Category Manager - IT Software

Harris Geospatial Solutions; Fort Wayne (IN); Remote; USD 86,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a dynamic Category Manager to lead strategic sourcing and category management for Enterprise Technology. This role involves driving significant cost savings, managing supplier relationships, and leveraging advanced procurement analytics to optimize spend across a $500M - $1B portfolio. The ideal candidate will possess strong negotiation skills, a deep understanding of market dynamics, and the ability to influence change across functions. Join a collaborative environment that values innovation and professional growth, where your contributions will make a meaningful impact on national security initiatives.

Benefits

Health and Disability Insurance

401(k) Match

Flexible Spending Accounts

Education Assistance

Parental Leave

Paid Time Off

Company-Paid Holidays

Qualifications

• 9+ years in category management or sourcing in IT Software and Telecom.
• Strong negotiation and interpersonal skills are essential.
• Experience in Aerospace & Defense industry preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead category management and strategic sourcing for Enterprise Technology.
• Drive cost savings through negotiations and supplier management.
• Develop and execute category strategies to achieve business goals.

Skills

Category Management

Strategic Sourcing

Supplier Relationship Management

Negotiation Skills

Procurement Analytics

Cost Reduction Strategies

Market Research

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in relevant field

Graduate Degree

13 years of relevant experience in lieu of degree

Tools

eSourcing tools (Ariba, Jaggaer)

Advanced Procurement Analytics Tools

Job description

L3Harris is dedicated to recruiting and developing high-performing talent who are passionate about what they do. Our employees are unified in a shared dedication to our customers’ mission and quest for professional growth. L3Harris provides an inclusive, engaging environment designed to empower employees and promote work-life success. Fundamental to our culture is an unwavering focus on values, dedication to our communities, and commitment to excellence in everything we do.

L3Harris Technologies is the Trusted Disruptor in the defense industry. With customers’ mission-critical needs always in mind, our employees deliver end-to-end technology solutions connecting the space, air, land, sea and cyber domains in the interest of national security.

Title: Category Manager - IT Software

Job ID: 23837

Job Location: Remote, United States

Job Description:

L3Harris’ Corporate Headquarters located in Melbourne, FL is seeking a Lead, Category Management to join our Corporate Indirect Category Management Team. This highly visible, fast-paced, multi-dimensional role drives organizational value by providing strategic and day-to-day leadership across our Enterprise Technology spend. Key responsibilities include working with executive management and functional stakeholders to lead category management, strategic sourcing, and supplier relationship management. This includes creating and executing category and sourcing strategies aimed at cost reduction, supply simplification, demand management, and ensuring product availability, with a spend responsibility of $500M - $1B. Strong business acumen, advanced negotiation skills, and a deep understanding of global economics and market data are required to forecast trends, reduce costs, and drive continuous improvement. Additionally, this position demands excellent interpersonal and leadership skills to influence change across functions.

This role will report to the Senior Manager, Category Management – Enterprise Technology as part of the Corporate Indirect Category Management Team and our strategic supply chain organization focused on leveraging the company’s scale and deploying best practices that achieve best possible quality, technology, cost and delivery for internal customers.

• Leverage negotiation strategies and lead negotiations with strategic and preferred suppliers to maximize benefits across L3Harris and its affiliates
• Leverage all procurement levers, including supplier rationalization, negotiations, make vs. buy analyses, vendor managed inventories, inventory reduction programs, and should-costing
• Drive significant cost savings and cost avoidance by proactively identifying new opportunities, such as enterprise discount programs, long-term contracts, and commit to consume models
• Leverage advanced procurement analytics and tools (e.g., cost modeling, price regression analysis, scenario planning, eAuctions, etc.) and drive systems and analytics best practices across the organization
• Develop contractual documentation (Master Service Agreements, Software as a Service, Enterprise Agreements, Statements of Work, etc.) in accordance with established policies and procedures while minimizing contractual risk
• Generate market insights through research and data, industry developments, supply/demand dynamics, emerging technologies, leading-edge practices
• Build, manage, and ensure execution of the category strategy for Enterprise to achieve category goals, achieve business strategies and deliver sustainable category value
• Maintain knowledge of, and experience in, requirements for services and supplier capabilities in Enterprise Technology
• Partner as a subject matter expert (SME) on a continuous basis with internal customers to understand evolving business objectives, expectations and specific requirements
• Leverage performance targets for Enterprise-wide and category specific strategic goals to monitor performance
• Support regular communications with supply chain leadership and functional teams on category status, challenges, and opportunities
• Maintain relationships with key internal stakeholders to define requirements, identify critical service providers and influence demand
• Assess internal benchmarks, supplier ratings, and enterprise rate cards (NTE values) for all major lines of category spend
• Organize quarterly business reviews with key suppliers and coordinate with Segments to drive supplier accountability
• Assess supplier risks, develop the appropriate contingency plans, and drive inclusion into overall decision-making process

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree and minimum 9 years of prior relevant experience of demonstrated category management or sourcing experience in categories of IT Software, IT Maintenance, IT Hardware, and/or Telecom
• Graduate Degree and a minimum of 7 years of prior related experience
• In lieu of a degree, minimum of 13 years of prior related experience.

Preferred Additional Skills:

• Strong interpersonal and planning skills to lead change through influencing abilities
• Strong communication and collaboration skills with the ability to present and discuss strategy and analysis
• Ability to own collaboration across Segments and gain executive buy-in
• Experience in Aerospace & Defense (A&D) industry
• Self-managed/motivated – ability to independently set priorities, meet commitments with a desire to continuously improve
• Institute of Supply Management (ISM) certification (CPSM, CPM) or equivalent
• ASCM CLTD certification preferred
• Experience utilizing eSourcing tools (Ariba, Jaggaer)

In compliance with pay transparency requirements, the salary range for this role is $86,000 - $159,500. This is not a guarantee of compensation or salary, as final offer amount may vary based on factors including but not limited to experience and geographic location. L3Harris also offers a variety of benefits, including health and disability insurance, 401(k) match, flexible spending accounts, EAP, education assistance, parental leave, paid time off, and company-paid holidays. The specific programs and options available to an employee may vary depending on date of hire, schedule type, and the applicability of collective bargaining agreements.

L3Harris Technologies is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. L3Harris is committed to treating all employees and applicants for employment with respect and dignity and maintaining a workplace that is free from unlawful discrimination. All applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding or other related medical conditions), gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, disability, genetic information, citizenship status, characteristic or membership in any other group protected by federal, state or local laws. L3Harris maintains a drug-free workplace and performs pre-employment substance abuse testing and background checks, where permitted by law.

Please be aware many of our positions require the ability to obtain a security clearance. Security clearances may only be granted to U.S. citizens. In addition, applicants who accept a conditional offer of employment may be subject to government security investigation(s) and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information.

By submitting your resume for this position, you understand and agree that L3Harris Technologies may share your resume, as well as any other related personal information or documentation you provide, with its subsidiaries and affiliated companies for the purpose of considering you for other available positions.

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