements. Partner closely with legal and risk management teams to establish robust contract standards, negotiate favorable terms, and ensure appropriate risk allocation, insurance, and performance obligations.
• Establish and oversee governance programs for strategic design, construction, and workplace vendors. Conduct regular performance reviews, develop comprehensive scorecards, and collaborate with suppliers to foster continuous improvement, innovation, and efficient issue resolution.
• Act as a trusted commercial advisor to project managers, workplace planning teams, design leaders, and business stakeholders throughout the entire project lifecycle. Provide critical guidance on budgeting, forecasting, change orders, and claims management, ensuring all procurement activities align seamlessly with approved capital plans.
• Ensure strict adherence to corporate procurement policies, delegated authority, and financial controls. Champion ethical sourcing, transparency, and contribute to initiatives around supplier diversity, sustainability, and corporate responsibility. Utilize enterprise procurement and sourcing technology platforms to manage sourcing pipeline visibility, event execution, approvals, supplier records, and audit-ready documentation.
• Build strong, trusted partnerships with senior business leaders, project sponsors, and cross-functional stakeholders. Influence strategic sourcing decisions through data-driven analysis and expert commercial judgment. Mentor team members and contribute to the evolution of procurement best practices within a complex, global matrixed organization.

What You’ll Bring: Essential Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Construction Management, Engineering, Architecture, Real Estate, or a 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.
• Proven experience negotiating professional services agreements, construction contracts, consulting agreements, and master service agreements.
• Strong financial acumen, contract management expertise, and commercial negotiation skills.
• Robust stakeholder management capabilities within a matrixed global organization.
• Proficiency with sourcing intake, contract lifecycle, procurement workflow, and supplier management technology platforms, including comparable enterprise systems.

Stand Out With: Desired Qualifications

• 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.

About Aquent Talent:

Aquent Talent connects the best talent in marketing, creative, and design with the world's biggest brands.

Our eligible talent get access to amazing benefits like subsidized health, vision, and dental plans, paid sick leave, and retirement plans with a match. We also offer free online training through Aquent Gymnasium. More information on our awesome benefits!

Aquent is an equal-opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, and other legally protected characteristics. We're about creating an inclusive environment-one where different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives are valued, and everyone can contribute, grow their careers, and thrive.

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