Category Manager, IT Procurement

Brinker International; Coppell, Northern (TX, KY); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work flexibility

Dining discounts

Annual bonus eligibility

Education and tuition support

On-site gym and fitness classes

Job summary

Brinker International is seeking a hands-on Category Manager to lead sourcing and commercial work across indirect technology and professional services, focusing on software and SaaS. You will partner with stakeholders to define requirements, evaluate suppliers, and manage negotiations from RFI to implementation.

The ideal candidate has 3–5 years in indirect procurement, strong software purchasing experience, and the ability to move projects forward in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• 3–5 years in indirect procurement or category management.
• 2+ years software procurement, including SaaS terms and renewals.
• Experience in sourcing additional indirect categories like professional services or HR.

Responsibilities

• Own category planning and sourcing across software, technology, professional services, and other indirect areas.
• Lead negotiations from need through vendor selection and contract execution; handle RFIs/RFPs/RFQs as needed.
• Develop fact-based negotiation strategies using market data and TCO analysis.
• Negotiate software pricing, licensing, renewals, and related terms.
• Source professional services and terms for statements of work and staffing models.
• Review and redline terms in master and software agreements with Legal and Risk teams.
• Build strong relationships with Technology, Finance, Legal, Risk Management, and other partners.

Skills

Software procurement

Indirect procurement

Category management

Negotiation

Stakeholder management

Contract review

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Coupa

Ariba

SAP

Procure-to-pay

Job description

Category Manager - Indirect IT Procurement

Coppell Texas | Hybrid three days in office

Primary focus

Software and technology

Broader portfolio

Professional services and restaurant technology

Experience level

3 to 5 years in indirect procurement

About Brinker

At Brinker International, every Restaurant Support Center role helps our brands - Chili's Grill & Bar and Maggiano's Little Italy - deliver a great experience for Team Members and Guests. We work as one team, take pride in our culture, and believe life is short, so work happy.

Job Summary

Brinker is hiring a hands‑on Category Manager to lead sourcing and commercial work across indirect technology and professional services. The portfolio centers on software and SaaS and may also include consulting, implementation and managed services, restaurant technology hardware, PeopleWorks or Human Resources services, and other enterprise services.

A strong software sourcing background is essential. You will work with business partners to define requirements, evaluate suppliers, develop sourcing strategies, negotiate pricing and contract terms, and carry projects through implementation. This role suits someone who takes ownership and moves work forward when the path is not fully defined.

What You Will Do

• Own category planning and sourcing activity across software, technology, professional services, and other assigned indirect categories.
• Lead competitive and sole‑source negotiations from initial business need through supplier selection, contract execution, and implementation handoff, including RFIs, RFPs, and RFQs when appropriate.
• Build fact‑based negotiation strategies using market data, supplier proposals, total cost of ownership, cost drivers, benchmarks, and scenario analysis.
• Negotiate software pricing and licensing models, subscription and renewal terms, implementation fees, maintenance and support, service levels, payment terms, and other commercial provisions.
• Source professional services and negotiate statements of work, rate cards, staffing models, deliverables, milestones, expenses, and related commercial terms.
• Review and redline commercial terms in master agreements, software and SaaS agreements, order forms, statements of work, and services agreements in partnership with Legal, Risk Management, and Information Security.
• Build productive relationships with Technology, PeopleWorks, Restaurant Operations, Finance, Legal, Risk Management, Information Security, and other business partners. Translate business needs into clear sourcing decisions and explain tradeoffs in plain language.
• Challenge specifications, demand, incumbent assumptions, and supplier proposals when a different approach could improve cost, service, speed, or risk.
• Manage supplier performance and commercial escalations and monitor market developments that may affect pricing, supplier capacity, technology choices, or service delivery.
• Maintain an active sourcing and contract pipeline, manage competing priorities, document value, surface risks early, and carry negotiated terms through supplier onboarding and implementation.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and 3 to 5 years of progressive experience in indirect procurement, strategic sourcing, or category management.
• At least 2 years of software procurement experience, including direct involvement in sourcing and negotiating software or SaaS agreements, pricing structures, licensing models, renewals, and related services.
• Experience sourcing one or more additional indirect categories such as professional services, consulting, implementation services, managed services, technology hardware, or HR services.
• Hands‑on ownership of supplier selection, pricing negotiations, and sourcing events, with the ability to explain the strategy developed and the commercial result achieved.
• Experience reviewing, drafting, or redlining commercial contract terms and working with Legal to complete agreements.
• Ability to analyze supplier proposals, pricing structures, and total cost of ownership, turn the analysis into a clear recommendation, and manage the work through completion.
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills, including the ability to influence partners without direct authority and work with people who have different levels of procurement experience.
• Demonstrated ownership, sound judgment, and follow‑through in a fast‑moving environment with competing priorities and incomplete information.

Important experience distinctionDirect sourcing and negotiation ownership is required. Experience limited to IT asset tracking, inventory, license or contract administration, equipment deployment, or refresh coordination does not meet this requirement.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience sourcing professional services such as consulting, implementation, managed services, staffing, or HR and PeopleWorks services.
• Experience sourcing restaurant technology or supporting a multi‑site restaurant, retail, hospitality, or other distributed operating environment.
• Experience with e‑sourcing and procure‑to‑pay platforms such as Coupa, Ariba, SAP, or a similar system.
• Procurement or supply management certification such as CPSM, CIPS, or an equivalent credential.

How You Work

• You take initiative, ask why, test assumptions, and figure out the next step instead of waiting for a complete playbook.
• You roll up your sleeves. You can move from strategy to detailed bid analysis, contract language, follow‑up, and implementation without losing momentum.
• You build trust with stakeholders by listening, communicating clearly, meeting commitments, and addressing difficult issues directly.
• You welcome coaching, learn quickly, and apply feedback to the next project.

Why Brinker

Brinker offers Restaurant Support Center Team Members a competitive benefits package, hybrid work flexibility, dining discounts, annual bonus eligibility, education and tuition support, and access to an on‑site gym and fitness classes.

Location and eligibilityThis Coppell, Texas role follows a hybrid schedule with three days in the office. Candidates must be local or willing to relocate at their own expense. Brinker is unable to provide employment sponsorship for this role.

Equal opportunityBrinker International is an equal opportunity employer. We are proud to provide a welcoming, respectful environment where everyone can thrive.

At Brinker, we believe life is short, so work happy! That means creating an environment where you can grow your career, feel a sense of belonging and wellbeing, and have fun along the way.

Here’s how we make that real for our BrinkerHeads at the RSC:

• Flexibility that fits your life: Hybrid schedules with weekly flex days to work from home.
• Benefits that support you: Competitive package with medical, dental, and vision coverage; life insurance; paid vacation and holidays; 401(k) with company match; Employee Assistance Program with counseling, financial, legal, and life resources; and Best You EDU, offering education programs and tuition reimbursement.
• Enjoy our brands: Generous dining discounts at Chili's® Grill & Bar and Maggiano's Little Italy®.
• Rewards for your impact: Annual bonus eligibility for every RSC Team Member.
• Wellbeing at work: On‑site gym and fitness classes like yoga and boot camp.
• A culture worth celebrating: From company‑wide events to a casual, collaborative atmosphere, you'll find plenty of ways to connect, work hard, and play hard.