Contracts | Category Manager

TEKsystems; United States; Hybrid; USD 62,000 - 69,000; Full time

Job summary

TEKsystems is seeking a Category Manager to lead strategic sourcing and vendor management across IT services, software, SaaS, and professional services in a contract role based out of Austin, TX. You will own complex sourcing initiatives and collaborate with IT, Legal, Finance, and risk leaders to drive category strategies balancing cost, service, and risk.

You will negotiate terms, establish governance, and manage supplier relationships across the vendor lifecycle, including SLAs and KPIs, in a

Qualifications

• Strong experience in centralized procurement, strategic sourcing, category management, or Vendor Management Office.
• Ownership of end-to-end sourcing projects, not just portions of procurement.
• Experience sourcing IT services, software, SaaS, IT labor, or Professional Services.
• Knowledge of procurement processes, supplier governance, and vendor lifecycle management.
• Hands-on experience negotiating complex supplier contracts and terms.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end strategic sourcing initiatives for IT services, software, SaaS, IT labor, and Professional Services.
• Partner with business leaders to understand goals, budgets, supplier challenges, and risk priorities.
• Develop category strategies using spend data, market intelligence, competitive benchmarking, and TCO analysis.
• Lead competitive sourcing events, including RFPs, RFQs, and RFIs.
• Evaluate suppliers based on capabilities, pricing, service, security, risk, compliance, and value.
• Develop and lead negotiation strategies for complex technology and service agreements.
• Review, negotiate, and redline contracts with Legal, Information Security, Risk, and stakeholders.
• Negotiate pricing models, licensing terms, service levels, payment terms, warranties, renewal provisions, and termination rights.
• Manage strategic supplier relationships throughout the vendor lifecycle.
• Establish SLAs, KPIs, scorecards, governance routines, and corrective-action plans.
• Identify opportunities for cost savings, supplier consolidation, demand management, process improvement, and risk reduction.
• Support ongoing VMO initiatives, procurement controls, contract compliance, and supplier-governance standards.

Skills

Strategic sourcing

Vendor management

Contract negotiations

Stakeholder management

Spend analysis

Sourcing events

Education

Bachelors degree or equivalent

Tools

MSA

SOW

SaaS agreements

Data Protection Addendum

Job description

Category Manager

The Opportunity

Our client is expanding its Vendor Management Office and seeking experienced Category Managers to lead strategic sourcing and supplier management across IT services, software, SaaS, and Professional Services.

This is not a transactional purchasing position. You will own complex sourcing initiatives from initial business requirements through supplier selection, contract negotiation, implementation, and ongoing vendor governance. You will work closely with IT, Legal, Finance, Information Security, Risk, and business leaders to develop category strategies that balance cost, service, performance, and organizational risk.

This is an excellent opportunity for someone who enjoys solving complex sourcing challenges, influencing senior stakeholders, leading contract negotiations, and developing long-term supplier strategies within a financial-services environment.

What Youll Do

• Lead end-to-end strategic sourcing initiatives for IT services, software, SaaS, IT labor, and Professional Services.
• Partner with business leaders to understand operational goals, technical requirements, budget considerations, supplier challenges, and risk priorities.
• Develop category and sourcing strategies using spend data, market intelligence, competitive benchmarking, supplier analysis, and total cost of ownership.
• Lead competitive sourcing events, including RFPs, RFQs, and RFIs.
• Evaluate suppliers based on capabilities, pricing, service, security, risk, compliance, and overall business value.
• Develop and lead negotiation strategies for complex technology and service agreements.
• Review, negotiate, and redline contracts in partnership with Legal, Information Security, Risk, and business stakeholders.
• Negotiate pricing models, licensing terms, service levels, payment terms, warranties, renewal provisions, termination rights, remedies, and other commercial terms.
• Manage strategic supplier relationships throughout the vendor lifecycle.
• Establish SLAs, KPIs, scorecards, governance routines, and corrective-action plans to improve supplier performance.
• Identify opportunities for cost savings, supplier consolidation, demand management, process improvement, and risk reduction.
• Support ongoing VMO initiatives, procurement controls, contract compliance, and supplier-governance standards.

What Were Looking For

• Strong experience working within a centralized procurement, strategic sourcing, category management, or Vendor Management Office environment.
• Demonstrated ownership of end-to-end sourcing projects rather than responsibility for only individual portions of the procurement process.
• Experience sourcing IT services, software, SaaS, IT labor, Professional Services, or related indirect categories.
• Strong working knowledge of procurement processes, supplier governance, and vendor lifecycle management.
• Hands-on experience leading complex supplier and contract negotiations.
• Working knowledge of common agreements such as MSAs, SOWs, SaaS or software agreements, SLAs, and Data Protection Addendums.
• Ability to evaluate and negotiate commercial terms, licensing and pricing models, service requirements, renewals, termination language, warranties, remedies, and performance commitments.
• Experience partnering with IT, Legal, Finance, Information Security, Risk, and business stakeholders to develop sourcing and vendor strategies.
• Ability to use spend analysis, market intelligence, rate benchmarking, competitive bidding, and TCO analysis to support sourcing decisions.
• Strong communication and stakeholder-management skills, including the ability to explain recommendations, negotiate competing priorities, and influence decision-makers.
• Organized, analytical, and comfortable managing multiple complex sourcing projects simultaneously.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting procurement or vendor management within banking, credit unions, financial technology, insurance, or another regulated environment.
• Experience with supplier risk assessments, information-security requirements, privacy provisions, and contract compliance.
• Familiarity with procurement, contract lifecycle management, source-to-pay, spend analytics, or vendor-management platforms.
• Bachelors degree or relevant equivalent experience.
• Professional certifications such as CPSM, CPM, CSCP, or similar credentials are helpful but not required.

What Success Looks Like

The successful Category Manager will quickly build credibility with business stakeholders, understand the existing supplier landscape, and create structured sourcing and negotiation strategies around business needs. This person will be able to confidently lead supplier discussions, explain contract risks and tradeoffs, and establish measurable governance practices after an agreement is signed.

Success in this role requires someone who can move comfortably between detailed contract discussions and broader category strategy. You should be able to protect the organizations interests while maintaining productive relationships with stakeholders and suppliers.

Why Join?

• Take ownership of high-impact categories.
• Lead meaningful sourcing and negotiation initiatives rather than transactional purchasing.
• Partner directly with leaders across technology, finance, legal, security, risk, and operations.
• Help strengthen and expand a developing Vendor Management Office.
• Influence how strategic suppliers are selected, contracted, measured, and governed.
• Join an organization where thoughtful vendor management supports operational performance, security, compliance, and member service.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract position based out of Austin, TX.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $45.00 - $50.00/hr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your jobclassification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may besubject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefitsavailable for this temporary role may include the following:Medical, dental & visionCritical Illness, Accident, and Hospital401(k) Retirement Plan Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions availableLife Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)Short and long-term disabilityHealth Spending Account (HSA)Transportation benefitsEmployee Assistance ProgramTime Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract position based out of Austin, TX.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Oct 30, 2026.

Workplace Type

This is a hybrid position in Austin,TX.

About TEKsystems

We're partners in transformation. We help clients activate ideas and solutions to take advantage of a new world of opportunity. We are a team of 80,000 strong, working with over 6,000 clients, including 80% of the Fortune 500, across North America, Europe and Asia. As an industry leader in Full-Stack Technology Services, Talent Services, and real-world application, we work with progressive leaders to drive change. That's the power of true partnership. TEKsystems is an Allegis Group company.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regards to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

About TEKsystems and TEKsystems Global Services

Were a leading provider of business and technology services. We accelerate business transformation for our customers. Our expertise in strategy, design, execution and operations unlocks business value through a range of solutions. Were a team of 80,000 strong, working with over 6,000 customers, including 80% of the Fortune 500 across North America, Europe and Asia, who partner with us for our scale, full-stack capabilities and speed. Were strategic thinkers, hands-on collaborators, helping customers capitalize on change and master the momentum of technology. Were building tomorrow by delivering business outcomes and making positive impacts in our global communities. TEKsystems and TEKsystems Global Services are Allegis Group companies. Learn more at TEKsystems.com.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.